We have all heard and read the parable of the Good Samaritan but do we hold this value to our own life as a command from God? Do we go out of our way for others in the name of Christ Jesus? Did Jesus go out of His way to help those who were considered social outcasts? After reading this parable tonight I wanted to check my heart with some introspection. Am I doing what God has instructed here in this passage? Am I reaching out to the needy (neighbor) no matter the cost with compassion or am I looking the other way with selfish intent? We don’t know who God has placed in our path as a test so we ought to seek wisdom and look for opportunities to serve others.

This verse really stuck out to me. We are sent out into a dark and unforgiving world, to do the work of the Lord. That is not easy, but it is what we are supposed to do. This verse is restating that we are like the lambs going against the wolves! That is a scary thought, but by putting our trust and faith in God, we can do anything!

(:

This verse shows (and i really need to remember this sometimes) that we need to truley forgive (and really mean it) everyone, like Jesus did. It’s easy just to say “i’m sorry” and not really mean it, but as christians we need to be an example and truley mean it.

i must start off by saying what an amazing verse!!
This world is filled with non christians who are trying to turn us away from God, but its so encouraging to know that God has given us the power to overcome them!

In this verse Jesus gives his disciples a powerful word of encouragement. They represent him! Jesus is saying that they are his ambassadors, capable of speaking to others on his behalf. This is the same for us today! We need to plead with others as though Christ were pleading through us!

20We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

Wow great line!! I believe that we should be prepared for the nonchristians to try to lead us into temptation to sin. We need to be prepared to rise above and do the right thing.

HAPPY 16TH BIRTHDAY JORDAN!!!!!! :) – I love you <3

I really like this analogy and it’s so true… We need to be set apart from the wolves (non-christians) and pure before our God. Not getting all caught up in the worldly things or letting the wolves pull us down but holding fast to God who is our shepheard. He can pull us through.

And, ironically, i experienced something that felt like this today so its good to see it in God’s word

The kindness of the samaratin in Jesus’ story amazed me. He not only helped take care of the man’s wounds but he fed him, giving him two months worth of wages so that he could comfortably stay at that inn. I don’t know about you, but today most people just aren’t that nice. We should stand out being the light of the world and help those in need (our neighbor) fully showing kindness and love in all situations.

Two things jump out at me here… first, Jesus sent them ahead of Himself, “where he was about to go”. Wherever they went, He was coming after them… He wasn’t sending them anywhere that He wouldn’t be going Himself.

The biggest thing that gets me, though, is that they were sent out “two by two”… witnessing is a challenging opportunity and is not always meant to be a straight ‘one-on-one’ activity that we sometimes make it. It’s a team sport, so grab a buddy and get out there!

Beth, I loved your comment! These verses definitely made me think because it is easy to become worried and preoccupied with other things. But how foolish to give anything other than Christ my priority when He says right here to this woman that Mary had chosen what was better. I can’t just know this is true, I need to be living this way each and every day. A much needed reminder!

Ahhhh Martha and Mary…. My two “alter-egos”.

These two women are such great reminders to me in my everyday life. I feel like Ashlynn in our Small Group video “Got Tan”., when she has the ‘voice of consience’ telling her to read her bible, and the ‘voice of distraction’ telling her to do everything else.

This is me with the Martha voice in one ear, and the Mary voice in the other. (am i sounding a little schizophrentic?). No but seriously, my normal habit is to act like Martha on too much caffine, and I sooooo want to be Mary sitting at the feet of our beautiful savior. Beth and Ashlynn and Sarah-you are right -our First priority needs to be quality time with Jesus. When we finally slow down and spend time in meaningful prayer, nothing compares to that.

This is definately something you would not want God’s people sayin to your town. We need to make sure this isnt are down that is being told this by God.

WE NEED TO GO OUT TO PREECH THE WORD THAT GOD IS NEAR AND WE NEED TO REAPENT THAN TO DIE IN HELL WERE THERE IS KNASHING OF TEETH AND YHE WORSE PLACE WE COULD EVER SPEND ETERNITY. SO LETS TELL THE GOOD WORD

In my leadership class at school we decided to make this our verse for the year, kinda like our goal that we want to accomplish. And lately we have been going into the elem. classes at school (our school is preschool-12) and teaching them what this verse means and how to love your neighbors. What we realized is that you can simply love your neighbor by praying for them. At first it kinda sounds wierd, but seriously prayer is needed much more than anything else. God can do many things for someone while we can only do a few things. Now I’m not saying that thats the only thing that we should do. We still need to show our love for them with actoins, and by simply talking to them and being kind to them.

When we are sharing the gospel or speaking to someone about the Bible it is not our words that are going out but Christ’s. When they listen to us they are listening to Christ and when they reject us they are ultimately rejecting Christ. This reminds me that in my own strength and power it is impossible for me to share the gospel and truth of Gods word wtih people, but if I rely on Christ and the power of his spirit I can be bold and courageous for him.

