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Pastor Shane Ham : Lack of Compassion

Believing Despite Christians · 46:18 · Recorded July 16, 2023

Lack of Compassion

Luke 10:25-37 (NIV) 25On 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?” 27He 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.” 29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins 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.’ 36Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

The life of a disciple:

There’s gospel messaging and there’s gospel neighboring.

What is “gospel neighboring”?

Jesus is saying, “I want you to look out there and see…”

People you ordinarily overlook.

People you instinctively despise.

People you fundamentally disagree with.

“I want you to meet their needs with such love that it’ll astonish people.”

Meaning:

Feeding, sheltering, protecting the weak, liberating the oppressed, noticing the overlooked.

What are the limitations we try to make?

We try to limit the who.

We try to limit the when.

We try to limit the how much.

When will it stick?

When I’ve come to terms with my own need.

How will it show?

I’ll begin to notice the needs of the people around me.

Matthew 25:31-46 (NIV) 31“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ 37“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ 40“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ 41“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. 42For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, 43I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.’ 44“They also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?’ 45“He will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ 46“Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

I’ll respond in both word and deed.

 

Growing Deeper Together

Use these points throughout the week as part of your quiet time, in your small group, or over coffee with a friend to help you apply what you learned in today’s message.

  • Where do you see yourself limiting who and how you are “gospel neighboring” others? In what ways or situations is it easy to step in to help? When and why is it more difficult? How does today’s teaching move you closer to the ideal that Jesus described in the parable of the Good Samaritan?
  • As you look over the three points Shane made about “people you ”, to whom do you find it most challenging to respond quickly and naturally? Spend time this week meditating on Genesis 1:26-27, thinking about how God created each of us “in his image” and how that should be the driving force behind how we live in community with one another.
  • Reread Matthew 25:31-46 and the final point in the notes. How will you respond? As you spend time with God this week, where is he leading you? To change a belief or attitude about someone? To more clearly see those around you? To step forward in Ministry (serving & caring for one another)? Check the website (northpointe.org/serve) for ways you can join in with others already serving.

Pastoral study references & attributions:Archbishop William Temple