WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:22.260 Hi, and welcome to the Willow Ridge Church weekly podcast. 00:00:22.780 --> 00:00:25.880 This is where you can find audio for our current and past sermons. 00:00:26.100 --> 00:00:30.420 We hope that you enjoy this week's installment, and be sure to check back next week to hear 00:00:30.420 --> 00:00:31.260 the latest message. 00:00:31.660 --> 00:00:32.460 Thanks for listening. 00:00:45.780 --> 00:00:46.720 Well, good morning. 00:00:47.700 --> 00:00:51.180 If you've got your Bibles with you, go ahead and open up to Luke chapter 10. 00:00:51.800 --> 00:00:54.520 As you turn there, I want to say it feels good to be back. 00:00:55.060 --> 00:01:00.240 I was gone this past Sunday as Aaron and I prepared to be on the mission trip with our 00:01:00.240 --> 00:01:03.920 students, and I just want to share with you, and a lot of our adults, I just want to share 00:01:03.920 --> 00:01:05.460 with you kind of a little brief update about it. 00:01:05.500 --> 00:01:08.000 It was a phenomenal, phenomenal trip. 00:01:08.120 --> 00:01:12.800 I think there were somewhere close to 35 of us that were able to go to Black Mountain Children's 00:01:12.800 --> 00:01:17.100 Home to serve them where they are in their facilities. 00:01:17.720 --> 00:01:19.780 Aaron and I, by far, had the easiest job. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:24.060 Our job was to cook, which if you were there or your kids were there, that means you know 00:01:24.060 --> 00:01:28.860 that we got to stay away from the ticks and the mosquitoes and the poison ivy that I think 00:01:28.860 --> 00:01:32.920 everybody else happened to find during the course of the week that we were there. 00:01:33.280 --> 00:01:35.060 But it was just a wonderful, wonderful time. 00:01:35.460 --> 00:01:39.160 For all of the parents that are here, thank you so much for letting your kids go. 00:01:39.460 --> 00:01:45.840 I can tell you I've been on more student ministry mission trips than I can count, and this group 00:01:45.840 --> 00:01:50.800 of students were absolutely phenomenal in how hard they worked and how they worked together 00:01:50.800 --> 00:01:52.520 and how they listened to instructions. 00:01:52.860 --> 00:01:59.340 And so it was a pleasure to be with them, to get to know a lot of them even more, and to have that time. 00:01:59.660 --> 00:02:02.560 As the church, thank you so much for allowing us to do this. 00:02:02.660 --> 00:02:07.820 You know, one of the things indirectly that we've had to put on hold is our mission strategy, 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:12.160 because so much of it is involved going overseas into other countries, 00:02:12.160 --> 00:02:16.080 and because of the way the world is right now, we have not been able to do that. 00:02:16.340 --> 00:02:21.680 And so it kind of hit me midweek while we were there about how important it was that we had the opportunity 00:02:21.680 --> 00:02:27.580 to continue to fulfill the great commission and the mission that God's called us to here at Willow Ridge Church 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:28.540 by going there and sharing. 00:02:28.640 --> 00:02:29.160 So thank you. 00:02:29.400 --> 00:02:31.580 I know many of you were praying for us last week. 00:02:31.900 --> 00:02:32.800 Thank you so much. 00:02:32.860 --> 00:02:38.620 Our kids stayed safe, mostly accident-free, and we were able to go there and to serve. 00:02:38.720 --> 00:02:41.720 And it was absolutely a wonderful, wonderful time. 00:02:42.220 --> 00:02:48.140 Well, if you've got your Bibles open, Luke chapter 10, we're going to start reading here in verse 25. 00:02:49.460 --> 00:02:49.780 It says, 00:02:49.880 --> 00:02:53.740 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, 00:02:54.520 --> 00:02:57.180 Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:02:57.880 --> 00:02:59.040 And he said to him, 00:02:59.460 --> 00:03:00.780 What is written in the law? 00:03:01.040 --> 00:03:02.120 How do you read it? 00:03:02.720 --> 00:03:06.240 And he, this is the lawyer, the teacher of the law, answered, 00:03:06.660 --> 00:03:10.440 You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, 00:03:10.760 --> 00:03:13.120 and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself. 00:03:13.620 --> 00:03:15.780 And Jesus said to him, 00:03:16.520 --> 00:03:17.960 You have answered correctly. 00:03:18.520 --> 00:03:20.060 Do this, and you will live. 00:03:20.880 --> 00:03:25.340 But he, being the teacher of the law, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, 00:03:25.680 --> 00:03:26.640 And who is my neighbor? 00:03:27.380 --> 00:03:30.060 And so Jesus begins to tell his parable. 00:03:30.720 --> 00:03:31.460 Jesus replied, 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:41.120 A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among robbers, who stripped him, and beat him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 00:03:41.880 --> 00:03:45.400 Now by chance, a priest was going down that road, and we saw him. 00:03:45.580 --> 00:03:47.100 He passed by on the other side. 00:03:47.760 --> 00:03:52.500 So likewise, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 00:03:52.920 --> 00:03:59.940 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:04.480 He went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring oil and wine. 00:04:05.060 --> 00:04:09.360 Then he set him on his own animal, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. 00:04:09.760 --> 00:04:13.860 And the next day, he took out two denarii, and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, 00:04:13.860 --> 00:04:18.500 Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back. 00:04:19.260 --> 00:04:23.960 Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers? 00:04:24.440 --> 00:04:25.380 Jesus asked. 00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.260 And the lawyer said, 00:04:27.360 --> 00:04:28.900 The one who showed him mercy. 00:04:29.780 --> 00:04:30.820 And Jesus said, 00:04:31.380 --> 00:04:32.960 Go and do likewise. 00:04:33.860 --> 00:04:37.220 So today, we're looking at the parable of the Good Samaritan. 