Acts 16:9-15

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” (vv. 36-37)

Object: A bible, a cell phone, and a bandage or strip of gauze.

“God has taken his place in the divine council; in the midst of the gods he holds judgement” Psalm 82:1. At first, this psalm suggests there is more than one God. Monotheism as it is written and taught in scripture did take time develop. Polytheism existed at the writing of Psalm 82, but the writer still stakes a claim that the one only God can fill our deepest yearnings, concerns and walk alongside us in life’s ambiguities. Twenty first century public media platforms point to many sorts of idols, false gods and other remedies for lack of meaning and inner emptiness.

Amos 7:7-17
We are reminded in this lesson, that Christian faith and politics always stand in tension. This point was so well made by the great social ethicist of the last century Reinhold Niebuhr. He once wrote:

According to the Christian faith, life is and always will be fragmentary, frustrating, and incomplete... There are no simple congruities in life or history. (Reinhold Niebuhr: Theologian of Public Life, p.131)

Call to Worship:
Jesus told a story about someone who was unexpectedly full of kindness and compassion. In our worship today, let us ask ourselves whether we are Good Samaritans to those who really need our help.

Invitation to Confession:
Jesus, sometimes we fail to notice those who are outside our own social sphere.
Lord, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we are so disgusted by poverty that we turn away.
Christ, have mercy.
Jesus, sometimes we too walk by on the other side.
Lord, have mercy.

Contents
What's Up This Week
"Where Have All the Good Samaritans Gone?" by Rick McCracken-Bennett
"Where Are the Good Samaritans When You Really Need One?" by Rick McCracken-Bennett
"A Church's Reputation" by David E. Leininger


What's Up This Week

Minneapolis is a cool city to live in. In more than one sense is it cool. More accurately, in winter it is cold! But in the other three seasons of the year it is comfortable and pleasant. The city is blessed with numerous sparkling lakes within the city limits, plus a generous sprinkling of parks and playgrounds. And churches — particularly Lutheran churches.

I am no prophet, nor a prophet's son; but I am a herdsman, and a dresser of sycamore trees....
-- Amos 7:14b

In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David; and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. (v. 15)

Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to your steadfast love remember me, for your goodness' sake, O Lord! (v. 7)

In anger and bitterness, and with a stubborn tenacity to cling to what once had been in my life but was no more, at age fourteen I became a church "dropout." For six years I wandered in the wilderness, with God being rejected and pushed out of my life.

God is taking stock of the way the gods, and note the small "g" here, are handling things. "How long," they are asked, "will you judge unjustly and show partiality to the wicked?" Good question. In a nation where 40% of the people have no health care worth mentioning, and in a time when the promises of pensions can evaporate with the bang of a judge's gavel, it is a good question, indeed. Injustice spreads like an infectious disease as more and more prisons are built in the shadows of crumbling schools and declining quality of education.

Growing up, many kids love baseball. They love everything about it. They love playing it. The neighborhood kids divide up the big kids and little kids, so the teams are even, and then play inning after inning of baseball or softball either in a front yard or a back yard.

O Lord my God! When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy hands have made,
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed,
Then sings my soul, my Savior God to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!
(Stuart K. Hine)