We like how simply Jesus transforms a theoretical parable about a man who treats his enemy beyond well to a direct mandate: “Go & do likewise.” This is exactly what the life of Christ is about: him SHOWING us what to do & how to act, then saying, “Ok, now you go do it, too.”

this verse shows how much God hates it when he gives us every opportunity but then we don’t take it. It is much worse if we hear the message and then ignore it, than if we had never heard it at all. Make sure none of you friends meet this horrible fate. God has given us every opportunity.

12I tell you, it will be more bearable on that day for Sodom than for that town.

13″Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes.

14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths.

16″He who listens to you listens to me; he who rejects you rejects me; but he who rejects me rejects him who sent me.”

SEE?!?!? OK :/ ? too dramatic…. ok, Korazin, Bethsaida, Capernaum… those are the “trinity of cites” as i call it. why? because it is where Jesus did most of his ministry, but those in the vicinity did not spread the Word of God to the world. As a result, they vanished-no traces of the cities that once stood in it’s place. this is what happened to them. Dont LET it happen to you-spread the word! testify, evangelize, “attack” them…

Julia, I agree with you. “We need to go out and evangelize to the wolves – we already know the Lord is mighty to save, and He will reign!!”

20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

21At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

22″All things have been committed to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

What an encouragement to know that cannot be defeated. We already know the ending to the story, it just hasn’t finished yet. But the Lord is coming back! What a blessing it is to be the ones that God has chosen to enlighted to His truth. Now what are we going to do with it??? We need to go out and evangelize to the wolves – we already know the Lord is mighty to save, and He will reign!!

This verse is really helpful to remind us that we shouldn’t be caught up in our own righteousness or feel like we have to show off but just be content that we know what our destiny is.

40But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”

41″Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things,

42but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

In our lives we tend to get so caught up in all the homework, sports and who knows what else!! but it is very important that even through all this chaos we make time with a God a priority, like Mary. I started to notice the lack of time i was giving to God and now i make sure i do everything i can to be reading my bible, getting to small groups, and church during the weekend!

okaay its all good now

and Second how do you people stay up so late?!!!!!

2He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

Like this verse says, there are soooo many people who need to be “harvested” or saved…yet so few of us who go out and actually evangelize to these lost sheep! So lets go and do our job!;]

Great comment vanessa!
3Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.

We are living in a world wanting to “devour” us at any moment…a world where for the most part contradicts everything we believe! But like verse 19 says….I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Even though we live in a place where the devil thrives God has given us the power to overcome Him and let our light shine for God!! He will never leave us or foresake us and He will not let us be harmed!

Day 10 yeahh…and fall fest tomorrow!! yeahhhh babbyyy

This is a cool verse because although it would be awesome to be able to cast out demons, that’s not our focus. It’s very easy to get caught up in other things, even things relating to the church like godly friends or events, but Jesus commands that we make sure that our focus is on seeking Him and salvation He has given us. We need to be bold and be committed to evangelizing people, because their salvation is what really matters.

MMMMMM i would definitely have to agree with what Mrs. Lauder said about priorities!! This passage about Martha and Mary reminded me to check where I am at with my priorities in life! Mary truly had a heart for the Lord, and when she was listening to Jesus it showed her love through her actions. We cannot forget that God is first among all things and, like what Mrs. Lauder said, i also hope that we can all be more like Mary than Martha! :D

In this section Jesus sends seventy-two people out to evangelize to every town two by two. We are not going to go to every town but we need to evangelize like these seventy-two and we need to do it at every chance because the Lord could come at any time and many would burn in hell for eternity.

MARANATHA!

Great comments everyone!! There are a lot of nonchristians and not that many christians. We should be spreading the gospel to others. If we ask God, he will give us the opportunities and boldness to talk to poeple. Like Brittany said, DOUBLE IT UP!!!

I love this verse!

The Harvest = the non-Christians

Workers = Christians (us)

We need to go and harvest the crops because we are the workers! There are many people out there who needs to hear the gospel!!! The only way they can hear it is through you and me (Christians). Lets go and spread the word because this is what God commads and it NEEDS to be done. MARANATHA!

Great comment vsunshine!!

We really do need to be prepared when the nonchristians try to come and devour us and pull us into sin! The only way to do this is by getting into God’s word everyday

I love the way Luke reminds us of which commandment Jesus says is the most important in verse 27.

Then we have the parable of the good samaritan. What we have to remember is that Samritans were considered dirty and vile people by the Jews 2000 years ago.
So Christ’s example is for us to remember that we must love everyone, even the non believer.

That is so cool to see that not only the people submited but the demons submited to.

