The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1924-11-29

LfSSSON 1EAI-Luke lU.Z5-JI 3
GOLDEN TEXT-Thou shalt love he
Lord thy God with all thy heart ans
with all thy soul and with all a.
strength. and with all thy mind, and
thy neighbor as thyself.-Luke 10 u
PRIMARY TOPIC-The Story OF a
Good Neighbor.
JUNIOR TOPIC-The Parable of tho
Good Samaritan. 4
INTERMEDIATES AND SENIOR TOP
IC-How to Be a Good Neighbor
YOUNG PEOPLE AND ADULT TOP
fC-Whose Neighbor Am II
!. How to inherit Eternal Life wv.
1929.
l. The Lawyers Question ". 25).
Lawyer here means one verscri in
religious law. the Scriptnres-noI i.tA
er in our modern sense of that TERM.
II would more nearly CORRESPOND ia a
theological professor. The lawyers
object was II trap Jesus-to induce
Him TO take such a stand as would
weaken His influence as a ts..rher.
He expected Jesus TO set forth some
new ceremonies which would conflict
sith or disparage the law.
,. Jesus Question ". 26). Though
Jesus knew the motive of the lawyer
ne did not evade his question. He
sent him to the law. the field which
was familiar TO him. He thus a
obbed of his own weapon.
8. The Lawyers Reply " 27). He
made ar intelligent answer declaring
that the entire content of the law was
embraced in love to God and man.
This expresses the whole of human
lnty.
1. Jesus Reply ". 2s). This
straightforward answer went to the
heart of the lawyer. Perfecr love TO
'iod and man is truly the way of life.
No mar has yet had or can have such
ove. His sinful condition preciutles
Is possibility. Mans failure to MEAS
ire up to this requirement is his ron
lemnation. The lawyer keenly felt
this thrust. He was. defeated on his
,wn grounds and convicted of guilt.
~. Who Is My Neighbor? wv. 29-37).
l. The Lawyers Question ". 20).
This question reveals the %inslncerity
III liz IdW16f- III = aAlNftl iAfA
reached his conscience. and now he
seeks to escape the difficulty by ask
ing a captious question. Lawyer
like he sought to get off by raising a
question as to the meaning of words.
.. Jesus Answer ivy. 30-3I). This
more than answered the lawyers
question. In the parable of the Good
Samaritan He makes clear who is a
neighbor. and also what Ii means 10
he a neighbor. or what loving u
neighbor means. Christ's answer had
a double meaning. He nnt only made
clear who is my n%eighhor. but made
it clear that the lawyer was not play
ing the neighbor. He thus was on
victed of NOT having been a n%eighbor.
"a Who is my neighbour This des-
titute and wounded man left on the
highway by the robbers is the man
who needs a neighbor. My neighbor.
therefore, Is the one who needs my
help. whether he lives nex door or
on the other side of the world. Those
who have the Spirit of Christ can see
their neighbors on every hand.
(2) What being a neighhor means.
Our supreme concern should 0 he
"Who is my neighbor?" but "Whose
neighbor am II" To be a neighbor is.
(a) to be on tha lookout for those in
need of our help ". 33). fb) To
have compassion on the needy ".
33). Christ's compassion was aroused
as He came into contact with those
who were suffering and in need. All
hose who have His nature will be
likewise moved. (c) To give to those
in need ". BAY. Many are willing 10
give money to help the poor and
needy. hut are unwilling to personal
~ minister to them. Many times the
personal touch Is more important than
the material aid. We should give our
selves as well as our money. i'd To
hind up wounds ". 34). Tel To set
the helpless ones on our beasts while
we walk ". 34). This is proof that
love Is genuine. Christians will deny
themselves in order to have something
TO give to those who have need. This
kind of sympathy is greatly needed
today. 10 To bring to the inn and
take care Of the unfortunate " 34l.
Genuine love does moi leave Its service
incomplete. Much Christian service
is spasmodIc. helps and then leaves a
man TO take rare of himself. tg) To
give money ". 35). II costs a good