00:04:37.840 --> 00:04:41.860 The parable of the Good Samaritan is one of the most known parables told by Jesus. 00:04:42.460 --> 00:04:45.500 It's told throughout Christianity, throughout Scripture. 00:04:45.660 --> 00:04:46.340 We see it here. 00:04:46.340 --> 00:04:52.980 But it's also been one of those parables that have been adopted by the non-Christian world 00:04:52.980 --> 00:04:56.440 in order to teach morality, and treating others well, 00:04:56.580 --> 00:05:00.460 and doing good for your neighbor, for those who aren't like you. 00:05:00.940 --> 00:05:05.620 And I want to start us off by understanding something about this parable. 00:05:06.120 --> 00:05:10.280 The parable of the Good Samaritan is not about doing. 00:05:11.340 --> 00:05:14.800 It's very easy for us to look at this and say, 00:05:15.080 --> 00:05:19.620 Okay, now I just need to go out and do for other people. 00:05:20.020 --> 00:05:21.940 Now, that's important, and we're going to look at that. 00:05:22.400 --> 00:05:26.320 But that's not the heart and the driving motive behind it. 00:05:26.580 --> 00:05:32.400 What we're going to understand is that the parable of the Good Samaritan is about care and compassion. 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:39.740 That when we see others, that what comes from us is care, that what comes from us is compassion, 00:05:39.740 --> 00:05:45.320 and that rests in the very heart of the individual, and it's actually what motivates what they do. 00:05:46.520 --> 00:05:52.760 And so we see this parable, and it's brought on by what the ESV says as a lawyer, 00:05:52.920 --> 00:05:54.960 what some others say, the teacher of the law. 00:05:55.140 --> 00:05:59.920 Not meaning law in terms of the law of the land, but in law in terms of Scripture. 00:06:00.660 --> 00:06:02.160 And he asks Jesus two questions. 00:06:02.240 --> 00:06:07.100 The first one, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? 00:06:07.640 --> 00:06:13.160 And so he goes to Jesus and says, Hey, Jesus, teacher, help me understand. 00:06:13.560 --> 00:06:18.140 I've got this checklist of things that I want to accomplish and that I want to do. 00:06:18.460 --> 00:06:21.700 And one of them is to inherit eternal life. 00:06:21.760 --> 00:06:28.840 So help me start this second checklist of things that need to be done so that when my time is up, 00:06:28.840 --> 00:06:35.720 I can stand with great confidence in who I am and what I've accomplished and what I have done. 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:40.340 Jesus, tell me, what must I do? 00:06:41.180 --> 00:06:46.320 This is where the parable begins with an interaction. 00:06:47.480 --> 00:06:51.440 And so Jesus looks at the man, and he makes him answer his own question. 00:06:52.160 --> 00:06:53.860 He says, What is written in the law? 00:06:54.880 --> 00:07:00.360 And so he answers, You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul, 00:07:00.460 --> 00:07:02.000 with all your strength, and with all your mind. 00:07:02.420 --> 00:07:04.560 And then he gets the second part right with it. 00:07:04.720 --> 00:07:07.900 And your neighbor as yourself. 00:07:08.500 --> 00:07:10.420 So the man asks the question. 00:07:10.600 --> 00:07:12.440 He then answers the question. 00:07:12.540 --> 00:07:17.740 So for me, and I ask this question to my kids all the time, if you know what the answer is going to be, 00:07:17.860 --> 00:07:19.420 then why did you ask it, right? 00:07:19.720 --> 00:07:22.920 If you knew I was going to tell you no to begin with, then why did you ask me to begin with? 00:07:22.960 --> 00:07:24.660 Because the answer is no, right? 00:07:25.080 --> 00:07:30.280 So the question that I have is, well then, why in the world did he do this? 00:07:30.780 --> 00:07:37.700 Why did the teacher of the law, who knew the answer, ask the question to begin with? 00:07:38.400 --> 00:07:44.080 And he gets to the heart of it all because he knew that he couldn't do that which he said he had done. 00:07:44.920 --> 00:07:52.400 He knew that within himself was not the ability to love God with all that he had and all that he was. 00:07:52.680 --> 00:07:58.280 He knew that within himself he was not able to love his neighbor as himself. 00:07:58.280 --> 00:08:01.260 He knew that he could not do these things. 00:08:01.560 --> 00:08:04.880 And the irony is he's going to the man who can do it. 00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:10.200 And not only who can do it, but who can impart it to us. 00:08:11.180 --> 00:08:13.540 Because see, you and I are just like the teacher of the law. 00:08:14.440 --> 00:08:18.300 He desperately needed Jesus because he could not fulfill the law. 00:08:19.040 --> 00:08:22.580 Just as you and I desperately need Jesus because neither can we. 00:08:23.440 --> 00:08:25.460 So then he asks a second question. 00:08:26.080 --> 00:08:30.020 And scripture says that he was seeking to justify himself. 00:08:30.520 --> 00:08:32.640 Knowing that he could not fulfill this. 00:08:32.640 --> 00:08:38.400 He then asked Jesus the question, well then, who is my neighbor? 00:08:39.020 --> 00:08:40.460 I know who God is. 00:08:41.020 --> 00:08:42.540 I know God is creator. 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.420 I know God as Yahweh. 00:08:44.560 --> 00:08:45.580 But who is my neighbor? 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:48.140 Is it the people that live near me? 00:08:49.420 --> 00:08:52.280 Is it religiously people that I align with? 00:08:53.120 --> 00:08:55.620 Is it racially people who are like me? 00:08:56.100 --> 00:08:58.340 Is it people who speak the same language? 00:08:58.660 --> 00:09:01.000 Is it people who are in my close proximity? 00:09:01.400 --> 00:09:03.600 Is it people who are in my peer group? 00:09:03.800 --> 00:09:06.920 Is it people who are in my socioeconomic standing? 00:09:07.300 --> 00:09:10.380 Jesus, who is my neighbor? 00:09:11.020 --> 00:09:14.160 And this is when Jesus begins to tell the parable. 00:09:14.740 --> 00:09:20.360 And at the very end, Jesus is going to have him answer his own question again. 00:09:20.920 --> 00:09:21.900 Now, it's interesting. 