First Baptist Church Bethany Students: Freaks and Geeks Week 2- Freaky Thing- Mercy

Christians do this Freaky thing where they..... Show Mercy

Freaks and Geeks Class Period 2- Physical Education-P.E.- MER. C.

this lesson comes from the heart of the whole series... like, there is no better practical lesson than the one that we can learn from (IMHO) the Greatest Parable (only because it follows the Greatest Commandment(s))

The story of the Good Samaritan is central to the teachings and work of Jesus and not only calls to emulation but also to extraordinary obedience, love, and mercy... so without further adieu and for your consideration....

“And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?”And he answered, “You shall 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 your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”

But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead.Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.””

(Luke 10:25–37 ESV)

INSIGHTS-

what are your initial thoughts after just reading this...

what sticks out the most?

did you just gloss over it waiting to get to the end? (if so slow down and read it again)

who are the major characters?

what do you know about their backgrounds?

what do you know about Jesus’ parables?

who was this parable spoken too (original audience and audience of you!)

what does this parable mean for your life now?

Overcoming Religion-

i love and am frustrated by this parable because the religious figure gets it wrong, not because he was necessarily a bad person but because it “wasn’t his job” or at least wasn’t apart of it... touching dead things were kind of off limits and he was probably busy with something... I’m sure...

Overcoming Race-

the Samaritan who is the helper of our befallen friend is not only the outsider in the situation but he is racial different than the one whom he is helping

the issue of neighbor is shattered by the telling/interpretation of this story... across racial boundaries a life is healed/changed and the lines of neighbor are redrawn

Overcoming Obligations-

a simpler albeit important recognition from this story is... no one had to help... there was no civil law or mandate that claimed you had to help someone in trouble...

like those with car trouble, the homeless, or fiery homes there is no official, legal obligation to do anything about it...

MERCY- that which makes us first in line.... to serve, to help, to give, to spend, to spread, to share...

MERCY- a thing we do that we should never forsake or replace

Zac Workun

Student Pastor

First Baptist Church of Bethany

3800 N Mueller Ave.

Bethany, OK 73008

Office (405) 789-3312

Cell (405) 250-9036

zacworkun@gmail.com

zacworkun.com