Sermon ideas
Theme: After God, My Neighbor
Scripture: Romans 13:8–10
Concept: Echoing Jesus, Paul reminds the church at Rome that God’s entire law can be summed up in one idea: love your neighbor as yourself. This passage can be found a number of times in the New Testament — in three gospels, two Pauline epistles, and in James. But the command was born in the Mosaic law — first in Leviticus 19:18 and again in Deuteronomy 15:7–11. When Jesus is challenged by the Pharisees to name the greatest commandment in the law (Mt. 22:34-40), he replies, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
The familiar command was perhaps perceived as relatively easy to accomplish. The wealthy young man who encounters Jesus in Matthew tells Jesus he has kept all of the commandments and wants to know what he lacks. If one counted as neighbors only those who lived in the same part of town, who shared a similar religious belief, lifestyle and social class, loving one’s neighbor as one’s self might not have seemed such a terribly challenging requirement. But Jesus reinterpreted the rules. In Luke (Lk. 10:25-37), Jesus broadens the understanding of “neighbor” to include anyone who shows mercy. Suddenly, after loving God, the believer is called to love, befriend and take care of one’s neighbor with the same attention one would give to a family member or to one’s own needs.
The expectation is daunting — how can we even begin to live up to such a command? While we obviously cannot meet every need in the world, we can respond to those of which we become aware. And we can respond generously when offered an opportunity to make a difference in the lives of the world’s neediest people. Week of Compassion offers such an opportunity — to be part of lifting the burden of hunger, of poverty, of fragile and unsafe circumstances from the shoulders of our neighbors. And by contributing, we become part of the effort to build stronger, safer and sustainable communities. Loving our neighbor through a contribution to Week of Compassion gives us the chance to share God’s love.
Theme: The Good Adversary
Scripture: Luke 10:25–37
Concept: Traditionally, readers of this text have scoffed at the callous behavior of the Pharisee and Levite; however, were they not much like us — people with obligations to their work, to their social roles, and by extension, to their families? A priest was prohibited from touching a corpse — such ritual uncleanness would cut him off from his profession and from his people. So how would we recast the parable to carry the same impact as Jesus’ story of the Samaritan? Who is the injured man and who is the “adversary” (i.e., someone of a nationality we mistrust, a supporter of the opposing political party)? Who are the people who walk on by? And which ones are we most likely to be, despite our desire to be otherwise?
In our interconnected world, we are becoming increasingly more aware that our actions and choices affect and are affected by people in other parts of the world. We talk to someone in India for tech support. Many people travel to the other side of the world for business meetings. Many of our clothes and shoes are made in Asia. We may recognize these people as “neighbors,” but how do we respond? Week of Compassion offers a wonderful opportunity — to be part of carrying the burden of hunger, of poverty, of fragile and unsafe circumstances from the shoulders of our neighbors. And by contributing, we become part of the effort to build stronger, safer and sustainable communities. Loving our neighbor through a contribution to Week of Compassion gives us the chance to share God’s love.
Theme: Haven’t I Given Enough?
Scripture: Leviticus 19:18, Deut. 15:10–11
Concept: What does it mean to be “poor”? How do we, through our lifestyles, contribute to poverty and the ever-widening gap between rich and poor? Have we ever considered that “the poor will always be among us” because we make that so? The command to love one’s neighbor, born in the Mosaic law, is the one Jesus names as second only to loving God. In Luke 10:2–37, Jesus broadens the understanding of “neighbor.” But even the most compassionate among us can easily feel overwhelmed by the level of need in the world and the perceived smallness of our contribution.
The message of loving one’s neighbor is not intended to inspire guilt, but to encourage community — to reflect God’s love in the world. When we seek to love as God loves, we create a better world not just for others, but for ourselves as well. And while we obviously cannot personally meet every need in the world, we can respond to those of which we become aware, joining our gifts with many others to empower those who are present in person with people in need. Week of Compassion offers us an opportunity to participate in Jesus’ call to be God’s heart and hands in a hurting world.