00:09:22.020 --> 00:09:26.100 In most of Jesus' parables that we've even talked about in this study so far, 00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:32.160 Jesus very rarely speaks to, specifically to, the identity of the people. 00:09:32.380 --> 00:09:39.300 Very rarely does he describe them, other than maybe saying a servant or a king or a brother or a father. 00:09:39.300 --> 00:09:44.960 But here, Jesus is going to speak specifically to the makeup of the individuals that are involved. 00:09:45.300 --> 00:09:50.160 But Jesus is also going to speak to the place in which the parable is set. 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:54.500 You know, most of the time it's in a land off far away or in the kingdom. 00:09:54.620 --> 00:09:55.440 This is what happens. 00:09:55.720 --> 00:10:01.540 But Jesus speaks specifically to the people who are involved and the setting in which it takes place. 00:10:01.760 --> 00:10:06.840 And I think it helps people there that are hearing this understand because they can relate to it. 00:10:07.440 --> 00:10:17.920 And so, what I want us to do today as well is to begin to think of the people and the places that help us relate to what this person is talking about. 00:10:18.400 --> 00:10:24.280 So, Jesus says that there is a man that is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho. 00:10:24.620 --> 00:10:28.720 Now, the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was about 15 miles long. 00:10:28.800 --> 00:10:30.100 It was a very dangerous road. 00:10:30.180 --> 00:10:31.620 It was a very steep road. 00:10:31.760 --> 00:10:33.660 There were rock slides that would happen. 00:10:33.760 --> 00:10:36.040 And so, it was a very dangerous road to travel. 00:10:36.160 --> 00:10:38.460 It was a long road to travel. 00:10:38.560 --> 00:10:47.960 But it was also a bad road to travel because it was where a lot of robberies were known to take place, where a lot of people were attacked. 00:10:48.060 --> 00:11:07.600 So, when Jesus is sitting there and he's setting the groundwork for this parable, he says, you know, the man is traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho, that part of town, that street, that place where you're not supposed to go, where bad things are happening, where you don't stop. 00:11:07.660 --> 00:11:10.100 You just kind of roll through the stop signs, right? 00:11:10.800 --> 00:11:16.380 The place that your mom would have said when you first got your driver's license, whatever you do, don't go there. 00:11:17.100 --> 00:11:19.780 That's the place Jesus begins to describe. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:37.680 And he tells about a man that as he's on that road, that dangerous road where bad things happen to people all of the time, he's attacked, he's beaten, he's robbed, he's stripped naked, and he's left for dead. 00:11:37.680 --> 00:11:49.120 Meaning this, they didn't just punch him and take his stuff, they punched him, they took his stuff, and then they began to beat him in hopes that he would not survive. 00:11:50.120 --> 00:11:56.160 They began to beat him so that he could never identify who the people were that did this to him. 00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.380 And this is the setting that we find. 00:12:00.180 --> 00:12:02.780 This is all we know about the man on the side of the road. 00:12:03.360 --> 00:12:06.460 We don't know who he was, we don't know where he's from. 00:12:06.820 --> 00:12:09.640 We don't know if he's religious or if he's pagan. 00:12:10.660 --> 00:12:14.360 Scripture doesn't tell us whether he's a Jew or a Gentile. 00:12:14.560 --> 00:12:18.360 We don't know if he's young or old, rich or poor. 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:26.960 We know nothing about this man other than he's desperate, he's in dire circumstances, and he's off to the side of the road. 00:12:27.880 --> 00:12:29.760 But then three men are going to pass by. 00:12:30.560 --> 00:12:37.060 Three men on their journey, on that same road, facing the same dangers that he faced, are going to pass by him. 00:12:37.300 --> 00:12:43.820 Two that are relatable to a lot of the people who would have been there, to the teacher of the law that they would have been common with. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:46.040 And one that was taboo. 00:12:47.040 --> 00:12:48.640 One that wasn't accepted. 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:50.760 One that wasn't liked. 00:12:51.540 --> 00:12:54.400 And so the first two were the priest and the Levite. 00:12:54.700 --> 00:12:56.260 And these are the religious leaders. 00:12:56.700 --> 00:12:58.280 These are the pastors. 00:12:58.540 --> 00:12:59.700 These are the elders. 00:12:59.940 --> 00:13:01.340 These are the missionaries. 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:04.440 These are those that worked for the church at the time. 00:13:04.440 --> 00:13:11.180 And you would think that as they travel alongside the road, that they would do the right thing. 00:13:11.300 --> 00:13:12.100 But they don't. 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:13.460 They don't. 00:13:14.080 --> 00:13:23.120 In fact, Jesus says in his words, as they traveled by him, they passed by on the other side of the road. 00:13:23.780 --> 00:13:27.360 They didn't even take the time to look at the man and say, you all right, buddy? 00:13:28.300 --> 00:13:33.180 They didn't take the time to say, hey, when I get down to the bottom, I'm going to send somebody up. 00:13:33.680 --> 00:13:37.040 They didn't even take the time to say, hey, man, don't worry. 00:13:37.160 --> 00:13:38.440 There's others behind us. 00:13:38.740 --> 00:13:39.660 Someone will get you. 00:13:40.480 --> 00:13:43.920 Their solution to the problem is to ignore it like it's not even there. 00:13:44.740 --> 00:13:52.980 Their solution to the problem is to distance themselves from someone who's desperate, from someone who is broken. 00:13:54.300 --> 00:13:56.100 But there's a Samaritan that comes along. 00:13:57.320 --> 00:14:00.720 The Samaritan who's lower than low culturally. 