The Church has Left the Building - Pt2 Samaria

Dr. David Uth
November 16, 2008

Acts 1:6-9

Jesus said to start in Jerusalem then go to Samaria and Judea. Jerusalem represents where we are now and the relationships we already have. Samaria represents people who are not like us and maybe people we don't like.

Samaritans were not well liked people. They were half-breed descendants of the Assyrians who were known to be horribly mean people that conquered the Northern Kingdom. The average Jew would go around Samaria on their travels but Jesus said go through the city.

Everyone has a Samaria - someone beyond your love, someone you struggle with.

Why is it so difficult?

1. It represents people who are not like us
We all think we are right. Simon Peter struggled with taking the gospel to the gentiles. Acts 10:28 - no one is unclean. They are not unclean they are just different. We tend to vilify them and make them the enemy. Jesus died for them and loves them as much as he loves you.

2. Those we don't like
Why don't we like them? They are sinners. Have you never sinned? Those who are sick need a physician. Look at Jonah 1. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and he refused--said no way! Everything obeyed God except Jonah: lots, fisherman, & the big fish. After 3 days the fish spit him out and he went to Nineveh to preach. Jonah didn't like the people of Nineveh and got so upset about the whole situation he wanted to die. Jonah 4:10-11. You will never meet a person that God doesn't love. No matter how much you don't like them!

3. We don't understand and we don't know what to do
It has more impact on a person on the street when we go to talk to them and help them. It has a profound impact on them. It demonstrates God's love. We haven't been homeless or in jail and it doesn't matter. Jesus told us to go.

3 Reasons we must go to Samaria
1. Jesus did - we go where he goes, he gave his life for us and we need to love everyone

2. Blessings - Genesis 12:2, Isaiah 49:6 He saved you because of Him. So we could become a blessing to others. God has a plan for us to go to Samaria

3. Grace - it means gift. How dare we hold ourselves above others. We are not better than them, the things that make you think you are better are of God not you. It took just as much blood to reach us as it does to reach others.

If we don't go... we might miss a life God wants us to change. We must look past the faults and see the needs.