Henry Williams

Here's last weekend's sermon in 10 tweets from our Journey to Easter series.

1/ The Bible expert looks like the ignorant student so he asks, "Who is my neighbor?," in order to justify himself.

2/ Jesus' parable pulls the Bible expert in again and reframes the question/issue.

3/ There's more to this than 'go and take care of people in need.' Clue: Look at the characters in the story.

4/ Jesus never answers the question.

5/ Jesus is counting on the crowd thinking, 'Why would a Samaritan help a Jew? They hate us."

6/ If a Samaritan were to do this, they know it would be a pure act of grace. Under no obligation.

7/ Everyone in the crowd would identify with the guy on the side of the road.

8/ Jesus is counting on the crowd asking themselves, "How would I feel about it if a Samaritan helped me?"

9/ Go and do likewise: Go and help even your enemy. Don't narrow down who you are to help.

10/ This story contains the dynamics of the gospel--What the Samaritan does for his enemy is what God does for us.

Here’s 10 Tweets from my sermon last weekend in our “Journey to Easter” Series:

1/ When the healing happens, it stops him in his tracks. It looks like it catches him off guard.

2/ He embraces the interruption as a divine appointment.

3/ You can’t hurry God.

4/ Jesus isn’t feeling rushed because he knows he can do something bigger & better than a healing.

5/ Jesus has broader concerns: He wants to restore to wholeness and build faith.

6/ If you have put your faith in Jesus, you have already been promised resurrection by Jesus himself. Will you apply faith while you wait?

7/ Right there, in the very thing you most fear, is an opportunity to grow stronger in faith.

8/ The ministry of Jesus is propelled and empowered by the Holy Spirit.

9/ The Holy Spirit who propelled and empowered Jesus in his ministry is the same Holy Spirit who propels and empowers his followers in ministry.

10/ Beware of your calculations (who is more strategic, etc.). God’s ways are counterintuitive. He uses the weak. He uses the cross.

10 Tweets on “Gospel Neighboring” (Luke 10:25-37)