Scripture texts
Ephesians 2:11-22 (CEB)
The reconciliation of God’s people
11 So remember that once you were Gentiles by physical descent, who were called “uncircumcised” by Jews who are physically circumcised. 12 At that time you were without Christ. You were aliens rather than citizens of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of God’s promise. In this world you had no hope and no God. 13 But now, thanks to Christ Jesus, you who once were so far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 Christ is our peace. He made both Jews and Gentiles into one group. With his body, he broke down the barrier of hatred that divided us. 15 He canceled the detailed rules of the Law so that he could create one new person out of the two groups, making peace. 16 He reconciled them both as one body to God by the cross, which ended the hostility to God.
17 When he came, he announced the good news of peace to you who were far away from God and to those who were near. 18 We both have access to the Father through Christ by the one Spirit. 19 So now you are no longer strangers and aliens. Rather, you are fellow citizens with God’s people, and you belong to God’s household. 20 As God’s household, you are built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. 21 The whole building is joined together in him, and it grows up into a temple that is dedicated to the Lord. 22 Christ is building you into a place where God lives through the Spirit.
Luke 10:25-37 (CEB)
Loving your neighbor
25 A legal expert stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he said, “what must I do to gain eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What is written in the Law? How do you interpret it?”
27 He responded, “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and love your neighbor as yourself.”
28 Jesus said to him, “You have answered correctly. Do this and you will live.”
29 But the legal expert wanted to prove that he was right, so he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30 Jesus replied, “A man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. He encountered thieves, who stripped him naked, beat him up, and left him near death. 31 Now it just so happened that a priest was also going down the same road. When he saw the injured man, he crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way.32 Likewise, a Levite came by that spot, saw the injured man, and crossed over to the other side of the road and went on his way. 33 A Samaritan, who was on a journey, came to where the man was. But when he saw him, he was moved with compassion. 34 The Samaritan went to him and bandaged his wounds, tending them with oil and wine. Then he placed the wounded man on his own donkey, took him to an inn, and took care of him. 35 The next day, he took two full days’ worth of wages and gave them to the innkeeper. He said, ‘Take care of him, and when I return, I will pay you back for any additional costs.’ 36 What do you think? Which one of these three was a neighbor to the man who encountered thieves?”
37 Then the legal expert said, “The one who demonstrated mercy toward him.”
James 3:13-18 (CEB)
Wisdom from above
13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. 14 However, if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, then stop bragging and living in ways that deny the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above. Instead, it is from the earth, natural and demonic. 16 Wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there is disorder and everything that is evil. 17 What of the wisdom from above? First, it is pure, and then peaceful, gentle, obedient, filled with mercy and good actions, fair, and genuine. 18 Those who make peace sow the seeds of justice by their peaceful acts.
Children’s time
Tell the parable of the Good Samaritan. Consider doing this as a drama, or using a video like the one posted on YouTube.
Sermon starters
By Marisa Smucker
As human beings, it is our natural tendency to classify and separate ourselves from those who are different from us. That classification and separation takes all forms: gender, age, race, ethnicity, education, socio-economic, religion … and the list goes on. These classifications can cause discomfort, fear, and even harm depending on one’s location and situation. Racial violence is still a difficult subject and a painful reality for many. Refugees and immigrants seeking safe places and ways to support and protect their families are rejected and deported back to their home countries because of fear of the foreigner.
Even during Christ’s time, there were societal tensions, particularly between the Jews and the Samaritans, and the Jews and the Gentiles. Yet with Christ’s birth, and later during his ministry, the outcast and the foreigners also received the good news. In Ephesians 2, Paul reminds us that through Christ’s blood, the dividing wall of hostility between Jew and Gentile has been destroyed, and we are all now one humanity. We are no longer strangers to each other, but now joined together spiritually, forming Christ’s new humanity. For this reason, let us continue to seek justice for the oppressed, and peace and reconciliation for those in conflict, so that all may know Christ and know God’s love and peace.
Take time to consider how God has called us to love and care for all people, for each one of us is a part of God’s creation and Christ’s new humanity. Who is the neighbor God is calling you to love and care for?
In addition, consider the video resource, Jesus Wasn’t White, produced by Mennonite Mission Network. This video reminds us that racism is deeply rooted in our nation and impacts how we treat one another. This video might be helpful as you prepare during the week; it could be used in the worship service, or during the Sunday school hour.
Either text, Luke 10 or Ephesians 2, can be used for the message. The key for this Sunday’s message is that through Christ we are made one, a new humanity where all belong. Our response to this is to love one another and care for each other regardless of our differences.
Worship resources
Call to worship
Leader: We gather as pilgrims on a journey of faith.
People: We come seeking the cloud of your presence as we travel the way.
We come seeking your pillar of fire to light our darkness.
All: Shine in our hearts, O God, with the light of your love.
Make your presence known through Jesus the Christ. AMEN.
Songs of praise
- No. 797 “We Are People of God’s Peace”
- No. 390 “In Christ There Is No East or West”
- No. 714 “Let There Be Light, Lord God”
- No. 556 “I Bind My Heart This Tide”
- No. 787 “O Day of Peace”
- No. 409 “For We Are Strangers No More”
- No. 719 “Jesus help us live in peace”
- No. 838 “The peace of the earth be with you”
- No. 388 “How can I say”
Confession/words of assurance
(Based on James 3:13-18, NRSV)
Reader 1: Who is wise and understanding among us?
Leader: Show by your good life that your works are done with gentleness born of wisdom.
Reader 2: And if we have bitter envy and selfish ambition in our hearts?
Leader: Do not be boastful and false to the truth.
Reader 1: This kind of wisdom does not come down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish.
Reader 2: For where there is envy and selfish ambition there will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind.
Leader: But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.
Leader, Readers 1 & 2: And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace for those who make peace.
Benediction and sending song
May you seek wisdom from above so that you may make peace and show love with all you meet.
No. 835 “Go now in peace”
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