BE A GOOD NEIGHBOR

Pastor Corey Mantz

Woodland Church

Sunday, January 1, 2023

(Luke 10:29-37, NLT) “The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side. “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked. The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

1. Respond to the needs around you.

(Mark 8:2, NLT) “I feel sorry for these people. They have been here with me for three days, and they have nothing left to eat.”

2. Respond with Compassion toward others.

“What is compassion but a kind of fellow-feeling in our hearts for another’s misery, which compels us to come to his help by every means in our power?” -St. Augustine

(Matthew 9:36, NLT) “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

(1 Corinthians 13:3, NLT) “If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.”

3. Respond with practical help.

• physical need.
• clothing need.
• transportation need.
• housing need.

(James 2:14-16, NLT) “What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?”

4. Respond with follow-up help.

(Galatians 6:2, GW) “Help carry each other’s burdens. In this way you will follow Christ’s teachings.”

5. Respond with generosity. 

(2 Corinthians 9:10, NLT) “For God is the one who provides seed for the farmer and then bread to eat. In the same way, he will provide and increase your resources and then produce a great harvest of generosity in you.”