*Editorial Note: Pastor Clint accidentally misstated two denarii as two weeks’ pay in the first century; two denarii was two days’ pay*
In a world marked by division, isolation, and loneliness, we are a people in desperate need of radical love and connection in the ordinary parts of our lives and world. Join us at Midtown for our new teaching series entitled Won’t You Be My Neighbor?: Radically Ordinary Hospitality, as we go on a spiritual journey of exploration, mining the riches of Jesus’ life and teaching to explore the radical practice of neighboring and examining the ways that this ancient and timeless practice can get us caught up in the present work of the Kingdom of God in our own time. Together we’ll challenge the prevalent culture of division by emphasizing the importance of building authentic relationships across societal boundaries, provide practical guidance on fostering a sense of community in our homes and world, examine how to break down walls of hostility that isolate and divide, and ultimately combat the epidemic of loneliness through intentional acts of kindness and inclusion, that all people might come to a knowledge of their identities as beloved children of God and might experience His love and grace in their own lives.
Sermon Resources:
1. Fred Rogers: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Rogers
2. “I went into television because I hated it so, and I thought there’s some way of using this fabulous instrument to nurture those who would watch and listen.” -Fred Rogers, “Fred and Me, An Appreciation – CNN Interview”
3. Study on the effects of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood: thehill.com/opinion/healthcare/…dren%20and%20adults.
4. “The culture flows from the assumption that the accumulation of commodities will make us safe and happy.” -Walter Brueggemann, “An Other Kingdom”
5. Study on hopelessness in America: www.cnbc.com/2021/05/10/51perce…d-or-hopeless.html
6. Study on antidepressant prescriptions: pharmaceutical-journal.com/article/new…%20increase.
7. “Most Americans watch Friends instead of making friends.” -Robert Putnam, Keynote Address – Harvard University’s Mental Health Awareness Week
8. Global Peace Index: www.visionofhumanity.org/wp-content/u…2023-Web.pdf
9. “I imagine that the first question the priest and Levite asked was: ‘If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?’ But by the very nature of his concern, the good Samaritan reversed the question: If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?’” -Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., “Strength To Love”
10. “The Bible tells us to love our neighbors, and also to love our enemies; probably because generally they are the same people.” -G.K. Chesterton, “Orthodoxy”
11. “Therefore set aside a room in your house to which Christ may come; say, “This is Christ’s room; this is set apart for him.” Even if it is very simple, he will not disdain it. Christ goes about “naked and a stranger”; he needs shelter: do not hesitate to give it to him. Do not be lacking in compassion.” -John Chrysostom, “Homily 45 on the Acts of the Apostles”
12. “What would the church’s love look like if it showed up dozens of times a week in small but profound ways: cooked meals, prayers prayed, songs sung, Scripture studied, games played, parties thrown, tears shed, reconciliation practiced, resources given? What if our homes stopped being the places we hid from the world but havens to which the world comes for healing?” -Jon Tyson, “Sacred Roots: Why Church Still Matters in a Post-Religious Era”
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