FALL 2022 PREACHING SERIES 7: Disciples Love and Serve their Neighbor

We continue our Fall preaching series on DISCIPLESHIP, the seventh part entitled: DISCIPLES love and serve their neighbor.

Jesus’s neighbor ethic is built on the Great Commandment that unites love of God and love of neighbor. Jesus expands this teaching to the point of embracing love even for one’s enemies.

Jesus tackles the question of who our neighbor is in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Neighbors are people we know, strangers, and even enemies. By moving out of our comfort zone to include these widening circles of neighbors, strangers and enemies, we enter into discipleship’s view of neighbor-hood as a state of being in which all are drawn together in the household of God. Of course, all of this is easier said than done!

Many of you will remember that for over thirty years, American children grew up watching Mister Rogers. He offered a calm and stable presence, tackling life’s weightiest issues in a simple and direct way. You remember the words of the song – Won’t You Be My Neighbor?

It's a beautiful day in this neighborhood

A beautiful day for a neighbor

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

It's a neighborly day in this beauty-wood

A neighborly day for a beauty

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

I have always wanted to have a neighbor just like you

I've always wanted to live in a neighborhood with you

So, let's make the most of this beautiful day

Since we're together, we might as well say

Would you be mine?

Could you be mine?

Won't you be my neighbor?

Won't you please