This document summarizes a sermon about turning misery into mercy based on a Bible passage. In the passage, Jesus tells the parable of the Good Samaritan to answer a scholar's question about who qualifies as a neighbor. The parable tells of a traveler who was robbed, beaten, and left for dead, and was helped by an unlikely character, a Samaritan, showing him mercy. Jesus tells the scholar to go and do likewise, showing mercy to others. The sermon notes that loving God and loving people are inseparable, and religious activity without love is worthless. It encourages seeing the hurting people around us and treating others with the same mercy we desire for ourselves.

1. TURNING MISERY INTO MERCY
Sunday, October 23, 2016
Pastor Chuck Bernal
QUESTION 1:
Just then a scholar of the Hebrew Scriptures tried to trap Jesus. Scholar: Teacher, what must I
do to experience the eternal life? (Luke 10:25 – Voice)
ANSWER 1:
Jesus (answering with a question): What is written in the Hebrew Scriptures? How do you
interpret their answer to your question? Scholar: You shall love the LORD your God with
everything you have: all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind – and
love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus: Perfect. Your answer is correct. Follow these
commands and you will live. The scholar was frustrated by this response because he was
hoping to make himself appearsmarter than Jesus. (Luke 10:26-29– Voice)
QUESTION 2:
Scholar: Ah, but who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29– Voice)
ANSWER 2:
Jesus: This fellow was traveling down from Jerusalem to Jericho when some robbers mugged
him. They took his clothes, beat him to a pulp, and left him naked and bleeding and in critical
condition. By chance, a priest was going down that same road, and when he saw the
wounded man, he crossed over to the other side and passed by. Then a Levite who was on his
way to assist in the temple also came and saw the victim lying there, and he too kept his
distance. Then a despised Samaritan journeyed by. When he saw the fellow, he felt
compassion for him. The Samaritan went over to him, stopped the bleeding, applied some
first aid, and put the poor fellow on his donkey. He brought the man to an inn and cared for
him through the night. The next day, the Samaritan took out some money—two days’ wages
to be exact—and paid the innkeeper, saying, “Please take care of this fellow, and if this isn’t
enough, I’ll repay you next time I pass through.”
(Luke 10:30-35 – Voice)
QUESTION 3:
Which of these three proved himself a neighbor
to the man who had been mugged? (Luke 10:36– Voice)
ANSWER 3:
Scholar: The one who showed MERCY to him. Jesus: Well then, go and behave like that
Samaritan. (Luke 10:37 – Voice)
MERCY: undeserved forgiveness & unearned kindness
“LOVE IN ACTION” (Rick Warren)
LovingGod and loving people are _______________________________
If anyone says “I love God,” but keeps on hating his brother, he is a liar; for if he doesn’t love his
brother who is right there in front of him, how can he love God whom he has never seen? (1
John 4:20 –LB)

2. Religious activity devoid of love is absolutely ______________________
If I gave everything I have to poor people, and if I were burned alive for preaching the Gospel
but didn’t love others, it would be of no value whatever.
(1 Corinthians 13:3 – LB)
There are __________________________________peopleall aroundus,
we just have to __________________them
I’m telling you to open your eyes and take a good look at what’s right in front of you. These
Samaritan fields are ripe. It’s harvest time! (John 4:35 – Msg)
Mercy Axiom : We will go out of our way to hide or out of our way to help
Mercy __________othersexactly like we want to be ________________
Here is a simple, rule-of-thumb guide for behavior: Ask yourself what you want people to do for
you, then grab the initiative and do it for them.
(Matthew 7:12 – Msg)
_____________________isalways the enemy of ____________________
Christ sacrificed his life for us. This is why we ought to live sacrificially for our fellow believers,
and not just be out for ourselves. If you see some brother or sister in need and have the means
to do something about it but turn a cold shoulder and do nothing, what happens to God’s love?
It disappears.And you made it disappear.
(1 John 3:16-17 – Msg)
Mercy is often ________________________________ & ______________
Never walk away from someone who deserves help; your hand is God’s hand for that person.
Don’t tell your neighbor “Maybe some other time” or “Try me tomorrow” when the money’s
right there in your pocket. (Proverbs 3:27-28 – Msg)
I will not make an offering to the Eternal One, my True God,
that has cost me nothing. (2 Samuel 24:24 – Voice)
Mercy Axiom: If you are too busy to help people, you are too busy.
Mercy blesses the _____________morethan the ___________________
If you feed those who are hungry and take care of the needs of those who are troubled . . .
The LORD will always lead you. He will satisfy your needs in dry lands and give strength to your
bones. You will be like a garden that has much water, like a spring that never runs dry. (Isaiah
58:10-11 – NCV)
LovingGod and loving people are inseparable
Religious activity devoid of love is worth absolutely nothing
There are hurtingpeople all around us,

3. we just have to seethem
Mercy treatsothersexactly like we want to be treated
Complacencyisalways the enemy of compassion
Mercy is often inconvenient&costly
Mercy blesses the giver morethan the receiver