Who is My Neighbor?

Biblical Story: The Good Samaritan

• Context: A lawyer asks Jesus, "Who is my neighbor?" prompting Jesus to tell the story of a man who is beaten and left for dead on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho.

• Characters:

  • A priest and a Levite, who represent religious leaders, pass by the injured man without helping.
  • A Samaritan, despised by the Jews, stops to help the man, demonstrating true compassion and mercy.

• Moral: Jesus concludes that the Samaritan, who showed mercy, is the true neighbor. He instructs the lawyer to "go and do likewise," highlighting that love for neighbor transcends societal boundaries and prejudices.

Challenges of Neighboring

• Inconvenience and Messiness: The sermon acknowledges that loving our neighbors can be inconvenient and messy. It challenges listeners to break out of their comfort zones and engage with those in need, rather than opting for easy solutions like giving money without personal engagement.

• Intimacy Circles: There are different levels of relationships (family, friends, acquaintances, strangers) and loving those in the outer circles (strangers) is often the hardest .

Call to Action

• Store Up Treasures in Relationships: Prioritize relationships over material possessions, and invest in connections with others as a reflection of their faith.

• Empowerment through Faith: Recognize that the task is beyond human ability but achievable through divine support.