00:14:01.560 --> 00:14:05.700 There's a Samaritan that comes by that's a second class citizen. 00:14:06.480 --> 00:14:07.520 And he stops. 00:14:08.560 --> 00:14:09.980 And this is why it's so important. 00:14:11.160 --> 00:14:13.920 Jesus' words were, here's the reason why he stopped. 00:14:14.580 --> 00:14:17.980 Because he had compassion on him. 00:14:18.820 --> 00:14:22.380 Before he did anything, notice the condition of his heart. 00:14:22.920 --> 00:14:25.840 He had compassion on him. 00:14:26.400 --> 00:14:36.940 And what Jesus is trying to do here is Jesus is trying to teach us the way that we view broken, hurt, lost people with compassion. 00:14:38.000 --> 00:14:41.160 In Matthew 9, 36, Jesus is talking about the lostness of the world. 00:14:42.100 --> 00:14:44.620 You know, Jesus looks and sees things different than we can. 00:14:45.520 --> 00:14:51.000 And in Matthew 9, it's the part of Scripture where Jesus talks about that the harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. 00:14:51.260 --> 00:14:54.600 So pray to the Lord of the harvest that he will send workers out to the harvest. 00:14:54.600 --> 00:15:01.360 But what that passage of Scripture begins with is Jesus looks out and doesn't see workers. 00:15:02.620 --> 00:15:04.600 Jesus looks out and doesn't see obedience. 00:15:05.780 --> 00:15:07.860 Jesus looks out and doesn't see godly people. 00:15:08.740 --> 00:15:10.920 Jesus looks out and sees sin. 00:15:12.020 --> 00:15:14.220 Jesus looks out and he sees brokenness. 00:15:14.840 --> 00:15:17.620 Jesus looks out and he sees despair. 00:15:18.380 --> 00:15:27.520 And in Matthew 9, 36, Jesus' internal response to it is not anger that you people are doing these things. 00:15:28.580 --> 00:15:33.140 It's that he had compassion on them. 00:15:34.220 --> 00:15:40.000 And when we look at the broken people of the world, when we look at the people who have been cast aside, 00:15:40.740 --> 00:15:42.360 let me ask you, where does your heart go? 00:15:43.120 --> 00:15:45.260 Where is the compassion that's there? 00:15:45.880 --> 00:15:52.980 So that the Samaritan, having compassion in his heart, puts his compassion into action. 00:15:53.580 --> 00:15:55.760 He met the immediate needs of the man. 00:15:55.860 --> 00:15:58.240 He bandaged and cared for his wounds. 00:15:58.980 --> 00:16:00.180 He brought him with him. 00:16:00.400 --> 00:16:05.520 He literally picked him up and placed him on his animal, probably a donkey, 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:08.540 which means the Samaritan would then have to get off of the donkey 00:16:08.540 --> 00:16:14.960 and finish walking the rest of the journey on his own feet and not in the care of what he had. 00:16:14.960 --> 00:16:16.740 He sacrificed for him. 00:16:16.980 --> 00:16:19.140 He financially cared for the man. 00:16:19.400 --> 00:16:23.000 Not only did he financially care for him in the medical supplies he had then 00:16:23.000 --> 00:16:25.220 and to pay for what he had done at the end, 00:16:25.380 --> 00:16:28.240 but he basically left his credit card, right, and said, 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:32.140 hey, whatever this man needs, swipe it, take care of it. 00:16:32.220 --> 00:16:33.240 I got this. 00:16:34.340 --> 00:16:36.220 The level of investment that's there. 00:16:37.320 --> 00:16:39.120 And so Jesus asked the lawyer a question. 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:40.940 Who is the neighbor? 00:16:41.940 --> 00:16:42.920 Who is the neighbor? 00:16:43.980 --> 00:16:48.620 And the teacher of the law, not being able to say the Samaritan 00:16:48.620 --> 00:16:51.360 because of what he would have thought of their race and of their people. 00:16:52.080 --> 00:16:54.600 He says, well, the one who showed mercy. 00:16:55.600 --> 00:16:58.340 And Jesus says, go and do likewise. 00:16:59.480 --> 00:17:01.720 You see, the parable of the good Samaritan is not about doing. 00:17:02.960 --> 00:17:09.760 The parable of the good Samaritan is based in and rooted in caring and compassion in who we are. 00:17:10.640 --> 00:17:18.120 You see, the truth of the matter is, I have the ability and you have the ability to do anything for anyone. 00:17:18.500 --> 00:17:19.000 We can. 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.740 We can suck it up. 00:17:21.200 --> 00:17:22.300 We can endure it. 00:17:22.620 --> 00:17:23.880 We can bear through it. 00:17:24.580 --> 00:17:30.980 You and I have the ability in and of ourselves to do anything for anyone. 00:17:31.640 --> 00:17:34.460 And when we do that, though, we don't have to change. 00:17:35.300 --> 00:17:44.780 But when we begin to care and have compassion, when that rests in who we are, it changes who we are. 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:49.480 And so what we can learn from this is what does this mean? 00:17:50.100 --> 00:17:56.100 What do we see in our life as we begin to nurture a heart of care and compassion? 00:17:56.360 --> 00:18:02.000 That when we see the brokenness and the lostness of the world, as Jesus did in Matthew 9 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:10.820 and as the good Samaritan did in Luke 10, how can you and I move past the doing and move into the care and compassion 00:18:10.820 --> 00:18:12.920 that then fuels everything that we do? 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:16.660 And we can begin to see these things in this passage of Scripture. 00:18:17.320 --> 00:18:22.000 So I want to share with you four things that Jesus points to about being a good Samaritan. 00:18:23.020 --> 00:18:27.640 Being a good Samaritan means that you and I, that we go to tough places. 00:18:28.580 --> 00:18:29.680 We go to tough places. 00:18:30.180 --> 00:18:36.500 Jesus gives the most dangerous road known to everyone that is there as the setting of the parable. 00:18:37.000 --> 00:18:43.580 And when we deal with situations, when we deal and want to care and have compassion for those who are in need, 00:18:43.840 --> 00:18:51.840 oftentimes you and I must find ourself in difficult circumstances in tough places. 00:18:52.600 --> 00:18:55.320 You see, what Scripture gives you and I is this. 00:18:55.700 --> 00:19:00.420 Our comfort and our compassion do not always go together. