New Covenant Church
Join us at one of our three services on Sundays, at 9:30 and 11:15 AM at our South campus, and at 9:30 at our North Campus! Visit wearencc.com for more information.
Philippians 2:3-4 - 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
Why don’t we put others first? - Ambition, Pride, Selfishness Fear,...fear that our needs won’t be met, fear that our emotional needs won’t be met, fear that no one will look out for #1
Luke 10:25-37 ESV
Samaritan in contrast to the priest and the Levite - The samaritans were a half breed race that was looked down upon by the Jews. “Bad guys” the “dogs” - The despised in culture as hero.
The lawyer was asking to find out who is neighbor isn’t and Jesus makes the point....your neighbor is whoever is around you. The person you see right next to you regardless of race, ethnicity, background, age.
MARKERS OF PUTTING OTHERS FIRST
1. COMPASSION
• Eyes of Compassion - see the need
• Heart of Compassion - feel the need
• Hands of Compassion - heal the need
Everything Jesus did was about others. Jesus was always being moved with compassion. Compassion moves us to action!
2. INCONVENIENCE
• Convenience is the enemy of compassion. Convenience focuses on me, compassion focuses on others.
• Rarely is love convenient.
3. SACRIFICE
• Putting others first will always require sacrifice on our part.
• Sacrifice of our agenda, our reputation, our time, our finances
Notice what Jesus said - Luke 10:36 - Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor
OUR BEHAVIOR IS THE GREATEST INDICTOR OF OUR BELIEFS.
“in humility count others more significant than yourselves”
The question is...Will you count others as worthy of your help and encouragement of your time? Not are they worthy? But will you count them as worthy?
Romans 13:8-10 - 8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.
The one thing we owe to people. Is love.
ONE OF THE GREATEST WAYS WE EXPRESS THE LOVE OF GOD IS THROUGH THE WAY WE LOVE OTHERS.
It’s the marker of a disciple...a follower of Jesus...someone who has been changed by the love of God and in turn loves others. Gives up their rights for others to have rights.
John 13:35 - 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
As Christians we should walk through life feeling a humble sense that we owe service to people, rather than them owing us.
The message of the good samaritan is a charge to us...to go and do likewise