Sylvania Wesleyan Church 1
Sunday Morning 10/25

      • Philippians 2:3NIV2011

  • Have you ever made an old thing new?
    Restoration, new ideas
    There are times when things that were once old are made new
    One of the most challenging thing to do sometimes is take something old and make it new
    The Floor in the Old part of the Church and John Reeves
    This morning I am going to try to take an old passage and make it new.
    Leviticus 19:1–2 NIV
    1 The Lord said to Moses, 2 “Speak to the entire assembly of Israel and say to them: ‘Be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.
    Leviticus 19:15–18 NIV
    15 “ ‘Do not pervert justice; do not show partiality to the poor or favoritism to the great, but judge your neighbor fairly. 16 “ ‘Do not go about spreading slander among your people. “ ‘Do not do anything that endangers your neighbor’s life. I am the Lord. 17 “ ‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. 18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.

    Won’t you be my Neighbor

    Let’s talk about who our neighbor is.
    According to Leviticus our Neighbor is someone who we...
    Judge Fairly
    We don’t spread slander against them
    We don’t endanger their life
    We get to rebuke them
    That means we get to point out their flaws and things they do wrong
    Don’t seek revenge on them
    don’t hold a grudge
    Oh yeah love them like yourself
    How many of are good at following this list?
    The challenge is that the idea of our neighbor is one that isn’t as simple as just following a set of rules its a complicated thing because it is a relationship.

    Who is our Neighbor?

    Are you my neighbor?
    Is someone down the street my neighbor?
    Is someone who lives in California my neighbor?
    What about across the world are they my neighbor?
    In Leviticus the word for Neighbor can often be seen as a fellow countryman
    It isn’t as narrow as just the person who lives next to you but it is a broader idea of fellow people in your region and land.
    It is a reminder that we are to treat each other in the world though.
    How though can we make this passage new though. I know let’s see how the Bible made it new a little later
    Matthew 22:34–40 NIV
    34 Hearing that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38 This is the first and greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

    Jesus Makes it New

    Jesus takes a part of the Leviticus and other passages and brings it forward. He moves the meaning.
    He combines Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18 to create the very foundation of our faith.
    Deuteronomy 6:5 NIV
    5 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
    Leviticus 19:18 NIV
    18 “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.
    Two verses brought forward and expanded on by Jesus.
    Pastor Jesus said the same thing though he just retold it
    The reality is that Jesus teaching expands on who our neighbor is
    Luke 10:25–37 NIV
    25 On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” 27 He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” 28 “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” 29 But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by 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. 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, brought him to an inn and took care of him. 35 The next day he took out two denarii 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.’ 36 “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” 37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
    I read these stories and I can’t help but think how do I now bring this forward to today

    Identity Problem

    Recent shifts in our understanding of identity
    sexuality, race, political party, and religion are all major issues
    It is this shift that has made it challenging to love our neighbor
    it takes me back to the passage in Leviticus and makes me ask if we are following it.
    are we being fair, are we not spreading slander, are we putting our neighbor’s life in danger, are we seeking revenge and holding grudges
    We have allowed all the identities that we don’t agree with to shape and form us and turn us from who we are supposed to be

    Our Samaritan Story

    We need to realize that we each have our own Samaritan story that should help show us who our neighbor is.
    Are we willing to listen to the truth that we may not be doing what God has called us to in how we treat people.

      • Leviticus 19:1–2NIV2011

      • Leviticus 19:15–18NIV2011

      • Matthew 22:34–40NIV2011

      • Deuteronomy 6:5NIV2011

      • Leviticus 19:18NIV2011

      • Luke 10:25–37NIV2011

Sylvania Wesleyan Church 1
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