LOVING OUR NEIGHBOUR TO FREEDOMSession 3FGA Genesis Home Group Peter Huang

Bible Study Fellowship02-18-04

HOW TO GO ABOUT IT?Must recognise Who Is My Neighbour (Luke 10 25-37) watch video clip

2. Learn from 1Peter 3:1-2 Through kindness & Love.

Neighbours

- those we do not know -- the stangers -

How the good Samaritan showed love for his neighbour.Practical stepped out & used his own money.Patient in his love his kindness a worthwhile investment.Loved with perception saw more than an injured man. That the bleeding man was an assignment from God.

The Good Samaritan

An Inspired Teachingon Kindness

I. He Saw The NeedKindness begins with our eyes.Wounded people are everywhere. Maybe some are sitting next to you. Maybe one is standing in the pulpit.Are we looking? When he saw the mans condition, his heart went out to him. (10:33 TMSG)

Why dont we see the woundsof the people around us? One reason: too busyHurry is the death of kindness.The slower we go, the more we see.If we care, well be aware.

II. He Sympathized With The Mans PainKindness begins with our eyes and conceives in our hearts.An observation from life: Learning to listen is the secret of genuine sympathy.When he saw him, he had compassion (10:33)

A View From The Hearseby Joe BaileyI was sitting, torn by grief, and somebody came along and talked to me about God's dealings of why it happened, of hope beyond the grave.He talked constantly. He said things I knew were true. But I was unmoved, except to wish that he would go away. And he finally did.Then another one came and sat beside me, and he didnt talk at all. He didnt ask me any leading questions. He just sat beside me for an hour or more, listened when I said something, answered briefly, prayed simply and left.I was moved. I was comforted. I hated to see him go.

III. He Seized The MomentKindness begins with our eyes, conceives in our hearts, and acts immediately to help.Proverbs 3:27-28 (NCV)Whenever you are able, do good to people who need help. If you have what your neighbor asks for, dont say, Come back later. I will give it to you tomorrow. and came to him and bandaged up his wounds, pouring oil and wine onthem (10:34)

To seize the moment we mustbe willing to do two things:Be InterruptedKindness doesnt happen on our schedule.Think of the excuses he could have given.Take risksOur own fears keep us from being kind.Think of the legitimate risks he took.

IV. He Spent Whatever Was Needed (10:34-35)and he put him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn and took care of him. On the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper and said, Take care of him; and whatever more you spend, when I return I will repay you.

There is always a cost to kindness. Kindness inevitably causes us to sacrifice time or money or energy or reputation or maybe even privacy.

V. He Sought Nothing in ReturnWhat did the Samaritan gain? Do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. (Luke 6:35)

The RewardProverbs 11:17The merciful man does good for his own soul, buthe who is cruel troubles his own flesh.

The RewardIsaiah 58:7-97I want you to share your food with the hungry and to welcome poor wanderers into your homes. Give clothes to those who need them, and do not hide from relatives who need your help. 8If you do these things, your salvation will come like the dawn. Yes, your healing will come quickly. Your godliness will lead you forward, and the glory of the LORD will protect you from behind. 9Then when you call, the LORD will answer. Yes, I am here, he will quickly reply.

The RewardMatthew 25:37-4037Then the righteous will answer Him, Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give Yousomething to drink? 38And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? 39When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You? 40The King will answer and say to them, Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine,even the leastof them you did it to Me.

Neighbours - those closest to us -

Next-door personsCo-workersFamilies

Why is it difficult to reach out to or love those closest to us?NeighboursCo-workersFamilies

ReasonsFamiliaritya) fear of disappointmentb) slow pace of change

Jesus issued a lifelong challenge to his apostles on the night of his arrest ..Go and bear fruit fruit that will last. John 15:16the ultimate fruit of human souls.

All fruits appear in 3 stages.GREEN BRUISED RIPE

Peters prescription1Peter 3:1-51 In the same way, you wives must accept the authority of your husbands. Then, even if some refuse to obey the Good News, your godly lives will speak to them without any words. They will be won over 2 by observing your pure and reverent lives. 3 Dont be concerned about the outward beauty of fancy hairstyles, expensive jewelry, or beautiful clothes. 4 You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God. 5 This is how the holy women of old made themselves beautiful. They trusted God and accepted the authority of their husbands.

Peters prescription1Peter 3:1-51. Love recklessly2. Love consistently3. Listen carefully (1Peter 3:15)4. Wait patiently Trust GodWhen we try to change hearts ourselves,even though we have great motivation,we simply get in the way of Gods work.

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOUR?

Are they just our next-door friends?

Someone I dont know?

We do know that we are to Matthew 23:36-37 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it.Love your neighbour as Yourself.

What if..??

Nosy neighbours

Noisy neighbours.

A problem neighbour!!

Would you still love & help them?Everyone is our neighbour!!

How would you respond to the following situations to demonstrate Gods love for your next-door neighbour?1. Your neighbours huge dog has felt compelled to use the space in front of your gate as a toilet to prove its dominance. Every now and then you will find a number of huge dog piles there. You are more than a little irritated as your neighbour never clean them up.2. Your neighbour, a non-believer will burn jossticks during his prayer time. The smoke gets into your home and does irritate you.

GOD BLESS