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They had been on the road for several day. They had traveled the easiest portion of the Journey South to Bethlehem. From Nazareth, where in hope they looked anxiety straight in the eyes, and committed the journey, because encounters with Jesus do not happen by accident. Through the anxiety washed in hope, they fully trusted in God and his attributes and left everything behind.
I imagine they were they had a variety of emotions as they began to see two mounts in the horizon. This was a region full heritage and tension. An relatively older woman (likely in her 50’s because life expectancy according to ancient historian Josephus was 60). She pointed, Mt Gerizim that:
Mt Gerizim came to be identified with the site of Abel’s first altar (Gn 4:4)
Noah’s sacrifice after the flood (8:20),
Abraham encountered Melchizedek (14:18),
the site of Isaac’s intended sacrifice (ch 22),
and many other associations.
But as well as a place of Heritage this location brings with it great TENSION. For many decades Samaria was the capital city for the Israelite people. Before Jerusalem there was Samaria. But tension over religious rites and heritage following King David and his son Solomon who relocated the place of worship from Mt. Gerizim to a temple in Jerusalem TENSION turned to hostility. This conversation over the rightful places of worship would take center stage in the future of the in-enuteo- King of Kings.
The borderland of Samaria also played host to many other religious battles. After being conquered and invaded, Samaria became a melting pot of ethnicities, religions, and tongues. (Which by the way, God had plans for! We’ll see that later in the message in Acts 8). The pluralistic culture of Samaria led Jews to believe Samaritans were unclean… un pure… They actually though of them as Gentiles. Namely not Jewish.
I imagine, Mary and Joseph and the Caravan of people they were traveling with making their way through the valley regions of these Mountains and encountering the aftermath of a viscous robbery. Thieves loved they trails. There was a man, beaten left for dead. The Jewish caravan from Nazareth paused, rerouted, skirted around the beaten bloody mess so that they did not compromise their religious perspective. Mary’s heart sank, her pregnancy nausea flared, almost as if the baby in her womb was righteously angry!
But then, a man, a Samaritan man knelt beside the lifeless body. He bandaged him. Picked him up and placed him on his own donkey. They next day, as they entered a small town, the Samaritan man purchased logging for the beaten man. He secured care for him. He pledged to pay for all his care.
Mary was struck by the mans Character. Hope filled her heart as she witnessed this mans Love.
Now, I have no idea if this story occurred on the journey South to Bethlehem, but it is certainly plausible because Jesus told the exact same story in Luke 10. We know it as the Good Samaritan. In the week of advent, our preparation for King Jesus birth and return, historically we turn our attention to scripture theme of Love.
God’s love is coming to us so that we might demonstrate God’s love to the world.”
God’s love is coming to us so that we might demonstrate God’s love to the world.”
And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 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.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
A Higher Perspective of Love (God and Others) leads to everlasting life .
A Higher Perspective of Love (God and Others) leads to everlasting life .
But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
We won’t spend much time here, but it seems the lawyer wanted to muddy things up with technicalities…
Surely you mean an inward love… for people who look, believe, sound, and act like me.
Jesus doesn’t answer who to love, instead answers how to love.
Jesus doesn’t answer who to love, instead answers how to love.
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. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 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. 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.’
How to love everyone God puts around me:
Willing
Intentional
The intentional service, paired with the intentional sacrifice of laying His life down, was meant to convey the personal, individual, unconditional, sacrificial love of God to every person Jesus encountered.
Sacrificial
Willingness is born from surrender.
Jesus demonstrated that love happens willingly, intentionally, and sacrificially to carry the favor and power of God to change the world.
Jesus demonstrated that love happens willingly, intentionally, and sacrificially to carry the favor and power of God to change the world.
Communion—-
Now, after celebrating the willing, intentional, sacrificial love of Jesus, let’s talk about how he would call us to be willing, intentional, and sacrificial in our love.
I didn’t pick the Samaritan controversy lightly. I believe it is very applicable to our current climate. We live in a divided time. We live in a culture wrestling over sacred practices. But Jesus took a higher perspective of love (of God and others). Love Everyone!
