And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. (Rom 5:3-6)

Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel. (Psalm 69:6)



Sunday, March 11, 2012

Sermon Notes:

Saints,
Here again are the rough outline sermon sotes for today.


Sacrificial Love of a Peculiar People

Luke 10:25-37

 To be peculiar is to be so different that your draw an interest, not weird.  It is living so above the norm that without gimmicks we draw attention to something/ in this case someone greater.  (Remember “the croc hunter”, he was peculiar)

We know this story, The priest, the Levite the Samaritan.  Today I read of a person helping a woman in a fiery crash that had flipped her off in road rage a few moments before. 
·         The woman in the story used todays language for you get what you deserve: Karma.  I wonder if this is what the Levite and the priest thought of the battered man?

Let’s look at what Luke is relating about whet Jesus teaches.  The student (Lawyer), keeps talking in legal terms, that is his language.  It is how he perceives things in his worldview.

Now an inheritance is a gift.  It is what is bequeathed.  A gift is not earned, payment is earned. 
·         But the lawyer asks how he can earn a gift..  This is not possible.
He did not understand salvation, eternal life, as a gift.  (Jesus worldview)
·         He was compartmentalizing the things of life.

We read his response to the law and earning as Heart, Soul, Strength, mind= all of your personhood.

See, the lawyer had law talk; the Savior salvation talk.  Jesus was turning his mind to the right way of thinking. Talk of the Kingdom is to be peculiar. Law will not save you.  But the condition of a heart is to love.  When Jesus uses the Samaritan illustration He is showing how the most irrepressible outcast, the greatest of sinners, can be a part of the kingdom of God.

Jesus once said, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and the Pharisees, which is just what this Samaritan did. (Matt 5:20) We should not think of our lives as measuring up to the law as this lawyer did, but how are we in the image of Christ?

As a peculiar people who love, we do so because of our worldview is actually a Kingdom view.  We are more concerned with the Kingdom of God than of this world here.  This world is for making preparations for the next.

This Samaritan embodies how we are to live, not by law, though we do not throw out the law, we live by love.  This is a Kingdom worldview.  It is peculiar. Learn to love.  Love is not law, it is heart- it is all of the personhood.  It is the ultimate of heart, soul, strength, and mind.
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