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:08.160 In order to be compassionate, oftentimes we have to find that we're a little uncomfortable. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:11.140 This guy is in a difficult situation. 00:19:11.860 --> 00:19:14.300 He's on the side of the road in a ditch. 00:19:14.980 --> 00:19:20.300 Now, I don't know if you've ever had anything stuck in a ditch, but I have. 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:22.780 Do you know how you get something out of a ditch? 00:19:23.680 --> 00:19:24.680 You get down in it. 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:30.200 You have to get down into it in order to get it out. 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:32.420 And that's what we begin to see. 00:19:33.300 --> 00:19:41.500 Not only in the setting was that he was on the road, but he was willing to put himself into the situation as well. 00:19:42.780 --> 00:19:46.100 What tough places is Jesus trying to send you? 00:19:47.240 --> 00:19:49.020 For some of us, it could be a tough neighborhood. 00:19:50.200 --> 00:19:52.200 For some of us, it could be a tough situation. 00:19:53.080 --> 00:19:59.600 But if we're being honest, some of our people on the side of the road, it might just be dealing with a tough personality. 00:20:00.700 --> 00:20:02.200 That grates us. 00:20:02.680 --> 00:20:04.920 That causes us to be uncomfortable. 00:20:06.000 --> 00:20:16.000 But in order to have the care and compassion that Jesus calls us to, we have to put our comfort to the side and be willing to be uncomfortable. 00:20:16.860 --> 00:20:23.360 The second thing that we can learn, being a good Samaritan, means you cross cultural barriers. 00:20:24.380 --> 00:20:35.660 While Jesus doesn't mention anything about the man that's attacked, I think we need to note that when Jesus draws the difference between the two men who pass by, 00:20:36.000 --> 00:20:41.260 and the man who stops and helps, Jesus identifies them through their race. 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:47.340 You see, to be a priest and a Levite, you must have been a Jewish man. 00:20:48.500 --> 00:20:54.560 And to be a Samaritan man was to be a second-class citizen, to be lower than the others. 00:20:55.340 --> 00:21:00.680 And the Samaritan man and the Jewish man would have been considered completely different. 00:21:00.680 --> 00:21:08.540 The priest and the Levite, by their race alone, are intended to be the hero, the savior of the day, and the standard. 00:21:08.820 --> 00:21:10.520 They're who the people would have looked up to. 00:21:11.560 --> 00:21:17.620 But in their race and in their time, the Samaritan would have been the minority, the second-class citizen. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.220 Never the hero. 00:21:19.600 --> 00:21:21.600 Never who the story was told about. 00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:28.480 And never who anyone, a good little Jewish boy or girl, would ever been told to emulate them. 00:21:29.580 --> 00:21:30.680 But it's what Jesus does. 00:21:31.700 --> 00:21:37.760 Now, all three of these men could have held to social reasons to leave the man on the side of the road. 00:21:38.260 --> 00:21:42.420 They all could have held to cultural reasons to leave the man on the side of the road. 00:21:42.740 --> 00:21:47.160 They all could have held to physical reasons to leave the man on the side of the road. 00:21:47.160 --> 00:21:54.780 But for Jesus, any reason they have to not care, any reason they have to not show compassion is unacceptable. 00:21:55.780 --> 00:22:09.240 And in order to care and have compassion the way that Jesus did, you and I must be willing to cross our own cultural barriers, both in our life and in our culture. 00:22:10.240 --> 00:22:16.320 I want to tell you a story about a family that I believe I've known them my whole life. 00:22:17.180 --> 00:22:18.340 It's David and Gwen Cooper. 00:22:19.520 --> 00:22:21.060 They're my parents' age. 00:22:22.200 --> 00:22:23.760 They fell in love in high school. 00:22:24.840 --> 00:22:25.980 High school sweethearts. 00:22:27.180 --> 00:22:30.700 A taboo relationship in North Augusta. 00:22:31.260 --> 00:22:37.340 For their time in the late 60s and early 70s when they first started dating and got married. 00:22:38.560 --> 00:22:40.500 Everyone knew who they were. 00:22:41.780 --> 00:22:45.080 Everyone knew that their relationship was different. 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:48.920 David is a white man. 00:22:50.100 --> 00:22:52.320 Gwen is a black woman. 00:22:53.700 --> 00:22:55.520 I had three children, two daughters. 00:22:56.160 --> 00:23:01.640 I went to school with a middle daughter and they had a son that my sister went to school with. 00:23:02.780 --> 00:23:04.140 Wonderful, wonderful family. 00:23:05.100 --> 00:23:06.700 We grew up going to church with them. 00:23:07.300 --> 00:23:09.280 David was one of my Sunday school teachers. 00:23:09.920 --> 00:23:17.500 But whenever they walked in the room growing up in the time period that I grew up in, you felt the tension in the room a little bit. 00:23:18.980 --> 00:23:23.820 Because in our time, in our culture, in that setting, in that day, that's not the way that was supposed to be. 00:23:26.360 --> 00:23:35.800 With everything that's gone on racially within our country, my home newspaper, the North Augusta Star, did a write-up about the Coopers as they were celebrating their anniversary. 00:23:36.800 --> 00:23:38.860 And the article got posted online. 00:23:39.720 --> 00:23:44.280 And the question was asked to them, how does this work? 00:23:45.000 --> 00:23:48.460 You came from a time when they both started school, schools were segregated. 00:23:49.600 --> 00:23:55.560 You came from a time where there was the white part of North Augusta, there was the black part of North Augusta. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:24:03.460 You came from a time when everyone wanted your relationship to fail and they just knew that it would. 