This reminds me of James 2:5 that says, “Listen, my dear brothers: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him?” Praise the Lord that he has chose the children and the poor. If you look at Jesus’ disciples they were fishermen, tax collectors, and zealots. That is not the most prestigious crowd to surround yourself with. But God in his wisdom and mercy chose these people, and he has chosen me. That thought still boggles my mind!

20However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”

I have to comment on this verse along with Dillion. Jesus is telling his disciples not to rejoice in the fact that they are able to cast out demons among the crowds and preform miracles in His name, but rejoice because our “names are written in heaven”! That goes beyond any earthly joy! What a motivation for us when evangalizing! No matter the struggles we encounter here on this earth, our eternal joy is in Heaven. Rejoice!

These verses are an excellent reminder that God needs to be our first priority and focus. Martha was so focussed on the things she needed to get done around the house that she did not take the time to sit at Jesus’ feet and be with Him. Aren’t we like this sometimes? We give the best part of our day to school, sports, friends, tv, internet, and family and if we have any time left then we spend time with God. That is wrong! We should always be sure that we are giving time to God through Bible reading, prayer, and service as the priority over all other things. Take the time to evaluate the way you spend your day and ask yourself if you are more like Martha or more like Mary…my prayer is that we will be more like Mary!

It is not going to be a good day for the people that reject the Lords name here on earth when He returns. If they are turning their back on the One who has the power to throw both body and soul into hell, there is one word: Woe.

14But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you.

15And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths

Here Jesus curses three towns Korazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum because miracles had been performed in these towns and the people still did not repent.God’s word is true and its cool when we see examples of that truth. If you ever visit Israel take a tour and go see the above mentioned towns located near the Sea of Galilee. All thats left of these towns is stone ruins of the houses and synagogues. The Bible is reliable and we can believe what it says about Jesus Christ. He is coming again!! Are you ready? Jesus Christ is coming!! Tell your friends all about it.

I love this verse! As Christians, we should be giving our absolute everything to God! Not just to love and give him a certain percentage, or follow Jesus 85% for example, but we need to leave EVERYTHING to follow our Lord and Savior.
Loving your neighbor can be a struggle for most. We need to be caring, loving, and patient with people, and those who are not saved. Like when we evangelize, we need to do it with love and gentleness. I know at times it can be hard for me to love other people because I can get frustrated easy.

Let’s DOUBLE IT UP! Yes, we will be as lambs among the wolves, but that shouldn’t stop us. As Christians we don’t need to fear the wolves – we have the God of the universe on our side! The harvest is plentiful – we ALL know unsaved people. Each of us should daily be asking God to give us opportunities to share the gospel.

This is such a powerful verse. For whatever reasons, for as many Christians as there are in the world, we collectively do a pretty weak job of evangelizing. Yet God clearly wants there to be more Christians out in the harvest field spreading His word. He asks us to be praying about God sending workers but I also feel that this is a subtle way of Jesus saying “Be those workers in the field.” As Christians we are clearly commanded to share the gospel and this verse is another reminder of how focused and serious we need to be about evangelism. Let’s pray for boldness and strength in forgetting the odds and instead be passionate about working in the harvest of the LORD!!

Mmmm nice comments Mike and Vanessa! This verse is encouraging. Twelve ordinary men where given the power to drive out demons in Christ name, and were rejoicing. I mean it’s a big deal to have the power to heal people of evil spirits! And I love how Jesus responds to their joy, rejoice that your names are written in heaven. We might have some joy on this earth but we need to follow His example and rejoice 24/7 that New Jerusalem is our real home. We need to stop worrying about earthly things like Martha later in this passage.

2Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. Colossians 3:2-3

This verse is a great analogy, and it is also a reminder to make sure that we do have the innocence of lambs. Anyone who has tried to live for Christ in this world can testify that it is a den of wolves, eagerly waiting for us to stray away from Christ, where we will be devoured. But we need to follow our Shepherd, striving to become more like Him in everything that we do. We should take confidence in the fact that Christ is indeed watching over His flock and will not forsake us or mislead us, and this should inspire us to be even more bold for Him, since no matter what happens to us on earth our salvation is secure in Him.

This statement is so true! This world is full of people who will try to devour us at any chance thay can get, but we have the strength and confidence in Jesus Christ to overcome them! We should not fear this world and what they can do to our fleshly body, but we should fear God who can punish both body and soul! In Matthew 10:16 it says “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” ( I am guessing this is where aliso got there name! :) And in Acts 20:29 it also talks about how savage wolves will come after us. So we should expect “the wolves” and be prepared to stand up against them since we know we have God on our side! Like Romans 8:31 says, “If God is for us, who can be against us?” It is so encouraging to know that we will not be facing this world on our own because God is here waiting to help and guide us along the way! Wow our God is amazing!!!!!