In Scripture, Jesus in Acts 1:8 putts a vision of a New Kingdom into…
But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
The Holy Spirit and Salvation will spread to SAMARIA…
In Acts, Samaria represents a strategic phase for the Gospel’s global advance.
In Acts, Samaria represents a strategic phase for the Gospel’s global advance.
When Saul’s persecutions broke out in Jerusalem and Judaea, the Gospel went into Samaria (Acts 8)—a significant deviation from Jesus’ previous commands to take the Gospel to the Jews (compare Matt 10:5ff).
Now those who were scattered went about preaching the word. Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed to them the Christ.
How To Bless Your Neighbor This Christmas!
We want to empower you to B.L.E.S.S. your network and neighborhoods this Christmas! Use these simple ideas to spark conversations with friends, family, neighbors, social media connections and people you encounter throughout your day. If we all BLESS someone this Christmas, more people than ever before can experience the good news of Jesus!
THE B.L.E.S.S. TOOL
THE B.L.E.S.S. TOOL
B- Begin with prayer: Ask God for an Opportunity to Share Your Story.
B- Begin with prayer: Ask God for an Opportunity to Share Your Story.
Who has God presented opportunities with.
Who do I already have chemistry with?
Who do I see regularly?
Who likes me?
Who listens to me?
Who opens up to me?
L- Listen: Lead with a question. Seek to understand, before being understood.
L- Listen: Lead with a question. Seek to understand, before being understood.
Questions create trust currency.
Questions communicate care.
Possible questions to ask:
Where did you grow up?
Where did you buy that shirt?
What do you do?
What is giving you trouble in life?
What is bringing you joy in life?
Where do you hang out?
What do you do for fun?
Tell me more about that?
E- Eat: Enjoying a meal with someone is one of the most spiritual things you could do. Jesus did this often.
E- Eat: Enjoying a meal with someone is one of the most spiritual things you could do. Jesus did this often.
Good friends + good food = great conversations
Possible places to take people:
Your home
Katherine’s Christian Bookstore: coffee or ice cream
Coco Cake Studio: baked treats
Taco Riendo:
Frostbite: All American Food
Fanboys: Barbecue
The Ranch: Sandwiches
Melanie's Seafood Company
Sizzling Grill
L'Incontro Italian Restaurant
S- Serve: Would our city, neighborhood, and neighbors miss us if we weren’t here?
S- Serve: Would our city, neighborhood, and neighbors miss us if we weren’t here?
Potential needs to look for:
Babysitting
Food
Cleaning & household needs.
Company
Clothes
Car pooling
Debt
S-Story: Every one of us has a story to share
S-Story: Every one of us has a story to share
Let God write your story
My life before I met Jesus.
Compose your story
How I met Jesus.
Did a friend invite you to church?
Did a family member introduce you to Jesus?
Did you go through a hard time in life that led you to God?
Did an experience inspire you to get serious about committing your life to him?
IDEAS FOR SHARING CHRISTMAS
Send Christmas Cards with a note of encouragement
Leave a Christmas greeting note at your front door for delivery people
Share baked goods with a neighbor
Organize an outdoor neighborhood Christmas block Party
Share South’s Christmas posts on social media and use the hashtag #ChristmasEveAtSouth
Do an act of service for a neighbor (rake their yard, take in their trash cans, wash their car, etc.)
Send a text with Christmas Eve services times and an invitation to watch if they cannot join you.
December 24 5pm
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Here’s how YOU can use social media to invite your friends to #ChristmasEveAtSouth:
Mark yourself as “Going” on our Christmas Eve At South Facebook event! Then click the “Share” button to invite a friend, share in Messenger or share in a post.
Use the shareable graphics and captions below to post in a status update. Make sure to use #ChristmasEveAtSouth!
Go to facebook.com/SLWCOG and share the Christmas At South post pinned at the top of the page.
Tag a friend in the comments of one of our most recent posts.
Use the shareable graphics below for your feed and Instagram stories. Make sure to use #ChristmasEveAtSouth!
Shareable Graphics