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Transforming Our Relationships with Our Neighbors

Luke 10:25-37

Our relationships with our neighbors are transformed through obedience to God that
loves and serves them.

1. Who is our neighbor?


● When this expert in the law sought to justify his knowledge over his service, he
was surprised when Jesus told him to go and serve those whom he despised.
● We are like this self-justifying expert when we try to control who we serve.
● Jesus teaches us that we do not choose our neighbors; our neighbors are not
limited by geography or co-worker status; our neighbors often don't pop up at
the most convenient times or places, and they certainly don't call ahead first;
and our neighbors are often the most unlikely people!
● Jesus redefines neighbor when he says that an outcast--perhaps even an enemy
(the Samaritan)--was a neighbor to the man in need! The implication is that we
are to love our neighbors as ourselves--doing for others what we would do or
want done for ourselves.
● But more importantly--our loving our neighbors is a bit random and chaotic. It's
not a program or a church activity; it's something we commit to when we
commit to following Jesus--as we love God, we also must love our neighbors.

2. To love our neighbors teaches us obedience to God.


● Sadly, many religious people think they are being completely obedient to God
because merely because they are “ritually clean,” like the priest and Levite
(Luke 10:31-32).
● Jesus teaches us that true obedience means we sometimes get dirty loving our
neighbors (Luke 10:33ff).
● Test your obedience to God by your willingness to get involved with your
neighbors to love them.

3. To love our neighbors teaches us to love even our enemies.


● We’re good at loving those we like, and especially those who loved us first.
● But the Samaritan loved his enemy, and this we’re not really good at.
● Love your enemies and reach out to them to serve them. Jesus teaches us to do
this sacrificially and selflessly (Luke 14:12-14)

4. To love our neighbors teaches us to use our time and resources for others.
● Typically, we serve by doing one or the other. We give money to a charity or a
church and think it absolves us from giving our time. Or, we give our time...and
think it exempts us from using our resources as well.
● The Samaritan did both--he spent extensive time helping the beaten man and
returning to check on him; and he used his resources (both physical resources

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com


like bandages and money at the inn--with a promise of more, if necessary) to
serve the man.
● Examine your use of time and resources: are you using what God has given you
to love your neighbors?

5. The best way to love our neighbors is to share the message of salvation with them.
● Sharing the message of salvation with your neighbors can be done in several
ways: through friendship; service; teaching.
● Using the resource handed to you today, you can begin reading the bible with
neighbors who show a spiritual interest. (If they haven’t, keep loving them and
serving them.)
● Help your neighbors move from this personal work to a bible class and Christian
fellowship (we will be reorienting our Sunday morning bible classes around
fellowship and evangelism).
● By doing these things, you are obedient to God, loving perhaps even your
enemies, and using your time and resources for God to love others into God’s
kingdom.
● As Jesus said, Go and do likewise.

© 2010 Jeremy Hoover / www.jeremyhoover.com / jeremy@jeremyhoover.com

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