Untouchable Love

Love the Jesus Way  •  Sermon  •  Submitted
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A believer in Christ is compassionate--one who is generous with time, talent, and treasure.

Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Malcolm Burleigh: Growing up in Gary, Indiana as an abused and neglected child. “You always knew you were a foster child. You weren’t part of that family. It almost felt like you were rejected. You weren’t valued. It was never like--’this is our family.’ (He did not have the opportunity as a child to attend a Royal Family Kid’s Camp)
There are many that feel like they are not a part—that they are rejected of society—that they are not valued. I wanted to do something about that!!!
Illustration: I wanted to teach my son, Ethan, about compassion and helping the poor. In Manhattan, Kansas, we volunteered at the downtown Presbyterian church, cooking breakfast every Wednesday morning. Most of those that we served were homeless. There were even a couple families with children that ate their breakfast there (and received a sack lunch for later).
Problem: I am worried that it is easy to ignore the needs of others. Decisions that they made, drugs and alcohol that they have abused, the poverty that lends itself to unpleasant odor, and various other uncomfortable realities—all of which can repel even the nicest of people.
Without even thinking—we can unintentionally distance ourselves from those who are in desperate circumstances.
We judge: maybe, due to choices they made, they deserve poverty,
We can view people as a danger—those that may have a disease that can put us in a difficult position.
We may fear being taken advantage of.
But as a follower of Jesus Christ—what should WE do?
Text
There is a parable that Jesus used in teaching His followers about compassion. It WILL make you uncomfortable—it WILL challenge you.
Matthew 25:31-46
Matthew 25:45 ESV
45 Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’
Main Idea
We are called to LOVE people—not just our friends, or church members, or those who hold the same political positions—we are called to LOVE people—especially intentionally reaching out to those who are on the margins of society.
Jesus practiced this KINGDOM TRUTH throughout His earthly ministry. It was an important, constant theme of His—and it should ours!
In Mark 1:38-39, we are informed of Jesus’ priorities.
Mark 1:38–39 ESV
38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
Point 1

Look!

Be Aware.
Jesus was aware of people and their needs.
Jesus knew His mission/purpose (to seek and save the lost). (see Luke 19:10)
John 14:12 ESV
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
What do we need to do?
We need to be aware of the way Jesus connected with people. (The way of Jesus)
We need to be aware of our responsibility to follow Christ.
We need to be aware of people and their needs.
Point 2
Mark 1:40 ESV
40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”

Listen!

There is a man with a need—a need of healing and restoration.
His need (a skin disease) results in separation from the community.
He is alone, stigmatized, trapped—without hope.
He is looking for someone—something that can rescue him from his desperate condition.
He needs someone to take notice of his plight.
Because Jesus was aware—he was in a position where the problem meets the solution.
Be Receptive.
Jesus was receptive to the human cry!
He was ready to listen—to hear the passion of people hoping for—longing for—begging for a miracle—something that will exchange the pain of life for peace—for hope—for joy.
Sometimes Jesus did not even wait for people to request help—he would ask: “What do you want me to do for you?” (see Mark 10:36; 10:51; Luke 18:41)
What do we need to do?
We need to discover that there are people (in our church and in our community and in our world) that are devastated and weighed down by sickness, poverty, emotional distress, and spiritual emptiness.
We need to recognize that God’s grace in our lives is not just for us—but it is to be given away to others.
We need to cultivate and nurture a heart of compassion. How?
Abandon the selfishness, arrogance, prejudice, and a critical spirit.
Position yourself to serve.
Learn about people and their pain—get to know them by name—listen to their story—and be open for your heart to be stirred.
Refrain from judging and condemning —be patient and kind.
Allow yourself to feel—to hurt—to identify with those in need.
Ask God!!!
Point 3

Love!

Be Responsive.
Mark 1:41–42 ESV
41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
Jesus was moved by the anguish of this man and his need.
Love is more than a word or a concept—it is more than an emotion!
Love is action!
God loved the world—and acted (sending his own Son)
Peter and John saw the need of the lame man at the temple—and acted (prayed, believed, which facilitating the man’s healing).
Jesus had compassion on the church—and acted (inviting the children to come to him, blessed them).
The love of Jesus was responsive.
Taking the TIME to listen and bringing hope through healing and deliverance.
Jesus identified with those in need (ultimately taking on the punishment of humanity’s sins, and suffering the consequence of our actions).
Suffering and sacrifice were elements of Jesus and his love.
The love of Jesus made a difference!
What do we need to do?
Our love should seek the greatest good in others.
Our love should be generous, patient, kind, gentle, and never self-seeking.
Our love should serve as a witness of the truth of Jesus Christ and His gift of salvation.
Our love should be shaped and nurtured through genuine compassion for people—seeing people as God sees them (created in His image, suffering because of the world’s sin, and an opportunity to demonstrate the glory of God).
Our love should be motivated by God’s love for us.
What kind of love should we have?
A love that refrains from employing critical judgement (blame, “they made their bed, they should lie in it.”)
A love that forgives, and makes no record of wrongs.
A love that is willing to learn and understand
A love that is willing to go the extra mile, give the extra garment, and even suffer so that others will see there is hope in Christ.
Conclusion
1 Corinthians 13:1–3 ESV
1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3 If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.
It is easy to become distracted from what really counts.
The mission of God is about loving people—and through that love, people can become open to the message of Christ.
Without love, we close the door and miss the opportunities for the lost to be found.
Illustration: Remember at the beginning I was talking about a man by the name of Malcolm Burleigh. Someone reached out to him. Allowed him to BELONG. Valued him! Today Malcolm Burleigh is the National Director of Assemblies of God American Missions.
We can become a hindrance to people from seeing the truth of Christ. For it is through Christ, people can experience REAL CHANGE.
Are you willing to be a genuine CHANGE AGENT in your family, your community, your world?
Questions for Personal Reflection and Group Discussion
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