We’ve been lured into unhealthy isolation. Here’s the tension though.

Jesus replied, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

[Matthew 22:37-39]

God calls his followers to show constant love to the people around them. No strings attached. That’s the most important thing we can do.

Over the next four weeks, we are going to acknowledge the social tension that is growing right now around us. That God has a lot to say with the way we treat the people around us, our neighbors. That regardless of
everything we still have a responsibility to care for them and to love them.

This series is meant to reframe the way we see other people, how we interact with other people, and how God calls us to treat other people.

Because here is the truth…

You cannot love your neighbor if you ignore them.

– Are you treating your neighbors the way God wants you to treat them?
– Or have you allowed all that is going on to be an excuse to withdraw yourself from the great commandment.

Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth, and the small animals that scurry along the ground.” So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.

[Genesis 1:26-27]

Then the Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground. He breathed the breath of life into the man’s nostrils, and the man became a living person.

[Genesis 2:7]

You’ll never look into the eyes of someone who God doesn’t love.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us
from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

[Romans 8:38-39]

For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

[Ephesians 2:10]

1. Every person is as valuable as any person.

When they arrived, Samuel took one look at Eliab and thought, “Surely this is the Lord’s anointed!” But
the Lord said to Samuel, “Don’t judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him. The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

[1 Samuel 16:7]

In the same way all seven of Jesse’s sons were presented to Samuel. But Samuel said to Jesse, “The Lord has not chosen any of these.” Then Samuel asked, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse
replied. “But he’s out in the fields watching the sheep and goats.” “Send for him at once,” Samuel said. “We will not sit down to eat until he arrives.”

[1 Samuel 16:10-11]

So Jesse sent for (David). He was dark and handsome, with beautiful eyes. And the Lord said, “This is the one; anoint him.” So as David stood there among his brothers, Samuel took the flask of olive oil he had brought and
anointed David with the oil. And the Spirit of the Lord came powerfully upon David from that day on.

[1 Samuel 16:12-13]

Every person needs to know they are valued.

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Application Questions

1. What stood out to you from this message and why?
2. What is one thing God is telling you to START doing because of this message?
3. What is one thing God is telling you to STOP doing because of this message?
4. How will this message change how you act at home, work and in the your relationships?