Who is My Neighbor? Part 2
Sermon Notes
We view racial reconciliation as a secondary issue in church. Racial reconciliation is a primary issue in the Bible.
Racism: The skin color on somebody is of more importance than the image of God in somebody.
“In all of human history, there has never been so much animosity, hatred, and violence between two groups of people as there has been between the Jew and the Gentile. But alas, in the first-century, there emerged a group of people on the planet who transcended this racial hostility.
Here was a group of people who saw themselves as members of the same family … a people made up of Jews, Gentles, slaves, free, rich, poor, male and female. These were the early Christians. The Roman world stood in awe as they saw a people who hated each other began to love one another.”
- Frank Viola, Insurgence
The image of God in you is deeper than the skin color on you.
The Samaritan woman said to him, “You are a Jew and I am a Samaritan woman. How can you ask me for a drink?” (For Jews do not associate with Samaritans.)
- John 4:9
24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre.[g] He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter.
27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.”
28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the dogs under the table eat the children’s crumbs.”
29 Then he told her, “For such a reply, you may go; the demon has left your daughter.”
30 She went home and found her child lying on the bed, and the demon gone.
- Mark 7:24-30
27 While talking with him, Peter went inside and found a large gathering of people.
28 He said to them: “You are well aware that it is against our law for a Jew to associate with or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean
- Acts 10:27-28
45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles.
- Acts 10:45
So he started out, and on his way he met an Ethiopian eunuch…
- Acts 8:27
27 After this, Jesus went out and saw a tax collector by the name of Levi sitting at his tax booth. “Follow me,” Jesus said to him, 28 and Levi got up, left everything and followed him.
29 Then Levi held a great banquet for Jesus at his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were eating with them.
30 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who belonged to their sect complained to his disciples, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?”
31 Jesus answered them, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”
- Luke 5:27-31
Table Group Resources
Mixer
What is your favorite summer activity?
Connect
1. What are 3 words that best describe your week?
2. What brought you joy this week?
Sermon Questions
1. What does it mean to you to be made in the image of God?
2. What did you learn this week by listening to someone?
3. How can we experience some of the power and miracles the first century church experienced?
Reflect
“The image of God in you, is deeper than the skin color on you.”
-Pastor Jared Herd
What can I do to learn more about Racial Reconciliation?
1. Read a book
· Be The Bridge by Latasha Morrison
· The Third Option by Miles McPherson
2. Watch the documentary 13th on Netflix and/or Just Mercy
3. Listen to a TED Talk or Podcast
Go Deeper
Tension. There is so much in the news, on social media, in relationships, and I realized tonight… tension is in my home. The last couple nights, I have felt an unbearable heaviness on my chest, and both nights, my husband and I have been at odds with each other. Tonight, I decided to do our daughter’s bedtime routine without my phone on me. As I watched her splash and giggle in the bath, I felt an overwhelming love. Recently, my eyes have been consumed by the strife of news and social media and missing what God is doing through this time.
In the story of Mary & Martha, Martha was so busy and distracted by all the things she needed to do while Mary sat at the feet of Jesus (Luke 10:38-40). When Martha was incredibly bothered by this, Jesus said to Martha, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed – or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).
As you read this, I don’t know where you’re at right now, but I would venture to say you feel some sort of tension. It hit me like a bag of bricks when I realized I hadn’t truly looked in my daughter’s eyes today, much less my husband’s. As we continue to stay informed, let us see everyone and everything through the eyes of Jesus. (Jaden Duncan)
Reflect on Hebrews 12
Suggestions to Serve
Good Neighbor Day | The Church at RB | June 18 8AM-3PM
Prayer
Partner up and pray for each other throughout the week
Reminder
If you or someone you know is struggling, our counseling ministry is taking new appointments via zoom to help navigate these unusually challenging days.
