“What Shall I Do?”  Luke 10:25-37

Open:  (v25) A lawyer’s question: “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”  What shall I do?

I.        Cross Examination

          A.     (v26) Jesus asks him, “What is written in the Law?  How do you read it?”

                  1.      The lawyer knows the Law; he knows the answer to his own question.

                  2.      (v27) “You shall love the Lord your God [completely] and your neighbor as yourself.”

                  3.      (v28) From Jesus, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.”

          B.     The hang-up is now knowing the answer, but living out the answer.

                  1.      (v29) The lawyer, “desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘Who is my neighbor?’”

                  2.      Searching for loopholes, wanting to look good even while we’re bad.

                  3.      What does he mean by greed or sexual immorality?  What’s adultery?  Define forgiveness.

          C.     Why don’t we love each other better?

                  1.      Focused on our own problems

                  2.      No room on our schedules

                  3.      We connect better with our own generation

                  4.      They don’t deserve it

                  5.      It’s not exotic like a mission trip

                  6.      We don’t know how

                  7.      We don’t know who needs help

                  8.      God didn’t lay it on my heart.

II.       Who is My Neighbor?

          A.     The two who missed it

                  1.      James 2:9, “If you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted.”

                  2.      James 2:13, “Judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

                  3.      Who is my neighbor?

          B.     The one who got it—verse 37, “The one who showed him mercy.”

                  1.      The irony of help from a Samaritan

                  2.      The extent of his generosity

                  3.      Who is my neighbor?

          C.     Getting it right—John 1:5

                  1.      Basement cleaning

                  2.      English tutoring

                  3.      Baked goods delivery

                  4.      Bowling benefit

Conclusion:   The lawyer’s question is our question:  What shall I do to inherit eternal life.

                  Luke 10:38-42.  Mary or Martha, Levite or Samaritan, what shall I do?