Summer is a time in which most people in our country are "hitting the roads."
Everybody in church this morning has traveled on some highway, road, street, path, etc. in order to get here.

Stories about Emilie Wohlscheid and Bob Barnes and their travels.

In this series we are looking at 4 different roads that are associated with actual locations in the Bible.
Last week we looked at the Road to Capernaum.
The story is found in Luke 4 and deals with His rejection by the people of His childhood home of Nazareth. In spite of this, Jesus continued on "His way"...the way of ministry. He followed God's will for his life and didn't compromise or allow His emotions to dictate His life direction or choices. The Road to Capernaum for us is our ministry, both in our church and in our community.

Today we look at the Road to Jericho.
Jericho is considered to be the oldest continually inhabited city in the world. It is strategically located as a border city and controlled important migration routes.
Jericho's location was key to its significance. The city is situated in the lower Jordan Valley, near the Jordan River and the Dead Sea.
The Jericho of New Testament times was built by King Herod. His enormous palace complex straddled the famous Wadi Qelt which was the main road way for millions of Jewish pilgrims as they ventured upward to Jerusalem to celebrate their religious feasts. Jewish men were expected to make a pilgrimage to the 3 primary religious feasts each year and usually brought their families.

Now the Road to Jericho that we are looking at in our passage is the way from Jerusalem to Jericho down 3,500 feet over 17 miles. It was called "The Way of Blood" because of the treacherous footing, the wild animals, and the countless robbers and thieves.
Our story about this road is found in Luke 10:25-37.

Our story is known as the Good Samaritan and is one of the most well-known stories and parables of Jesus found in the Bible.
There are a great many things that can be learned from this passage, but this morning, our thoughts will be guided to the single topic of compassion.
A definition of Biblical compassion is to be "concerned about and moved by the sufferings of others with a resulting desire and action to alleviate such suffering."
Compassion is a key characteristic of God. Psalm 86:15

Jesus tells this story for at least 3 reasons:
1. to answer the question of a religious leader
2. to demonstrate what true compassion looks like
3. to reveal the character of God that is described in the passage we just read

Compassion is an attitude and skill that can be learned and lived out. Today we'll look at some of the ways we can travel the path toward Christlikeness:

1. UNDERSTANDING God's purpose for our life.

2. KNOWING the harsh realities of the sinful world we live in.

3. LOOKING for opportunities to dispense God's compassion to others.

4. RESPONDING to needs when we see them.

5. SACRIFICING to the degree we are able.

6. GRASPING the fact that God is the Samaritan and we are the person in need.

7. OBEYING the command of Jesus.