00:24:04.180 --> 00:24:12.240 So what have you learned in your time of marriage that you can help impart on us almost 50 years that they've been together? 00:24:13.540 --> 00:24:14.760 And David said this. 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:20.760 He said, people hate each other because they fear each other. 00:24:21.480 --> 00:24:23.960 They fear each other because they don't know each other. 00:24:24.660 --> 00:24:28.820 The reason they don't know each other is because they've never communicated. 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:35.220 And I thought how much power in the truth, not only in the dynamic of a relationship, 00:24:36.220 --> 00:24:39.700 but in the dealing with the matters of race and culture. 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:43.320 What we don't know, we're afraid of. 00:24:44.280 --> 00:24:46.900 What we're afraid of, we stay away from. 00:24:48.160 --> 00:24:55.220 And if we're never willing to cross the barriers to even have a basic level of conversation, 00:24:55.700 --> 00:25:00.300 how can we ever understand each other and build relationship with each other? 00:25:01.580 --> 00:25:06.280 A powerful picture of love enduring found in their marriage. 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.640 Think about what Jesus did. 00:25:09.960 --> 00:25:15.020 You know, for you and I to love the way that Jesus loved, to care the way that Jesus cared, 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:18.020 to show compassion the way that Jesus showed compassion, 00:25:18.260 --> 00:25:22.820 we have to step, be willing to step beyond the cultural barriers that are set before us. 00:25:23.340 --> 00:25:31.360 And there's been no greater cultural barrier stepped across than the moment Jesus stepped out of heaven onto the earth. 00:25:32.320 --> 00:25:35.340 That Jesus stepped out of a culture that was free of sin. 00:25:36.340 --> 00:25:41.760 That Jesus stepped out of a culture that had eliminated hurt and pain and suffering. 00:25:42.940 --> 00:25:46.140 And he stepped into a world that had embraced it. 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:49.600 He had stepped into a world that desired it. 00:25:50.380 --> 00:25:57.400 And as Jesus models that for us, what are you and I willing to do to become? 00:25:57.780 --> 00:26:06.520 Being a good Samaritan means that whether your cultural barrier is race, is education, is socioeconomic, 00:26:07.280 --> 00:26:10.220 is language, is whatever you define it as. 00:26:10.940 --> 00:26:16.120 In order to love the way that Jesus loved, we've got to be willing to step across, 00:26:16.840 --> 00:26:20.980 to befriend, to speak, to understand, to communicate. 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:25.400 Next being a good Samaritan means you're vulnerable. 00:26:26.120 --> 00:26:26.720 You're vulnerable. 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:28.760 Look what the good Samaritan does. 00:26:29.620 --> 00:26:31.220 He's vulnerable with his resources. 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:36.840 He gives his oil and his wine in order to care for and to bandage. 00:26:36.940 --> 00:26:40.780 He gives his time, that he took the time away from where he had to go. 00:26:40.900 --> 00:26:46.760 Like, going on the road from Jerusalem to Jericho was not just a Sunday cruise that you would go on. 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:50.420 You had to take that road with purpose for a reason. 00:26:50.660 --> 00:26:52.940 And he left behind his reason to care. 00:26:53.660 --> 00:26:54.800 He provided his money. 00:26:55.040 --> 00:26:56.080 He paid for it all. 00:26:56.460 --> 00:26:57.300 For everything. 00:26:57.660 --> 00:26:58.580 Past expenses. 00:26:58.960 --> 00:26:59.840 Current expenses. 00:27:00.220 --> 00:27:01.400 Future expenses. 00:27:02.120 --> 00:27:04.940 He even put his own health on the line. 00:27:05.620 --> 00:27:10.540 You see, one of the tricks that the robbers would use on this road is they would lay in the ditch 00:27:10.540 --> 00:27:12.880 and they would pretend that they had been attacked. 00:27:13.100 --> 00:27:15.460 So that when others stopped to help them, 00:27:15.720 --> 00:27:19.600 then they would be rushed and they would be beaten and they would be robbed. 00:27:19.820 --> 00:27:21.760 So when the good Samaritan stops, 00:27:22.020 --> 00:27:24.320 when the good Samaritan makes himself vulnerable, 00:27:24.520 --> 00:27:27.860 he's now taking his eyes off the road and he's focused in on him. 00:27:27.860 --> 00:27:29.960 He's opened himself up to it all. 00:27:30.640 --> 00:27:32.800 He's put his own life on the line. 00:27:34.120 --> 00:27:35.500 But it's worth it. 00:27:36.380 --> 00:27:37.660 But it's worth it. 00:27:38.860 --> 00:27:44.060 And for us, in order to care, in order to have compassion, 00:27:44.720 --> 00:27:48.340 we have to make ourselves vulnerable as well. 00:27:49.080 --> 00:27:51.800 When broken people are brought to us by God, 00:27:52.280 --> 00:27:57.260 before they need our advice, our wisdom, or our wonderful life lessons, 00:27:57.580 --> 00:28:00.600 they need to know who we are and that we care. 00:28:01.440 --> 00:28:02.460 That's what they need. 00:28:03.140 --> 00:28:04.280 That's what I need. 00:28:04.860 --> 00:28:06.160 That's what I long for. 00:28:06.540 --> 00:28:07.680 I'm not a project. 00:28:07.960 --> 00:28:08.680 I'm a person. 00:28:10.460 --> 00:28:14.020 And would you be willing to join me in that moment? 00:28:14.960 --> 00:28:16.180 And the last thing, 00:28:17.300 --> 00:28:20.220 being a good Samaritan means you love mercy. 00:28:21.420 --> 00:28:22.600 Jesus asks him, 00:28:23.200 --> 00:28:24.180 which one's the neighbor? 00:28:25.320 --> 00:28:27.080 He's not willing to say the Samaritan. 00:28:28.600 --> 00:28:30.320 But the truth is there. 00:28:31.100 --> 00:28:31.440 He says, 00:28:31.520 --> 00:28:34.560 the one that showed him mercy. 00:28:35.560 --> 00:28:36.540 Not charity. 00:28:37.840 --> 00:28:38.320 Mercy. 00:28:39.320 --> 00:28:40.420 What does that mean? 00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:44.360 Mercy is not getting what you deserve. 