Sunday Morning Worship
September 30, 2012
Series: “Who’s Your Neighbor?”
Today: “Your Neighbor is a Person, Not a Prospect”

Scripture:  1 Peter 2:12 NLT

Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors. Then even if they accuse you of doing wrong, they will see your honorable behavior, and they will give honor to God when he judges the world.

1 Thessalonians 4:12 NLT

Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others.

Matthew 20:25-28 NLT

But Jesus called them together and said, “You know that the rulers in this world lord it over their people, and officials flaunt their authority over those under them. ²⁶ But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant, ²⁷ and whoever wants to be first among you must become your slave. ²⁸ For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

Intro: Today we are looking at a       warning        more than an instruction:  Your neighbor is a person, not a       prospect       .

I.   LIVE       CAUTIOUSLY        .

A.  The Apostle Peter wrote: Be careful to live properly among your unbelieving neighbors.

B.  Unbelievers need reasons to justify their bad behavior…        don’t be one       !

II.  LIVE       CONSERVATIVELY      .

A.  Paul wrote in our second scripture:

“Live a quiet life; mind your own business and work ethically.”

B.  Look again at 1 Thessalonians 4:11, agrees with Peter:

1.  Lead a      quiet      life.

2.  Mind your own       business       .

3.       Work       faithfully and ethically.

Conclusion:  Live         generously        .

A.  In Matthew 20:25 Jesus compared His style with the world’s: “The rulers of this world lord it over people.

* “But among you” – the contrasting phrase.

B.  Let’s win people to Jesus like Jesus did:

      Loved        them,       served       them, and       respected         them!