SLIDE: Back to Basics:  Love Thy Neighbor

 

SLIDE: Music Mr. Rogers Intro (PLAY MUSIC)

Feb. 19, 1968 – Aug. 31 – 2001

895 episodes 31 seasons

Rogers 6th cousin of American actor Tom Hanks

Presby minister

Jesus  – Love thy neighbor as thyself

 

“I hope you’re proud of yourself for the times you’ve said “yes,” when all it meant was extra work for you and was seemingly helpful only to someone else.” – Mr. Rogers

 

 

SLIDE: Matthew 22:36-40

³⁶ “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

³⁷ Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ ³⁸ This is the first and greatest commandment. ³⁹ And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

 

Greatest – Weightiest  – ranking by weight – “Rahab lied”

If she chooses the one that’s not weightiest –

“she abolishes the law”.

Jesus uses 2 laws

SLIDE: Deuteronomy  6:5:

“You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might.”

Devout Jews pray this every morning and evening

2nd law has = WEIGHT = one isn’t weightier

SLIDE: Leviticus 19:9-“18”  Love your neighbor as yourself

⁹ “‘When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. ¹⁰ Do not go over your vineyard a second time or pick up the grapes that have fallen. Leave them for the poor and the foreigner. I am the Lord your God. ¹¹ “‘Do not steal. “‘Do not lie. “‘Do not deceive one another. ¹² “‘Do not swear falsely by my name and so profane the name of your God. I am the Lord. ¹³ “‘Do not defraud or rob your neighbor. “‘Do not hold back the wages of a hired worker overnight.¹⁴ “‘Do not curse the deaf or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but fear your God. I am the Lord. ¹⁵ “‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. ¹⁶ “‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord.¹⁷ “‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. ¹⁸ “‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

 

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? – “among your own people?”

 

Most famous – “LOVE your Neighbor as yourself”-

SLIDE: The Parable of the Good Samaritan  Luke 10:25-37 

²⁵ On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” ²⁶ “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” ²⁷ He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’ ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”²⁸ “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” ²⁹ But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

Tell me! DISCOVERY – PARABLE –   

³⁰ In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. ³¹ A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. ³² So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. ³³ But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. ³⁴ He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. ³⁵ The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

³⁶ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” ³⁷ The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 

Priest, Levite – Jewish religious leaders

and Samaritan – Hated by Jews centuries – religious war

 

mugged guy – “going down” = a Jew from worship

 

Priest and Levite – Purity laws are “Greater” “Weightier”

 

CONTEXT –

OT – Deeper biblical

 

North –

South –

 

SLIDE: 2 Chronicles 28:15

The men designated by name took the prisoners, and from the plunder they clothed all who were naked. They provided them with clothes and sandals, food and drink, and healing balm. All those who were weak they put on donkeys. So they took them back to their fellow Israelites at Jericho, and returned to Samaria.

 

 

Love People: Black – white, Rich – poor, country – city, immigrated and brought social hierarchy, Chiefs – 49-ers, UVA – VT,  Conservative – Liberal, Democrat – Republican

 

 

SLIDE: Feet to Your Faith

SLIDE: Love Your Neighbor as Yourself

 

SLIDE: LOVE THY SPOUSE – Better love Feb 9^th  

Sundays 9:30am – theatre room

 

SLIDE: Love your Neighborhood as own Your Home

 

Envelope –  Card – mailbox in foyer

 

 

SLIDE: 5 Miles, 5 Minute walk, 5 Homes, 5 People, 5 Minutes

 

 

5 Mile Radius around my home. 90% of my year (days in a year) is spent within this five mile radius; my home is in this radius, my greatest impact for the Kingdom is in this 5 miles.

 

5 Minute Walk – Praying through your neighborhood

5 homes that surround my home; taking time to speak to my physical neighbors, bless them, serve them, get to know them, 67% of unchurched adults in America, would be more than likely to come to church if they were personally invited by a friend, neighbor, or co-worker.

5 people. Pray for 5 people that are in my daily/weekly life that do not know Jesus (think co-workers, neighbors, etc.)

Pray 5 minutes a week (I do daily) for those people that they will feel the touch of the Holy Spirit and respond.

 

People pick up letter and put in a mailbox in the Foyer

 

Good Samaritan laws offer legal 

protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are in peril

 

A duty to rescue law 

requires people to offer assistance and holds those who fail to do so liable.

 

front porch – back porch

 

Carrie – LOVING YOURSELF – WOULD YOU DO THIS TO SOMEONE ELSE

Pastor Gabe – love yourself – NOT IN LOVE with yourself

 

Fear of loving

HOW BAD IS THIS?

WHAT WILL THE COST ME? – Time, Energy, Money

 

HE DOES NOT DO THIS ALONE

Involved innkeeper

 

 

 

Pastoral Blessing: Ernest Bennet 1967 – 92