There's someone in the road...Luke 10:29-37

Sunday Pastor Phil preached on the Good Samaratin. It was a challenge to see the lost in their need and meet it.

Why are we starting a new church? It's because of the people all around us who need Jesus. Recently one of my "river peeps" sent me a list of people she's praying will come and inviting to come to SRC. Here's their description:

1. 23 years old: She is my best friend and has wonderful understanding abilities. Her mother died of breast cancer when she was young (I think 10ish but I'm not sure). She was a bit slutty in her teen years and at about 18 years old decided to become a lesbian. She now has a steady girlfriend with whom she lives with. She also smokes pot every morning, mid-afternoon and night. She is extremely bright and really a wonderful person. (In my opinion, you may not want to put this part on your hand out thing, but I don't think she's really a lesbian I think that she just has had some issues with not having a mother and then being mis-treated by boys in her life).
[Mark 2:4-5 Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus and, after digging through it, lowered the mat the paralyzed man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven.”]

2. 18 years old: He and I have been friends since 7th grade when he started dating my then best friend. They broke up in 10th grade but he and I continued to be good friends. Over the years he has become one of the best sales men that I've ever met. He sells pot to anyone and everyone. If you ever want to sell a product that is completely unnessisary to a human and you want to sell it well then just talk to him. He sells pot like we should sell Jesus. He is passionate about his product and believes that it will change your life for the better and he would love to help you get your first joint. He lives with his mother and does not plan on attending any colleges anytime soon. I only hope that he'll stop smoking pot before he loses all of his brain cells (which isn't that far away).
[Acts 8:9-13 Now for some time a man named Simon had practiced sorcery in the city and amazed all the people of Samaria. He boasted that he was someone great, and all the people, both high and low, gave him their attention and exclaimed, “This man is the divine power known as the Great Power.” They followed him because he had amazed them for a long time with his magic. But when they believed Philip as he preached the good news of the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women. Simon himself believed and was baptized.]

3. 35 years old: She has 5 children and a husband that is not really ever present. He leaves for weekend trips almost every weekend and can not seem to keep a steady job. She was just recently fired from her job because she had to keep calling out of work on short notice because of the kids and her money issues with losing her house and car and other such items. She is not losing the house right now but they will be moving soon because their land lord told them they needed to hit the road. With no money and 5 kids she lives her life the best she can. She told me that she would never think of bringing her family to a church because they aren't "church people". I told them no one would care and she told me I wouldn't care but everyone else would and that her children would just be a distraction anyway. She is afraid she and her husband's parenting skills will be judged and that her children as a whole will be judged by those "church people".
[John 8:3-7 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?” They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, “If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her.” ]

4. 26 years old: Has a two year old son and a 7 month old daughter with her boyfriend with whom she lives. She is making it by but she is not the strongest person emotionally. She is tough as leather on the outside and you most likely will never see her soft side. She hides it well from a world that would probably tear her to shreds. She has slept with over 30 men in her lifetime. She has a shield to her heart. It's not that she doesn't care, it's that she won't let herself care because no one else does.
[John 4:13-18 Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.” “I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband. The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”]

5. 18 years old: She grew up in the church and based her relationship with God off of her parents relationships with God. Then one day her parents decided that they didn't believe in God or love each other anymore and got a divorce. They all still live in the same house but it is not a 'friendly' home situation. She wants real love and true happiness but she is reminded everyday by her parents that you can't just buy that kinda stuff at a store. She questions everything, she longs to know the truth and can't seem to find it. When she questions Christianity most Christian's turn their face from her because it makes them think. She is looking for the answers and is looking to 'Christian church people' but they can't give her the answers because they are too afraid to look deep within themselves to see what the real truth about Christ and being a christian is. She is outgoing and loving but is terrified that she won't every be anything because no one believes in her. [John3:9“How can this be?” Nicodemus asked.]

6. 19 years old: She has just recently had a run in with law enforcement over issues of alcohol and drug possession She also is sick with cervical cancer. She was just kicked out of her grandparents house and fired form her job. She now uses guys for food and shelter and they use her for her body and what her body can do for them. She isn't going anywhere but down at this point. She needs support and every support she might have had has been ripped out from under her. No one cares for her or her well being. Everyone is selfish and thinking about themselves. She doesn't know what love or compassion is.
[Matthew 9:36-38 When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”]