Palmer SDA Church Podcast

This is Part 3 of the Neighboring Well sermon Series. There are more resources for this sermon at https://pastorryanrogers.com/who-is-my-neighbor/

The lawyer in Luke 10 asked Jesus a dangerous question, “Who is my neighbor?”. It is not a bad question, it’s just dangerous when it is asked with the intention of disassociating ourselves from the people God has called us to love. The question seeks minimal neighboring. The response calls us to maximal neighboring.

We have a problem of making things into rocks. We make employment into a rock of stability. We turn our entertainment into a rock of pleasure. We lean on people around us as our rocks of support. We imagine that our health, our intelligence, and our ability are rock solid. God reminds us that there is no other rock. God is not just a better foundation; God is the only true foundation. When we hold to these other things we hold to an illusion of security. Stop making things into rocks. God is our rock.

What are we called to do to our neighbor? Love them!

How much? As ourselves!

This is the second in our Neighboring Well study series. You can find the message in video, audio, and written form at https://pastorryanrogers.com/love-your-neighbor-as-yourself/

 

What do you need saved from?

Where are you looking for salvation?

 

Isaiah 43:11 I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior.

What is the relationship between our view of justification and our practice of justice? It is worth exploring because it impacts Neighboring Well in a big way! This is the first message in a series called Neighboring Well. You can find the audio and written resources for this message at https://pastorryanrogers.com/2193-2/

There is no other God. So, there is nothing else worthy of worship. 

When we give our best affection to anything else, that thing is stealing from God the praise that belongs to him alone. It is also stealing from us the gracious privilege of connecting with the only God in worship. 

Worship is not limited to liturgical activity such as song and prayer. Worship is any response to God that treasures his sovereignty. We respond to his sovereignty with adoration, surrender, repentance, submission, reverence, joy, serving our neighbor, loving our family, anything that is in line with his value, and it is all worship. 

Do you have to go grocery shopping today, clean your house, have a difficult conversation? Do those things in a way that values God and you will be worshipping him.

Deuteronomy 4:39 Acknowledge and take to heart this day that the Lord is God in heaven above and on the earth below. There is no other.

This is an incredible truth!

 

Many Biblical miracles and symbols have to do with water. It is not about the axe head floating or the waters of the Jordan having some healing power. It was just water. But the power of God made that water do something really special.  What’s in the water? Jesus is! In this new year God will use all kinds of stuff to do great things. Let’s remember it is not about the stuff. It is about Jesus.

Jesus didn't need Peter to build shelters. He didn't need Peter to do anything for him. He wanted him to experience his presence.

When God brings us to a holy moment in his presence, we don't need to produce stuff for God. We need to experience him! It is good for us to be there!

That is revolutionary! A revolution is the overthrow one government in favor of another. It is a fundamental change in the way of thinking. The nativity is a scene of selflessness calculated to revolutionize the established system of selfishness. Every decorative nativity scene is an illustration of counter cultural, revolutionary love. The selfless king stepped into the kingdom of selfishness. All was calm. All was bright. While baby Jesus quietly and humbling attacked the governing system of our sinful world. A selfless revolution in a selfish world.

Join the revolution!

https://pastorryanrogers.com/revolutionary-love/