Living Generously
Love by Serving
Sunday, October 27, 2024
Call to Worship Call to Worship
(based on Isaiah 60:1-6, Psalm 72:1-7, 10-14)
In the midst of unemployment, debt, illness, all the hardships of life, why have you come to worship?
We come because Isaiah reminds us that no suffering or pain can separate us from God.
I hear the Prophet calling, "Arise, shine for your light has come!" I'm ready for that bright light from God
to light my way. We see that light in Jesus, God-with-Us, and we recognize that light in our lives, too:
We are all created in God's image: God's light was born in us as we breathed our first breath.
We come to worship to connect God's light in us to God's light in Christ, and so illumine the world.
What a reason to worship! How do we recognize that light? In compassion for all,
in justice for the poor, in welcome for the stranger we shine God’s light into the world.
So come let us bring the joys and hardships of life to worship and celebrate that God’s light is already
with us and within us.
Let’s pray.
Loving by serving is a strength in this church body and something we want to continue to
build on all the more.
A shining example is our recent Dear Daughter of Mine Conference. There was so much love
shown from beginning to end-through decorations and transforming spaces, to amazing food
made, to incredibly generous gifts made and donated, to creative organization of registrations,
preparing materials, extra cleaning in our building, and of course so many men willing to give up
most of a Saturday to prep, serve, and clean up the luncheon served-to putting all things back
together for Sunday service. So many hands and many unexpected helpers jumping right in to
ensure all our guests were comfortable and richly blessed. There is A LOT that goes into these
events and I am always in awe and humbled at the incredible generosity of service shown-and
doing so joyfully. It's a beautiful thing to witness and be part of isn’t it?
This is exactly what God calls us to do-love Him and love others by serving. Willingly and
joyfully. Have you noticed when we live and respond in this manner, it’s catchy and others join in
too? This joyful service is contagious and does rub off on others and this is how we manifest His
Kingdom here on earth-through loving service of one another. This is why we hold this
conference-because of the multitude of blessings that abound-not just for those we serve, but for
us in our serving alongside one another.
If we see a way we can help, we do it. We notice when and where help is needed and we help in
the ways we can. If we take the conference as an example-not everyone is able to do all things
right? Not all would be equipped to put together a message, or come up with questions to get
people chatting, or come up with an organized system for registration, or even bake some treats,
or have an eye for decorating-but everyone is gifted in some area right? Everyone is able to do
something. And it’s these many somethings coming together out of a willingness to serve that
make for an incredible day. Our guests see these thoughtful details throughout the day and it only
enhances the blessings they leave with. One person wouldn’t have all those thoughtful details-but
a whole body does-and what comes out of that collaborative and willing spirit is pure gold.
So today as we wrap up this short series on Living Generously let’s look at an example of
someone loving by serving. Someone who saw a need, knew he could help with that need, and so
he did. He also knew it would be inconvenient and change his plans, but he thought of this
person’s need and he acted out of compassion.
Sometimes our service is centered around joyful events like our conference and Sunday worship.
Sometimes our service is centered around a crisis, someone deeply broken, and might require
setting aside differences to see our shared humanity with another and we must decide am I going
to lay my plans aside and get into the thick of whatever this is, or am I going to look the other
away and pretend I never saw it? Have you been there? God puts us at these cross roads often.
God calls us to see the hurting, the oppressed, the widowed, the poor, the needy, and not just
see them, but do something to help them. We are called to love by serving. Let’s hear fresh this
morning what our Lord is teaching us.
Luke 10: 25-37 NIV
25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to
inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered,
“‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus
replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my
neighbor?”
30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by
robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest
happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So
too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as
he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and
bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to
an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look
after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The
expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
1. Willing Surrender to Interrupted Plans.
Let’s talk about the differences of the people who saw this injured man.
First there is a priest-a religious leader to this man who was a Jew. -We assume he is a Jew because he’s
coming from Jerusalem and Samaritans were not welcome in Jerusalem. And also because the Samaritan
is called out as such, so there is emphasis on there differences.
Luke 10:31 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by
on the other side.
Why did he pass by instead of lending a hand to a man who was hurt? Because they had a law that if you
come into contact with a dead body you would be ceremonially unclean for 7 days. That means no
fellowship with others, they could not enter the sanctuary and they could not give offerings. So the priest
may have assumed this man was dead or close to it and avoided him, so as not to be unclean and interrupt
his ability to perform his duties as priest.
Another person comes by and sees the man, a Levite-who is one who cares for the temple and serves the
house of God. He has the same response, likely for the same reason:
Luke 10:32 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.
