Beyond The Fence

31 When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.

32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and glorify him at once.

33 Little children, yet a little while I am with you. You will seek me, and just as I said to the Jews, so now I also say to you, ‘Where I am going you cannot come.’

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.

35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Jn 13:31–35.

Prayer

neiece watching Moanna

Moanna wants to explore and surf and the world around her

but there is one problem “ no one is allowed to travel beyond the reef”

this rule is rooted in trauma because of past expriences

event we find out that that rule wasn’t always the case

there was a season in the life where those same people were not hermits but voyagers and the would travel to island to

but because of circumstances they have allowed themseleves to stay in what is safe instead of

Reason behind the series

First Thing i thought about was the church

we have a clear mission to go

He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.

spread the gospel, respresent jesus and to love those around

because of that people are going to know you by

i wondered is that what christians are known for?

According to Barna research, non-believers often hold a variety of opinions about Christian behavior, with both positive and negative perceptions.

Negative Perceptions

1. Hypocrisy: One of the most common criticisms from non-believers is that Christians are seen as hypocritical. This perception is based on actions not aligning with the values Christians claim to uphold, particularly around moral issues like kindness and humility.

2. Judgmental Attitudes: Many non-Christians believe that Christians can be overly judgmental, focusing more on pointing out the faults in others instead of embodying Christ-like love and acceptance.

3. Focus on Being Right: There’s a perception that Christians are more concerned with proving their beliefs right than helping others on their own spiritual journey.

Positive Perceptions:

1. Charitable Actions: Despite criticisms, non-believers often recognize the generosity of Christians, especially in areas like charity work and community service.

2. Moral Convictions: Many non-believers respect Christians' commitment to their moral and ethical values, even if they don’t agree with them

We are known more for what we are against then for what we are for.

Jonah and The Whale

God Tells Jonah to go preach to nenavah Israel’s enemy.

Jonah goes in the opposite direction

God sends a Storm

They ask what to do and he says kill me.

Jonahs I’ll do what you

Jonah does not want to go preach to these people because

he dose not like them

he knows God will forgive them he knew God would have compassion on them and they would repent.

Instead of Listening to god and to go where e said go this Man of God chose to run the opposite direction.

Have yo ever found yourself in situations there is a oppurnity for you to be the hands and feet of jesus but maybe something internal or external get in your way

A lot of times these thing are rooted in fearr

Differnces

fear of being looked at differntly becuase if my circle knew that i hung out with you then i wouldnt be aceepted into my christian spaces or social groups

why do we go beyond the fence ? its to represent jesus

The question that i want to challenge and ask yourself what are some of the fences in that stop you from being the hands and feet

Good Samaritain

Jesus uses this stories as a mirror

25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”

27 And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.”

28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

Seeking eternal life wasnt just a christian concept Loving God and neighbor is the path to eternal life

he came to trap jesus to question him

they wanted to earn eternal life

jesus changes the rules, all you had to do to believe

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

purity laws dictate that israel to be set apart

the lawyer is hiding behind the law to justify his unneighborly attitude

What he is really asking is Who qualifies as our neighbor?

30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.

Picture of the road

people are probably like i know that road

17 miles

The road connecting Jerusalem with Jericho ran through a wild, dreary, and mountainous solitude, suited by the gloomy and inaccessible fastnesses on either side of it, to harbour thieves, robbers, and other outlaws from society, and so particularly infamous in the time of our Lord for the horrid depredations and murders perpetrated by the ruffians that infested it, that it went under the name of "The Bloody Way."

31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.

32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.

by profession the where obligated to help.

like a off duty cop or nurse or doctor

it was a offensive ask to ask the jewish people to do something kind for a gentile

if the man was dead or died in their possesion then they would have been unclean

They acted as if God would care more about their uncleaniness the saving someones life?

motivated by self preservation

their inaction speaks load of the religious and moral priorites

33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.

the samartians hated to the jews and vis-versa

Took notice

Took pity

Took action.

34 He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.

35 And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’

the samaritain was too under the same law concerning the impurity laws

the samaritain chooses to put himself at greater risk becuase he could have been seen as the aggresser

The samaratan lays down the history between them becuase he is in the face of injustice

36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

the lesson drawn from the story is one of compassion even if the other person is the enemy

in the end the lawyer has to admit that the wrong person has done the right thing

and the right person has been found wanting when it comes to embodying the precepts of Gods law.

Takeaway: Everyone we encounter, regardless of background, ethnicity, or location, is a neighbor in need of love and care.

What Gets in our way others even our eniemies

The Image Of God

Imago Dei

Genesis 1:27

27 So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

Ephesians 2:10

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

When you recognize that we are made in the image of God, it changes how you perceive people, how you handle folks, how you deal with the individuals that get on your nerves, youre alot less likley to curse someone out when you perceive them as an image of God. They have more value now.

we think there is a differnece between them and us

We are saved by grace, it is only by the blood jesus that we can live rightous

we forget we too

and if it hadnt been for jesus we still be caught in cycles of sin

and becuase he has done it for us we are now commision to do the same

If I love God, I must love people, I don’t have a choice to choose when -Jackie Hill Perry

Ephesians 2:13–14 “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility”

The world wants us to be at odds with each , wants us to so its so polorized

the thing that frustrates me the most is that the church in the middle of the division

we have a really bad habit of trying legislate holiness , its a heart issue

the power the ballot can change the law , but the power of god

only god can changes the heart of those who need to forgive and repent

You Dont have to be at

EX Rivals

Picture of River

rivals in shows, political rivals

the original decription of the word is deptted by a river

The river was the rival

the river is what is getting between them