Beyond the Weekend: You Asked for It: Volume 2
Real Questions. Biblical Answers. Practical Faith. You asked questions. We’re diving into answers. And if you’re asking about it, chances are, you’re not the only one.
You Asked for It Volume 2 is a sermon series built around real questions from our church—questions about God, faith, and the Bible that impact everyday life. Whether you’ve been following Jesus for years or are just curious about faith, we’ll explore practical answers to help you navigate what you’re wrestling with.
God’s Heart for the Vulnerable
Read: Leviticus 19:33-34 Listen: Leviticus 19
The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 19:34
The beginning of Leviticus 19 opens with a terrifying command: “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2). Israel is getting to know the God of their rescue. They are fresh out of slavery in Egypt and need to understand who God is. Here, he reiterates his character and instructs his people to imitate him. Be holy. A non-negotiable to this is how they care for the foreigner in their midst. Do not mistreat them, but treat them as native-born. This is radically different from the gods of the Egyptians who have enslaved them. God shows compassion toward the vulnerable. Israel is to be a light to the nations as they share his love.
Thousands of years later, Jesus echoes the same words when he calls his people to love God and love others as themselves (Matthew 22:37-40). The gospel shines when we love the way Jesus loves. This includes noticing the foreigners in our midst, offering hospitality and help. It might involve assisting when someone moves into the neighborhood or offering the open seat at church. It could be sharing a meal or household tools. This generosity is not disorderly. It is wise and intentional. In a culture that tells us to love our own and hate the other, we proclaim God’s reign through our actions toward the immigrant among us.
TODAY: Take an inventory of your community by writing a list of those who could use your hospitality and help. Pray over this list, and then take one step this week to meet a need.
