March 12 – Missions Month – Good Samaritan

MH – Missions message 1 of 2

Going to share my message backwards (so to speak). My / Our 2017 Missions theme is Love Them, Help Them and Tell Them.

: Why a missions’ month? Why pledge cards? What’s the big deal?

: The first reason is because we have been commissioned!

We need to know and constantly be reminded that the ‘good news’ of Jesus’ work for healing, deliverance, satisfaction and most importantly salvation is a message that we have been commissioned not to keep to ourselves but rather to share!

– Great Commission

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: The Good Word of God is part of who we are and who we are should be shared.

We have not be asked to become comfortably fat by simply feasting on our favorites but rather we are asked to share our recipe with others!

: Let us turn back to the parable of the Good Samaritan.

I believe a very important element to an appropriate gospel witness is us as believers being committed to helping other!

Just to be clear, I am not espousing a ‘social gospel’ as with say what Liberation Theology in Latin America of the 50’s and 60’s attempted to do, but helping others/oppressed as a means of the demonstration of our faith with the intent on help/change.

Let’s begin by noticing how the chapter starts.

Text of Good Samaritan starts really at

We see in Jesus’ use of this parable, that he encourages us, “Yes, now go and do the same,” as a reflection of correct behavior.

: So, I submit that missions (foreign, US, and friendship evangelism), should be shrouded in helping people and telling them about God’s goodness and grace but it really begins, I believe what a foundation that is love!

: There is no direct reference in the parable about the good Samaritan loving the fallen, and, I would say that the responsibility to help and serve others goes beyond how we ‘feel’ about others, but I find an inherent, care, concern and yes even love as motivation for sharing God’s good news and ways.

Jesus loved people. He loved thieves, prostitutes, tax collectors, diseased people, poor people, children and His followers. He loved people who were devoted to Him and those who were different from Him. He even loved difficult and dangerous people.

And His love is the same today as it was 2,000 years ago.

John 13:34-35,

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The New Testament contains 54 “one another” passages that teach us how to love.

Ways to Love Others:

The ultimate example of forgiveness was displayed when Jesus hung on the Cross and cried out for those who were crucifying Him:

“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing”(Luke 23:34). We should forgive others even when they don’t deserve it or ask for it. That demonstrates a love that keeps no record of wrongs

 means to esteem someone as highly valuable. It leads us to treat others as though they are personally autographed by God. When we value others above ourselves, we are emulating the attitude of Christ (Philippians 2:3-5).

: Missions emphasis is a commitment to loving, helping and telling others that someone has loved and helped us! Missions is reaching out to others grateful for what God has revealed to us. Missions is love extended in the purest and most practical way possible!