As we know, the man wasn’t dead and didn’t die thanks to the thoughtful and compassionate care of
someone quite unexpected. His own people refused to help, lest he die and they become unclean for 7
days-so they opted out.
A stranger and more than that, a Samaritan, whom the Jews detested because these were only partial Jews
mixed in with Assyrian blood- a group of people the Jews tried to avoid. This man happened to be
passing by and his response was quite extraordinary. It shouldn’t be, and yet it was. This man set aside the
differences and even hate exchanged between these two groups and he saw a human being in desperate
need of help.
Luke 10: 34 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man
on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.
He saw him just as the other men did, but he did not look away. He acted from a position of
compassion.
Did this man have plans? Likely. He was heading somewhere with something to accomplish. Was that
inconvenient to do all that he did for this man? Probably-to tend to the wounds, get him situated on a
donkey and get him settled in and resting at an inn likely took a fair amount of time.
Have you noticed that serving others in need often comes right in the middle of our plans and can often be
inconvenient meaning calling us to let go of our plans to assist in some capacity. But does that mean our
time is wasted now because our plans were changed? OR are we just being positioned to carry out what
God had already ordained for us that day?
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.
What if we allowed for greater flexibility in our schedules and just started assuming God was going to
come in and change up our plans to suit His purposes? Might it make us more responsive and willing to
be interrupted and inconvenienced knowing we’re doing what He has called us to do. What if we started
praying and inviting God to do this in our days as He sees fit?
The Samaritan was moved by compassion to live generously in service to the injured man.
2. Compassion Promotes Generosity.
Luke 10:33 33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took
pity on him.
The Samaritan had to continue on his path to where he was going but the generosity continued for this
man still recovering. He paid for the hotel room and said:
Luke: 10: 35 35 The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he
said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
If he would have only looked at this man through the eyes of their people’s long-disputed rivalry, he
might have thought well that’s good one less person to fight with; one less arrogant Jew to deal with. But
he didn’t. God used a Samaritan to teach His own people what His love is like in action.
Last week we shared the Scripture of Jesus telling us to “love our enemies”. This is what He meant. This
is the love of God in action and on display. As that Jewish man recovered, how do you think this act of
generosity affected him? What if he then told others about who helped him? What about the inn keeper
watching this service in action? What about the Samaritan who freely gave and served-would he have
been affected too? No doubt.
You see when we are moved by compassion to serve another, or we are moved simply out of the joy of
the Lord to give of ourselves and serve, there is a ripple effect and the love of God is on display for all to
witness.
Colossians 3:12 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with
compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
3. God is Glorified and Reflected.
This is why God calls us to love in our service to Him and to others. He is glorified in it and He is
reflected-His love, His character and His nature is reflected through our service when we do so willingly,
joyfully, and with compassion. When we do so out of love for our neighbors.
Therefore: Colossians 3:23 tell us
Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,
In all our service- consider WHO we are ultimately serving. We are serving the King of kings as we serve
those He loves. We are maintaining His Kingdom here on earth and what a privilege that is be part of.
Remembering we have been joined together to serve as the Body makes it so much more fun. We can rely
on one another-not one of us is called to carry the burden fully on our own-but we shoulder it together
making it lighter for everyone.
And if we have the right attitude and understanding of our service to God-these are not really
inconveniences or interruptions-they are God ordained appointments gifted to us because we have
what that person or group needs in that moment. We are the chosen vessel God is working through to
bless and care for them. Consider this truth the next time you face a cross roads:
Matthew 25:40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these
brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Conclusion: As children who belong to God, our lives are not our own. We are vessels for Jesus to fill
and flow through, showing the world His redemptive love. Let us willingly be interrupted, let us put on
compassion, and let us live generously and let us live joyfully in service with one another.
Let’s pray.
Offering:
Prayers:
It was National Sunday School Teacher appreciation day last week- we call it Children’s Ministry and we
would like to thank all our volunteers from nursery to teaching our children in children’s ministry. What
you do is incredibly valuable and you are so appreciated! We are raising up the next generation of Christ
followers and you play a huge role in that. We thank you! Speak a blessing over them:
Lord we thank you for the hearts of those who choose to serve our children, keeping them safe, playing
with them, singing with them, teaching them, and modeling Your love and truth to them. We ask Lord for
You to give them the strength to serve your children with patience, mercy, and grace, particularly with
those children who need extra patience, mercy, and grace. And, as they serve you, grant them joy through
glimpses of your Kingdom in the faces of those whom they serve. Let them see the fruit of their labor and
water the seeds they are planting Lord-tend to them and let there be fruitful gardens blossoming in the
hearts of the children they care for. To You be the glory and honor Lord!
