Serve Augusta

Dr. Marty Baker / August 26, 2006 / Luke 10:30-35

Good morning and welcome to the Creek! This weekend churches from all over our area have joined together to Serve Augusta. If you were out anywhere yesterday morning, you may have seen people wearing yellow t-shirts doing random acts of kindness. People were all over the area delivering food, repairing houses, washing cars or just giving out bottles of water. Jesus taught the importance of service throughout his ministry.

Matthew 42:35-36; 40

35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

40 … whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Helping someone along the way is the core of the teachings of Jesus Christ. We are created to do good works. This is the message of Ephesians 2:10.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

Today, I want to focus one of the most popular teachings of Jesus. It is found in Luke 10 and is commonly known as The Good Samaritan.

Luke 10:30-32

30 In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of 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.

Luke 10:33-35

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, took him to an inn and took care of him.

35 The next day he took out two silver coins 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.'

Jesus originally told this story to challenge the cultural thinking about the value of different groups of people. In those days, the religious thinkers had a limited view of who mattered. Most of the people only sought relationships with people of "their own kind." It was common for people to ignore individuals of different social classes and ethnic backgrounds. Jesus used this story to broaden their view of their neighborhood.

When Jesus told the story of The Good Samaritan, he was in a conversation with a lawyer. You know that a lawyer is an individual whose principal role is to protect his clients from others of his profession. He is someone that can write a 10,000 word document and call it a brief. It doesn’t matter what font he uses, it always comes out in the fine print. Have you ever thought about the difference between a good lawyer and a great lawyer? A good lawyer knows the law. A great lawyer knows the judge.

Well, anyway, this dialogue started when the lawyer asked Jesus, “What do I have to do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength.” Then Jesus added, “Love your neighbor as yourself.” This statement caused the lawyer to ask the question: "Who is my neighbor?"

This guy already knew the answer. It was very well documented in the literature of Judaism and in their tradition that a neighbor was another Jew or a convert to Judaism. They did not consider people outside the faith of Judaism to be neighbors. In fact, people outside their group were viewed as total enemies. Jesus comes on the scene and challenges their thinking with the story of The Good Samaritan.

As the story goes, a man is traveling down the fifteen mile road from Jerusalem to Jericho. This was considered a dangerous road because thieves would often hide in the caves along the path and attack travelers. The man in Jesus' story was attacked by robbers, stripped naked, beaten, and left by the side of the road, half dead. When the Bible uses the phrase “half dead”, it is saying that the man was unconscious or in danger of dying.

The fact that he is stripped and unconscious are important details of the story. The normal way people in that culture identified different ethnic groups was twofold: by dress and by accent or language. Since this man was stripped and unconscious, the people who passed by did not know who this man was. This man had been reduced to simply: a human being in need.

The first person to come by the crime scene was a Priest. He faced an enormous moral dilemma. His office required him to remain ritually pure. Priests would come to Jerusalem and minister in the temple, usually for two weeks, and then they would be off the rotation for awhile. More than likely, he had just finished his rotation in the temple service and was headed back home.

If a priest came in contact with a Samaritan, a Gentile, or a dead person, he would be considered ritually defiled. As a result, he would have to go through an extensive purification ritual for him to be restored so that he could perform priestly duties again. Since he is not sure that this injured person is his neighbor, he has a loophole that allows him to ride on by and leave the person there. At times we do the same thing. It’s easier not to get involved in some cases.

The next person on the scene is a Levite. The Levite was probably walking because Levites had less money and prestige. He arrived at the place where the hurt man is lying. More than likely, he went a little closer than the Priest because the consequences for defilement are not as strict for Levites. He looked at the man lying there and walks on by. Now why is that?

There are at least two possibilities. He may be afraid of thieves hiding out near by. If he stops to help this person, he may be robbed himself. But more than likely, the Levite knows the priest is on the road ahead of him. It was customary before starting out on a barren road like this to ask who else was on the road. In fact, your life might depend on that information.

The Levite could be thinking, "If the priest thought it was okay to go by, who am I to contradict him? In fact, if I help this person, I'll be showing up the priest and bringing disfavor on him, and perhaps eventually on myself." So he had a loophole, a way out. We do the same thing. We use the behavior of others and say, "Well, if they did not do this, why should I?”

Well, if you were in Jesus' audience listening to this story, you would be anticipating the next character. Obviously Jesus is walking right down the hierarchy. He started with the Priest, and now he's to the Levite, and next will be the Jewish layman. But surprise!

Jesus introduced a radical twist to the story. The next character was not a Jewish layman coming down the road but a dreaded, hated Samaritan! The Jews considered the Samaritans as half-breeds, dogs, and the lowest of the low.

The Samaritan came upon this injured man and offered a helping hand. He demonstrated radical love that went beyond what anyone in that society could imagine. He knelt and took wine and oil and applied it to his wounds. He then placed the man on his own donkey and personally took him to an inn to recover.

The inns of that day were pretty rough places, and if a person could not pay, the innkeeper would probably throw him in debtor's prison until he could pay the debt. The Samaritan decided to "pay it forward" and he used his own resources to help someone who did not have the ability to pay it back.

As Jesus comes to the end of this story, he asks the lawyer, "Which person proved himself to be a neighbor?" The lawyer has to conclude, "The one who showed mercy." Jesus says, "Go and do the same."

This is a story that was told two thousand years ago, but it is retold every day in situations that we find ourselves in.

We have an opportunity to make a difference.

How Can We Serve?

1. Ask God to give you a heart of compassion.

There are times in my life that have to pray for a compassionate and sensitive heart. Over the years, our hearts have a tendency to become calloused. Pain and disappointment have a way of stealing tenderness from us. We need a new heart, a heart of compassion.

