BUILT DIFFERENT: Week 1

April 27, 2025

“Most of us don’t say it out loud, but it shows up everywhere: ‘What’s the least I can do and still be okay?'”

“Sometimes we bring that into our faith. ‘What’s the minimum I need to believe? The minimum I need to do? The minimum I need to change?'”

“Being ‘Built Different’ means we don’t DRAW LINES to keep people out, we CROSS LINES to bring people in.”

THE STORY: THE GOOD SAMARITAN

[Luke 10:27] “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind. And love your neighbor as yourself.”

[Luke 10:30-32] “Jesus replied with a story: ‘A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road. By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.'”

LOVE SEES BEYOND ITSELF

[Isaiah 53:6] “All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God’s paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the sins of us all.”

“Sin bends our focus inward.”

“But the Gospel radically reorients our vision.”

[Matthew 9:36] “When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”

[James 2:14-16] “What good is it dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing and you say, ‘God-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well’ – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?”

“Knowing truth, that doesn’t change you is SPIRITUAL BLINDNESS.”

[1 John 4:19] “We love each other because he loved us first.”

“True outward focus begins when we realize this… God saw me when I was broken, and He didn’t pass me by.”

“When you look at the people around you, do you see problems – or do you see opportunities?”

LOVE MOVES TO MEET A NEED

[Luke 10:33-34] “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.”

“Biblical love is always active, not passive.”

“Compassion without action isn’t love at all.”

[James 2:7] “So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless.”

“The Samaritan modeled the kind of love each of us should have (like Christ):

• He moves across racial, cultural, and religious barriers.
• He risks his own safety (on a dangerous road).
• He invests his own resources (wine, oil, money).”

[2 Corinthians 5:14] “Christ’s love controls us. Since we believe that Christ died for all, we also believe that we have all died to our old life.”

“Outwardly Focused means dying to self – the old life where we prioritize our own convenience – and stepping into a life directed by love for others.”

“Where have I been hesitating to move toward a need God is showing me?”

LOVE CHANGES SOMEONE’S STORY

[Luke 10:35-37] “The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’ ‘Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?’ Jesus asked. The man replied, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Then Jesus said, ‘Yes, now go and do the same.'”

“Biblical love leaves permanent fingerprints.”

[Micah 6:8] “No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.”

“Notice: the Samaritan didn’t just do what was easy – he put himself in it for the long haul.”

“This mirrors the Gospel itself:

• Jesus didn’t do a ‘one-time favor’ for us
• He committed Himself to our full restoration, even if it takes our whole lives
• And he paid a cost we could never repay.”

[2 Corinthians 5:18] “God has given us this task of reconciling people to Him.”

“Outward focus isn’t random kindness – it’s participating in God’s mission of reconciliation:

• Every act of love moves people closer to knowing Jesus.
• Every sacrifice for someone else shines a spotlight on the character of God.”

[Colossians 3:17] “And whatever you do or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him to God the Father.”

“If people looked at my life, would they see the fingerprints of God’s love on it?”

CONCLUSION

[Luke 10:37] “Now go and do the same.”

“People who are being Built Different don’t live inwardly focused lives – they let God’s love overflow into the world around them.”

“Jesus calls you to a better life:

• Sees More
• Moves Closer
• Changes Things”

“Today’s teaching isn’t about BELIEVING the right things – it’s about BECOMING the right kind of person:

• People who cross lines.
• People who move toward brokenness.
• People who don’t just talk about love — they live it.”

PRAYER

“God, thank You for seeing me when I was broken. Thank You for moving toward me. Forgive me for the times when you see me living only for myself. Forgive me for the ways I have passed by the needs of people around me.

Change my heart and open my eyes to see others the way you do. Help me to love like you love and serve the way you serve.”

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