00:28:45.440 --> 00:28:47.580 That guy could have put himself in that situation. 00:28:48.740 --> 00:28:51.180 That guy could have been hanging out with all the wrong people. 00:28:52.120 --> 00:28:55.820 That guy might have just gotten beaten up because he did it to someone else 00:28:55.820 --> 00:28:57.000 and they saw him on the road. 00:28:57.920 --> 00:29:03.080 There's a laundry list of reasons of why that man got where he was. 00:29:03.260 --> 00:29:04.760 He should have been traveling smarter. 00:29:05.020 --> 00:29:06.740 He should have been traveling with somebody. 00:29:06.880 --> 00:29:09.700 All the things that we can begin to build on and go, 00:29:09.940 --> 00:29:10.100 man, 00:29:10.200 --> 00:29:11.980 why would you do this to yourself? 00:29:12.220 --> 00:29:13.460 This is what you deserve. 00:29:14.800 --> 00:29:16.220 But what he's given is mercy. 00:29:17.480 --> 00:29:18.980 And when we think about that, 00:29:19.800 --> 00:29:22.240 in order to be a good Samaritan, 00:29:23.040 --> 00:29:27.700 you and I must realize that at one point in the time, 00:29:28.120 --> 00:29:29.640 we were the man in the ditch. 00:29:30.780 --> 00:29:32.880 In order to be the good Samaritan, 00:29:33.200 --> 00:29:36.840 you and I have to understand that at some point in time, 00:29:37.100 --> 00:29:39.620 somebody came and picked us out of the ditch. 00:29:40.660 --> 00:29:44.340 The one who became the most vulnerable for us. 00:29:45.040 --> 00:29:47.880 The one who gave up all of his resources, 00:29:48.580 --> 00:29:50.240 of all that he had. 00:29:51.040 --> 00:29:54.960 The one who was nailed and beaten and stripped naked 00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:57.300 and left on a cross to die. 00:29:58.080 --> 00:30:00.400 The one who gave all of his time, 00:30:00.620 --> 00:30:02.260 his whole 33 years, 00:30:02.480 --> 00:30:06.200 his life willing to fulfill the law that we couldn't fulfill. 00:30:06.740 --> 00:30:08.740 The one who gave all that he had, 00:30:08.740 --> 00:30:10.780 the riches and the wealth of heaven, 00:30:11.000 --> 00:30:14.300 left to come here to live his life for the struggle. 00:30:14.740 --> 00:30:15.760 The one who gave it all, 00:30:16.000 --> 00:30:19.280 came and pulled you and me out of the ditch. 00:30:20.060 --> 00:30:21.500 Not what we deserved. 00:30:21.640 --> 00:30:23.100 We deserved to be left there. 00:30:23.480 --> 00:30:25.600 But he came and he got in it with us 00:30:25.600 --> 00:30:27.000 and he got dirty with us 00:30:27.000 --> 00:30:28.280 and he got bloody with us 00:30:28.280 --> 00:30:30.640 and he reached down and he picked us up 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:33.740 and he cleaned our wounds 00:30:33.740 --> 00:30:36.560 and he made us new again. 00:30:38.120 --> 00:30:40.440 And he paid for our debt, our past. 00:30:41.280 --> 00:30:42.820 He paid for our debt present 00:30:42.820 --> 00:30:45.740 and he paid for our debt future. 00:30:47.120 --> 00:30:48.600 And just as the good Samaritan says, 00:30:48.860 --> 00:30:49.980 one day I'll return, 00:30:50.980 --> 00:30:53.260 Jesus says, so one day I will as well. 00:30:55.500 --> 00:30:57.500 You see, you and I deserve to be left there. 00:30:58.500 --> 00:31:00.080 We had made a bunch of decisions 00:31:00.080 --> 00:31:02.260 that were foolish and sinful 00:31:02.260 --> 00:31:04.140 that caused us to be there. 00:31:05.000 --> 00:31:06.720 But Jesus came and rescued us. 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:10.820 And now we, the church, 00:31:11.980 --> 00:31:13.000 those who were there, 00:31:13.920 --> 00:31:15.260 have been given the challenge 00:31:15.260 --> 00:31:20.260 to go show the care and compassion of Christ. 00:31:21.260 --> 00:31:22.360 The question is, 00:31:23.240 --> 00:31:24.580 are you willing to give 00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.880 what you've received? 00:31:26.740 --> 00:31:28.120 Are you willing to give 00:31:28.120 --> 00:31:30.040 that which you did not deserve, 00:31:30.680 --> 00:31:33.220 but mercy was given to us anyways? 00:31:34.120 --> 00:31:34.740 Let's pray. 00:31:38.540 --> 00:31:40.960 Lord, I thank you so much for who you are. 00:31:42.800 --> 00:31:44.660 For all that you've done for us. 00:31:46.080 --> 00:31:48.300 Lord, this is such a tangible piece 00:31:48.300 --> 00:31:50.100 in this passage of Scripture 00:31:50.100 --> 00:31:52.660 of who you're calling us to be. 00:31:54.520 --> 00:31:55.800 Lord, I pray that our 00:31:55.800 --> 00:31:58.460 our standing and our motivation 00:31:58.460 --> 00:32:00.080 cannot be found in what we do, 00:32:01.720 --> 00:32:03.520 but is found in who we are. 00:32:05.460 --> 00:32:06.540 Redeemed men and women 00:32:06.540 --> 00:32:08.340 bought by the blood of Christ. 00:32:11.080 --> 00:32:13.680 Lord, as we seek to be a people 00:32:13.680 --> 00:32:16.180 that embrace care and compassion, 00:32:17.200 --> 00:32:18.080 Lord, may we be willing 00:32:18.080 --> 00:32:19.460 to go to the tough places 00:32:19.460 --> 00:32:21.060 to deal with the tough people 00:32:21.060 --> 00:32:22.020 all for the sake 00:32:22.020 --> 00:32:23.180 and the glory of the gospel. 00:32:24.420 --> 00:32:26.200 Lord, may our hearts overflow 00:32:26.200 --> 00:32:28.180 with care and compassion. 00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:30.800 Lord, may we as a people 00:32:30.800 --> 00:32:32.920 be willing to not only cross 00:32:32.920 --> 00:32:35.960 cultural, racial, 00:32:36.500 --> 00:32:38.140 socioeconomic barriers, 00:32:39.140 --> 00:32:39.660 but Lord, 00:32:39.660 --> 00:32:42.200 Lord, as the church, 00:32:43.400 --> 00:32:44.580 may we be willing 00:32:44.580 --> 00:32:45.400 and bold enough 00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:46.800 that when we see them, 00:32:47.260 --> 00:32:48.880 we speak against them, 00:32:49.020 --> 00:32:50.200 we fight against them, 00:32:50.280 --> 00:32:52.040 we tear them down ourselves. 