Title:
The Year of the Invitation: Anointed Samaritans by
Senior Pastor
Dan Tabolt
This idea of person to person
evangelism was credited to Billy Graham by a seminary professors. He said
the way Jesus preferred evangelism to be carried out was one at a time,
making a fiend and telling that person about salvation. That person would
then disciple the new convert until he could go and share his faith. Rev.
Graham said American prefer the flashy religious professional approach
where a hired evangelist does the work, but it will never be as effective
as each person telling one person about Jesus.
The
numbers work this way:
If an
evangelist could reach 1,000 people per week, 50 weeks a year [two weeks
vacation I guess] in a 40 year ministry career that person would reach 2
million people.
However,
if we take one person and that person makes a friend and shares the gospel
with the friend and then disciple that person for a year. At the end of
the year each of them go and make a friend and share the gospel and
disciple the 2 new people for one year, and so on, after 33 years
[interestingly the length of Jesus’ earthly life] over 8 billion people
would have been reached! There are presently only about 6 billion people
on earth!
It seems
obvious then that Jesus way of telling our neighbors and discipling them
is God’s best way!
Luke
10:25-38 5 The Parable of the Good Samaritan
And
behold, a certain lawyer stood up and tested Him, saying, “Teacher, what
shall I do to inherit eternal life?" 26 He said to him, "What is written
in the law? What is your reading of it?" 27 So he answered and said,
"'You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your
soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,' and 'your neighbor
as yourself.'" 28 And He said to him, "You have answered rightly; do
this and you will live." 29 But he, wanting to justify himself, said to
Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?"
30 Then
Jesus answered and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to
Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded
him, and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a certain
priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on the other
side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came and
looked, and passed by on the other side. 33 But a certain Samaritan, as
he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had compassion.
34 So he went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine; and
he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of
him. 35 On the next day, when he departed, he took out two denarii, gave
them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him; and whatever
more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.' 36 So which of
these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the thieves?"
37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to him, "Go
and do likewise." NKJV
1.
Great Question. Jesus “What shall I do to
inherit eternal life?”
Recently I listened to a new youth Pastor share with his
church family some statistics about what this young generation believes.
One of his statements was that around 60% + believes if they are nice
people and do good things that that will earn them a right to go to
heaven. We live in a day of a real lack of God knowledge. There are all
kinds of theories out there about God, heaven and hell.
Even in this bible story
we see that just quoting or knowing scripture is not going to be enough to
deliver yourselves and others from the issues of this life and the next.
A.
“Who is my neighbor?”
In the undercover serious
by John Bavere he points out a great truth of the bible that will greatly
change your view of the word of God. The truth is that the bible is
written to God’s people about God’s people and the mission we have to this
lost world. In Jesus day as well as in our day there are people that call
themselves God’s that excuse all responsibility for a lost and dieing
people. Labeling them wicked sinners that have know right to the mercies
of God. Saying that lost people only get what there deserve. Thinking that
our neighbor are only those who believe like us look like us and so on.
With this in mind Jesus tell this story.
II.
Our Neighbors are in Distress!
30 Then Jesus answered
and said: "A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell
among thieves, who stripped him of his clothing, wounded him, and
departed, leaving him half dead.
A.
Life is not fair and it can be very
dangerous. Good and bad happen to all people. We
can hang out with bad people and in bad place which well put our lives in
greater danger. Sad so say that sometimes evil can come to you when you
are doing your best to avoid it. Because of sin…
1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring
lion, seeking whom he may devour. NKJV
B.
The State we are in.
Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, who stripped him of his
clothing, wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.
III.
Can Somebody Help Me?
. 31 Now by chance a
certain priest came down that road. And when he saw him, he passed by on
the other side. 32 Likewise a Levite, when he arrived at the place, came
and looked, and passed by on the other side.
A.
A Priest and a Levite: The Law and Religion
There seems to be a type
of death in legalism and religion. Because of man there is a heartlessness
that brings death and not life. We see but will not or can not help.
B.
We need a Samaritan, a Savior.
33 But a certain
Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was. And when he saw him, he had
compassion.
1.
A Certain Samaritan:
John 8:48 Then the Jews
answered and said to Him, "Do we not say rightly that You are a Samaritan
and have a demon?" NKJV
One of the astounding
observations about the life of Jesus was the power that he had and has in
the life of men and women. In His presence people melt. Walls that seem
to be up for everyone else come down in His presence. He and He alone has
a power to
“ So he went to him and bandaged
his wounds, pouring on oil and wine”
Luke 4:18-19 "The Spirit
of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel
to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim
liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at
liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of
the LORD." NKJV
2.
he set him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him
Phil 2:8He humbled
Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the
cross. NKJV
Rom 5:8 But God
demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners ,
Christ died for us .NKJV
3. On the next
day, when he departed, he took out two
denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said to him, 'Take care of him;
and whatever more you spend, when I come again, I will repay you.'
IV. All Authority has been given
to me So GO!
' 36 So
which of these three do you think was neighbor to him who fell among the
thieves?" 37 And he said, "He who showed mercy on him." Then Jesus said to
him, "Go and do likewise." NKJV
John
14:12-13 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works
that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do,
because I go to My Father. NKJV
A tape
recording of today’s message is available from the church. To get your
cassette tape recording of this message, just send $5 (to cover costs of
tape and postage) to:
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PO BOX 22
BOONVILLE NY 13309-0022
and ask for the December 7, 2003, sermon, “Patient
Faith”. Be sure to
include your name and mailing address so that we can send the tape to you.