October 18
Sunday School
Love for Neighbors – Luke 10-25-37
Teacher – Anthony Lehman
Today’s lesson is a parable.
Jesus often told parables so people could understand the lesson He was teaching.
25 Then a teacher of the law stood up. He was trying to test Jesus. He said, “Teacher, what must I do to get life forever?”
26 Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? What do you read there?”
27 The man answered, “Love the Lord your God. Love him with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.”Also, “You must love your neighbor as you love yourself.”
Jesus was a textualist – what God has written is the law.
28 Jesus said to him, “Your answer is right. Do this and you will have life forever.”
Just do it! Follow God.
Jesus was on a mission to reach this lawyer with the truth of the Gospel.
When the lawyer asked, “Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan.
Who helped the man from Jerusalem, bound his wounds and stayed with him all night?
Even the lawyer recognized that the priest and the Levite were not the persons who helped the man from Jerusalem.
Do we give lavish care to our neighbors – wounded people we don’t know.
What keeps us from being a good neighbor?
Busyness, fear, inconvenience, pride.
Spiritually: Satan is the robber in the story of the Good Samaritan. Jesus is the healer/restorer.
The lawyer was interested in verbal jousting.
Jesus was interested in action.
Sermon – Dan Miller
Self-Examination
1 Corinthians 11
In school we took tests and hoped for a passing grade.
This is not that kind of test. This is more like taking inventory.
When I had to take inventory at a former job, we often found missing things, damaged things and things that didn’t belong there.
Are there things in our spiritual lives that are missing, damaged, or don’t belong there.
Question 1: Am I truly saved? Do I truly believe that Jesus is Lord?
I am not asking if you are perfect, but are you trusting Jesus.
Question 2: What is my purpose in life?
What is my focus?
Where are my treasures?
Am I rich toward God or rich toward things of earth?
Am I trying to impress others
What does the record of my giving indicate about me?
How do I react when someone takes advantage of me?
Question 3: Is my conscience clear?
Have I been offended by someone, or have I offended someone?
Do I need to make anything right with someone before coming to Love Feast and Communion tonight?
Question 4: Are you harboring unforgiveness?
Remember the words of Jesus – Father forgive them.
Come to Love Feast and Communion tonight with a right attitude.
Do not come as a ritual, thinking it will get you on the good side of God.
Jesus paid our sin-debt – meaning we can come to Love Feast and Communion joyfully.
Evening – Love Feast and Communion
Ministers: Dan Miller and Anthony Lehman
(Words in italics are from the ministers – regular font is my information about our evening.)
Our place settings were spaced appropriately throughout the sanctuary.
You will notice later that some people chose to sit closer than 5 or 6 feet. We were given that opportunity if we were with family or comfortable in doing that.
The rice soup was being placed on tables when I took these early pictures. Notice the two tables closest to me did not yet have a bowl of soup.
The deacons, their wives and a few helpers had every table setting in place when we arrived for the evening service: grape juice and unleavened bread for communion and bread, butter, meat, plasticware and water for the meal. (The rice soup was not yet at this place setting.)
You will notice a lot of changes tonight due to COVID. Dave Wenger opening the evening service.
The women and men are separated for this service, because we usually wash feet and greet each other with a hug and kiss. These symbols of love and servanthood were not practiced due to COVID.
Notes from Dan Miller and Anthony Lehman
Love Feast and Communion remind me about Joseph when he forgave his brothers and told them, “You meant it for evil, but God meant it for good.” Genesis 50:20.
Communion is a tangible token that represents a spiritual truth.
Though we are not practicing feet washing tonight, remember it is a picture of humility.
Washing feet was usually performed by the lowest servant in the house.
Do something this week to reach out to someone.
Serve them. Bless them.
We are all part of the family of God.
Communion means – common union.
We are in common union with the broken body of Christ.
Jesus, our master, was known for taking the ordinary and making it extra ordinary.
When Jesus died for our sins, he made Himself our “spiritual bread”. When we break the unleavened bread we acknowledge that we need salvation.
We are a blessed congregation – to have leadership who are open and creative when something like COVID-19 changes our world.