Who Is My Neighbor?

Won’t You Be My Neighbor?
Who Is My Neighbor?

I. Introduction

A. Matthew 22:36-38 (NLT) ³⁶“Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” ³⁷Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ ³⁸This is the first and greatest commandment.”

B. Deuteronomy 6:4-5 (NLT) ⁴“Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD alone. ⁵And you must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.”

1. The “Shema”

C. Matthew 22:39-40 (NLT) ³⁹“A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ⁴⁰The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.”

1. Jesus is saying, “If you do love people, then you love God!

D. To love somebody is to intend their , as defines good.

E. Matthew 22:39 (NLT) “A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

F. Our “neighbor” is the real—flesh and blood—imperfect— person—that life brings us into contact with.

II. Personal Exercise

A. If you’re going to really “love” your neighbors, it helps if you their !

B. We want to begin to for our neighbors by name.

C. God’s “Kingdom” is the sphere in which everything wants to be done, is done.

1. We’re all equally loved by God, just because we’re all .

D. I John 4:19 (NAS) We love, because He first loved us.

E. Proverbs 3:27-28 (NLT) ²⁷Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them. ²⁸If you can help your neighbor now, don’t say, “Come back tomorrow, and then I’ll help you.”

F. Proverbs 14:21 (NIV) He who despises his neighbor sins, but blessed is he who is kind to the needy.

G. Leviticus 19:32 (NLT) “Stand up in the presence of the elderly, and show respect for the aged. Fear your God. I am the LORD.”

1. When we love people—who are most likely to be —that’s one of the ways that we really love God.

H. John 14:2-3 (NLT) ²“There is more than enough room in my Father’s home. If this were not so, would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? ³When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

1. Homework assignment: Begin to get to know the of your !

III. Conclusion