2. Open your eyes to the needs of other people.

Be aware of what's going on around you. I believe that God provides us with opportunities to make a difference in someone's life and we ignore them because we are so wrapped up in ourselves. We are so self-focused that we cannot see the needs of others.

Most of the people that you meet carry a measure of stress and pressure with them. Be aware of their plight and encourage them by extending a helping hand.

3. Encourage someone by extending a helping hand.

Many of you may be saying, "What can I do?" Look around you. Some of you have the ability to help single moms or widows with yard work or some type of maintenance. Take the initiative. Visit someone in the hospital, send a card, buy groceries for a family in need; be willing to baby-sit for people who have doctors' visits. The list could go on and on.

This past week one of our small groups here at the Creek put the words of Christ into action. Listen to Patti Jordan’s story.

My Story: Patti Jordan

Dear Pastor Marty,

Thank you for letting God use you to create such a wonderful church family.  Several years ago, I was in the middle of what was one of the worst times in my life. Through that turmoil I met a dear friend who talked about her church and all the wonderful things that she and her children were involved with. Through that friendship I found Christ and Steven’s Creek. It took me almost a year to get plugged in and start forming friendships there, but I did.  The small groups formed during 40 days of purpose started what I now consider my church family. Through the ups and downs, we supported each other and bonds were formed. It was this small group that encouraged me to try out for Drama. I found my passion!

The original small group changed as people came and went and more friendships were formed. My church family grew. This past January when I suddenly became ill and was placed in the hospital it was my small groups I called upon for help. They rallied the troops and prepared everything I could imagine for my Mom to come and stay and for my family’s care afterward.

Most recently this summer it was a collage of my church family coming together from an affinity group here and a service group there and every other group you could imagine to organize me and my house. The plan here was to make my life easier and happier which would therefore keep me healthy. I loved and appreciated everything that my Steven’s Creek Family had done for me, but it was the protection that they surrounded me with this past week that finally prompted me to want to say thank you to you and this church.  My 3 kids and I came home Monday to find our house had been broken in to.  Our home was our safe place, and someone had been through it taking our safety away from us. Once I got everyone out of the house and called 911, I rushed to call my closest friends, my Creek Family. They immediately had a plan of action. Someone came to stay with me and the kids until the police came. They took the kids to another Creeker’s house and came back to sit with me until yet another person could be there. Meanwhile other Creekers were making calls getting men here to secure the door. I had more offers from my creek family come pouring in with places to stay, food for the me and kids and so much more.

My friend Margie stayed with us that night until we went to bed and the last thing I told her before she left was, “I feel amazingly calm. I’m not really sure why, but I think it’s everyone praying for me. I feel safe. Even though police keep driving by and the door frame looks a mess. I feel protected.” We slept amazingly well that night.

The next day I called the officer who was working my case and he told me they thought they had caught the guy.   I don’t know what the actual statistic is in catching people right after a break in, but somehow I don’t think it happens often. When he broke into my house, I didn’t have a security sign up, but I had the greatest security system available. I was truly covered by God.

I am so thankful that you were willing to listen when God called upon you to start this church. Thank you for realizing the importance of the small groups. I was so nervous to join a group because I was afraid they would see how naive I was, but it truly was the best thing that ever happened to me.

Its amazing how one friendship connected me to Steven’s Creek and how each small group connects me  another person and how huge a difference all of those connections have made in my life. Thank you to you and everyone at Steven’s Creek for letting God use them. And if there is anyone who has not connected somewhere at the creek, please encourage them to do so. God has a huge plan for their lives.. 

In Christ,
Patti Jordan

You can make a difference this week by helping people. You can be a good Samaritan.

4. Pray for people in need.

The most powerful tool that you have is the power of prayer. When you connect with God, you are tapping into the great resource that is available on this earth.

Yesterday I had an opportunity to meet a man named Lyndon. He is confined to a wheel chair for now. Last year he picked up his girl friend from her house on a Saturday morning. They were going to Wal-Mart. A car met them on street and blocked road. A man jumped out and ran over to his car and shot him five times.

He told me, “I tried to shield the bullets but they went right through my arm.” His girlfriend jumped out of the car and ran. He chased her down and shot her three times. It’s a miracle but both of them survived. Now Lyndon, who had spent his life helping people as Nurses’ assistant at University Hospital, now is being helped by others.

He is paralyzed and is living with government assistance, but he has a positive faith. I had an opportunity to pray for him yesterday. I believe with him that God had do what man cannot do.

We often say that we will pray for people, but this week I want you to do it. Spend time in prayer. You will be amazed at what God can do through your prayers.

Post It Notes: Saying a Prayer for those in Need

We are going to have a real simple conclusion to this service. I would like to invite you to take that Post-it note and a pencil or pen.

We don’t want serving to be about a day or a weekend. We want to make a difference. We want to be like the one we follow. We want to be ready to serve when the opportunity comes our way.

Todd is going to lead us in a final song. The idea for this part is that you take the post-it note and a make a commitment to serve. This is a private thing between you and God.

Write on that note a single word that expresses your own sense of calling or commitment to serve God. Maybe the word that you write on there is an area of human need like poverty, or AIDS, or homelessness.

Maybe it’s a part of the world like inner-city Augusta, rural Georgia, New Orleans, Appalachia, Costa Rica, Haiti or Peru.

Maybe it’s the name of a person. Maybe it’s someone that you met today. Maybe it’s a face. Are you ready to serve? Maybe you just write the word, “Yes”. The idea is that you say a prayer over that need. If you are willing, at some point during this song say, “God, I am willing to serve” and then come and place that need on the side windows.

Prayer