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LOVE YOUR NEIGHBORS

THE SECOND GREATEST COMMANDMENT

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GOD AND WALLS

  • Matthew 27:51 – At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom.
  • Acts 10:34 - Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right”
  • Galatians 3:28 – “There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus”
  • Ephesians 2:11-22 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands — that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.
  • Malachi 2:10 - Do we not all have one Father[b]? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?

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WALLS NOW

  • ?

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ROCKS THAT MAKE UP WALLS - FEAR

  • What are we afraid of?

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  • Examples of overcoming fear…

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  • How do we overcome fear?

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FOUR ROCKS THAT MAKE UP WALLS

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Margin

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ROCKS THAT MAKE UP WALLS – LACK OF MARGIN

  • Why is there no space?

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  • How did Jesus make space?

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  • How do we make space for people ?

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FOUR ROCKS THAT MAKE UP WALLS

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Prejudice

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An adverse opinion or leaning formed without just grounds or before sufficient knowledge

The word “prejudice” has origins in Latin for “before” and “judgment.” It describes unfavorable feelings toward individuals or groups based on preconceived notions of their ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, age, disability, religion and other characteristics.

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ROCKS THAT MAKE UP WALLS – PREJUDICE

  • Where do our prejudices come from?

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  • How did Jesus deal with prejudice?

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  • How do we over come our predjudices?

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unfavorable feelings toward individuals or groups based on preconceived notions

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ROCKS THAT MAKE UP WALLS

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  • Judgment

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Favorite Bible Verse of the unchurched – Matthew 7:1

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ROCKS THAT MAKE UP WALLS – JUDGMENTAL ATTITUDES

  • Why do non-believers so often resent believers?

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  • Consider the story of the Pharisee and the Tax collector. What does Jesus want us to see?

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  • How to eliminate judgmental attitudes in ourselves?

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NEWTON’S FIRST LAW

Inertia

A body at rest tends to stay at rest, and a body in motion tends to stay in motion, unless acted on by a net external force.

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SUMMARY – REMOVING THE WALLS BETWEEN US

  1. See people as Jesus sees people
  2. Imagine the best
  3. Act with kindness
  4. Confront prejudice
  5. Listen without judgment
  6. Pray for courage

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SELF EXAM

  • Have I erected walls in my life that keep me separate from those who need God’s grace?

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  • What “dividing walls of hostility” might Christ want to break down in my life ? In my family? In my Church? In my workplace?

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TAKING DOWN THE WALLS

  • Lord, Make us instruments of your peace,
  • Where there is hatred, let your love increase
  • Lord, make us instruments of your peace,

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  • Walls of pride and prejudice shall cease
  • When we are your instruments of peace.