00:32:53.500 --> 00:32:55.420 Lord, may we as the church 00:32:55.420 --> 00:32:57.680 be willing to be vulnerable, 00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:00.280 that we're not a group of people 00:33:00.280 --> 00:33:01.640 that have it all figured out, 00:33:02.720 --> 00:33:04.040 that we're not a group of people 00:33:04.040 --> 00:33:05.760 who do it right all the time, 00:33:06.160 --> 00:33:07.900 but that we're vulnerable, 00:33:08.900 --> 00:33:10.380 willing to share our story, 00:33:10.520 --> 00:33:11.620 our circumstance, 00:33:13.020 --> 00:33:14.740 willing to love each other 00:33:14.740 --> 00:33:17.140 through sacrifice 00:33:17.140 --> 00:33:20.100 in a way that brings glory 00:33:20.100 --> 00:33:21.060 and honor to you. 00:33:23.000 --> 00:33:24.820 Lord, may we love mercy. 00:33:26.000 --> 00:33:26.920 May we love it. 00:33:28.620 --> 00:33:30.100 Lord, as it's good 00:33:30.100 --> 00:33:32.540 and it is sweet to us, 00:33:33.860 --> 00:33:34.700 may we be willing 00:33:34.700 --> 00:33:36.080 to share that goodness 00:33:36.080 --> 00:33:37.600 and sweetness with others. 00:33:44.860 --> 00:33:45.940 Every head bowed 00:33:45.940 --> 00:33:46.780 and every eye closed, 00:33:46.860 --> 00:33:47.920 I want to ask you this question. 00:33:50.360 --> 00:33:51.360 Matthew 9. 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:55.000 Jesus looks out in the world, 00:33:57.600 --> 00:33:58.280 sees evil, 00:34:00.640 --> 00:34:01.460 sees death, 00:34:03.280 --> 00:34:04.320 he sees destruction. 00:34:09.020 --> 00:34:10.780 He, being the only one 00:34:10.780 --> 00:34:13.500 never to commit a sin, 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:15.980 sees the offense 00:34:15.980 --> 00:34:17.420 before his heavenly Father. 00:34:18.860 --> 00:34:20.000 And his response 00:34:20.000 --> 00:34:20.440 could have been 00:34:20.440 --> 00:34:21.540 righteous anger. 00:34:22.920 --> 00:34:23.960 His response 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.960 could have been wrath. 00:34:26.200 --> 00:34:27.460 But his response 00:34:27.460 --> 00:34:28.460 was compassion. 00:34:30.620 --> 00:34:31.700 His response 00:34:31.700 --> 00:34:32.600 was to hurt 00:34:32.600 --> 00:34:33.600 with those who hurt. 00:34:34.840 --> 00:34:35.760 His response 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.780 was to mourn. 00:34:39.160 --> 00:34:40.760 Now, I want to ask you this. 00:34:42.260 --> 00:34:43.260 When you look out 00:34:43.260 --> 00:34:44.060 into the world, 00:34:44.820 --> 00:34:46.500 whether it's through TV, 00:34:46.900 --> 00:34:48.020 through social media, 00:34:48.820 --> 00:34:49.820 through conversations 00:34:49.820 --> 00:34:50.540 at work, 00:34:51.280 --> 00:34:52.700 through relationships 00:34:52.700 --> 00:34:53.520 in your home, 00:34:53.620 --> 00:34:54.460 in your neighborhood, 00:34:55.300 --> 00:34:56.260 here at church, 00:34:57.140 --> 00:34:58.840 and you see that same 00:34:58.840 --> 00:35:00.120 brokenness, 00:35:00.840 --> 00:35:01.640 lostness, 00:35:02.240 --> 00:35:02.620 hurt, 00:35:03.020 --> 00:35:03.380 pain, 00:35:03.780 --> 00:35:04.260 suffering, 00:35:04.720 --> 00:35:07.820 is your heart 00:35:07.820 --> 00:35:08.940 filled with compassion? 00:35:11.000 --> 00:35:11.800 And if it's not, 00:35:11.800 --> 00:35:12.380 and if it's not, 00:35:13.900 --> 00:35:15.080 today, 00:35:15.560 --> 00:35:17.700 would you join me 00:35:17.700 --> 00:35:18.620 in repentance? 00:35:21.000 --> 00:35:22.240 Repentance of the sin 00:35:22.240 --> 00:35:23.640 that still remains 00:35:23.640 --> 00:35:24.520 even though Jesus 00:35:24.520 --> 00:35:25.360 has paid for it. 00:35:27.360 --> 00:35:27.920 Lord, 00:35:28.000 --> 00:35:28.760 I come to you. 00:35:30.360 --> 00:35:31.320 We're broken 00:35:31.320 --> 00:35:32.460 for my own sin, 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:36.560 for my own failures, 00:35:36.700 --> 00:35:37.960 for my own pride, 00:35:38.900 --> 00:35:40.800 for my own anger. 00:35:43.240 --> 00:35:43.720 Lord, 00:35:44.100 --> 00:35:44.880 I know that 00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:45.800 you've forgiven me. 00:35:46.500 --> 00:35:47.460 I know you will 00:35:47.460 --> 00:35:48.680 always forgive me, 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:51.100 but I need to be broken 00:35:51.100 --> 00:35:51.740 so that I can 00:35:51.740 --> 00:35:52.860 continue to be made 00:35:52.860 --> 00:35:54.280 new in your likeness. 00:35:55.760 --> 00:35:56.280 Lord, 00:35:56.360 --> 00:35:57.120 develop in me 00:35:57.120 --> 00:35:57.780 a heart 00:35:57.780 --> 00:35:59.500 of compassion 00:35:59.500 --> 00:36:00.280 and care 00:36:00.280 --> 00:36:03.340 because that's 00:36:03.340 --> 00:36:04.280 what glorifies you. 00:36:06.060 --> 00:36:06.380 Lord, 00:36:06.440 --> 00:36:07.520 may I see different, 00:36:07.680 --> 00:36:08.840 may I feel different, 00:36:08.980 --> 00:36:10.000 may I think different, 00:36:10.120 --> 00:36:11.320 may I respond different 00:36:11.320 --> 00:36:15.340 in a way that emulates 00:36:15.340 --> 00:36:16.700 and glorifies Christ. 00:36:18.620 --> 00:36:19.100 Jesus, 00:36:19.260 --> 00:36:19.660 thank you 00:36:19.660 --> 00:36:20.660 for taking the broken 00:36:20.660 --> 00:36:21.920 and making us whole again. 00:36:23.540 --> 00:36:24.120 Thank you 00:36:24.120 --> 00:36:25.320 that you gave your life 00:36:25.320 --> 00:36:27.260 so that we may have it. 00:36:28.880 --> 00:36:29.360 Lord, 00:36:29.400 --> 00:36:30.060 we love you. 00:36:30.960 --> 00:36:31.740 We praise you. 00:36:32.720 --> 00:36:33.600 In this your name we pray. 00:36:34.180 --> 00:36:34.500 Amen. 00:36:48.720 --> 00:36:49.840 Thanks again for listening 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.980 to the Willow Ridge Church 00:36:50.980 --> 00:36:51.780 weekly podcast. 00:36:52.300 --> 00:36:53.300 We hope that you enjoyed 00:36:53.300 --> 00:36:54.580 listening to this week's message. 00:36:55.060 --> 00:36:56.160 If you'd like to learn more 00:36:56.160 --> 00:36:56.980 about who we are 00:36:56.980 --> 00:36:58.580 or explore additional resources, 00:36:58.880 --> 00:37:00.080 visit us online 00:37:00.080 --> 00:37:03.640 at www.willowridgechurch.com 00:37:03.640 --> 00:37:04.860 or by 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