It's Our Turn
By Rev. Heidi L. Barham | July 13, 2025
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Read Luke 10:25 – 37 (NIV)
Our text this morning is likely familiar to most, if not all, of us. It is the story of the Good Samaritan... and it is a passage that I have preached from multiple times in the past. But the message contained in the story is still very relevant to us today... particularly as we look at what is going on in the world around us.
And if it feels like I am banging the same old drum over and over again... perhaps it is because the message of showing love to others and being kind and compassionate to one another is a message that bears repeating... early and often.
Now, as I was preparing for today’s sermon, I did look back at the manuscripts from some of the sermons I have preached in the past... and unsurprisingly, each of those previous sermons drew upon recent events that highlighted the disconnect that exists between Jesus’ teaching and the ways in which society so often defines and treats our neighbors.
And it should come as little surprise that today is really no different... all we need to do is look at any of the headlines from the past few days, weeks, and months to see just how far off we still are... as a society... from doing what Jesus would do when it comes to caring for our neighbors.
Whether it is mass deportations... or taking away healthcare and other critical services from men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds... or levying tariffs on our trading partners... there is very little evidence of what it truly means to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves.”
And that is why, once again, we are looking at this passage from the Gospel of Luke and why I want to invite us today to focus on the subject: IT’S OUR TURN.
Each time we read this story of the Good Samaritan, it is a reminder to us that we have been called to do what Jesus would do... which is to treat our neighbors with dignity and respect... to look past whatever perceived differences we think exist and see only our shared humanity... understanding that we really are all in this together.
It was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said:
Read Luke 10:25 – 37 (NIV)
Our text this morning is likely familiar to most, if not all, of us. It is the story of the Good Samaritan... and it is a passage that I have preached from multiple times in the past. But the message contained in the story is still very relevant to us today... particularly as we look at what is going on in the world around us.
And if it feels like I am banging the same old drum over and over again... perhaps it is because the message of showing love to others and being kind and compassionate to one another is a message that bears repeating... early and often.
Now, as I was preparing for today’s sermon, I did look back at the manuscripts from some of the sermons I have preached in the past... and unsurprisingly, each of those previous sermons drew upon recent events that highlighted the disconnect that exists between Jesus’ teaching and the ways in which society so often defines and treats our neighbors.
And it should come as little surprise that today is really no different... all we need to do is look at any of the headlines from the past few days, weeks, and months to see just how far off we still are... as a society... from doing what Jesus would do when it comes to caring for our neighbors.
Whether it is mass deportations... or taking away healthcare and other critical services from men, women, and children of all ages and backgrounds... or levying tariffs on our trading partners... there is very little evidence of what it truly means to “love our neighbors as we love ourselves.”
And that is why, once again, we are looking at this passage from the Gospel of Luke and why I want to invite us today to focus on the subject: IT’S OUR TURN.
Each time we read this story of the Good Samaritan, it is a reminder to us that we have been called to do what Jesus would do... which is to treat our neighbors with dignity and respect... to look past whatever perceived differences we think exist and see only our shared humanity... understanding that we really are all in this together.
It was the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who said:
All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be. (Speech delivered at Temple Israel of Hollywood 2.26.1695)
Simply put, it is not about us and them... or “those people” vs. “our people.” It is about all of us... TOGETHER.
So, when we hear the stories on the news about what is happening to the people we often see as “other” ...instead of pointing fingers and blaming and shaming them... we need to see them for who they really are.
Because the fact of the matter is that through little or even no fault of their own... they have become the casualties, the fallout if you will... of an assault that is being waged against the very people who Jesus would identify as our neighbors… people who have been marginalized and ostracized because they do not fit into a narrow perspective or definition of those whose lives society has determined have value and worth…
Someone somewhere has deemed “those people” to be dispensable… and determined that they are inconsequential… And they have decided that it’s okay if “those people” become collateral damage in their quest for domination.
And yet, if we consider everything that we have been witnessing... here and around the world... and we do so in light of our New Testament lesson for this morning... perhaps we might be able to agree that what we see taking place simply has no alignment with Jesus’ teachings.
So, let’s take a closer look at the text.
The New International Version of the Bible uses the term “expert in the law” when referring to the man who approached Jesus. Some versions refer to him as “a religion scholar,” while others use the term “legal expert,” and some simply call him “a lawyer.”
Whatever the case may be, it is clear that this individual would have been well versed in the letter of the law and would have had more than just a passing acquaintance with the more than 600 commands that can be found in the Old Testament.
In fact, after posing the question to Jesus about what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus asked the legal expert what the Law stated and how he interpreted it… the man responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18... verses that Jesus Himself quoted when responding to the question about which is the greatest commandment (see Matthew 22:35-40 and Mark 12:28-31).
So, it would seem that this expert in the law understood that the law demanded total devotion to God and love for one’s neighbor... however, that still did not stop him from looking for a loophole to let himself off the hook by finding a way to more narrowly define who his neighbor was.
But, when this legal eagle asked Jesus the question, “And who is my neighbor?” ...Jesus used the Parable of the Good Samaritan as His response.
Now, let me suggest, this parable is more than just a quaint little story that Jesus used simply to make a point. Contained within this story are several key principles that demonstrate what it means to be a neighbor... principles that provide us today with guidance on how we are called to respond.
The Life Application Study Bible (2005, p. 1695) identifies three of these key principles that I want to explore:
So, when we hear the stories on the news about what is happening to the people we often see as “other” ...instead of pointing fingers and blaming and shaming them... we need to see them for who they really are.
Because the fact of the matter is that through little or even no fault of their own... they have become the casualties, the fallout if you will... of an assault that is being waged against the very people who Jesus would identify as our neighbors… people who have been marginalized and ostracized because they do not fit into a narrow perspective or definition of those whose lives society has determined have value and worth…
Someone somewhere has deemed “those people” to be dispensable… and determined that they are inconsequential… And they have decided that it’s okay if “those people” become collateral damage in their quest for domination.
And yet, if we consider everything that we have been witnessing... here and around the world... and we do so in light of our New Testament lesson for this morning... perhaps we might be able to agree that what we see taking place simply has no alignment with Jesus’ teachings.
So, let’s take a closer look at the text.
The New International Version of the Bible uses the term “expert in the law” when referring to the man who approached Jesus. Some versions refer to him as “a religion scholar,” while others use the term “legal expert,” and some simply call him “a lawyer.”
Whatever the case may be, it is clear that this individual would have been well versed in the letter of the law and would have had more than just a passing acquaintance with the more than 600 commands that can be found in the Old Testament.
In fact, after posing the question to Jesus about what he needed to do to inherit eternal life, Jesus asked the legal expert what the Law stated and how he interpreted it… the man responded by quoting Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18... verses that Jesus Himself quoted when responding to the question about which is the greatest commandment (see Matthew 22:35-40 and Mark 12:28-31).
So, it would seem that this expert in the law understood that the law demanded total devotion to God and love for one’s neighbor... however, that still did not stop him from looking for a loophole to let himself off the hook by finding a way to more narrowly define who his neighbor was.
But, when this legal eagle asked Jesus the question, “And who is my neighbor?” ...Jesus used the Parable of the Good Samaritan as His response.
Now, let me suggest, this parable is more than just a quaint little story that Jesus used simply to make a point. Contained within this story are several key principles that demonstrate what it means to be a neighbor... principles that provide us today with guidance on how we are called to respond.
The Life Application Study Bible (2005, p. 1695) identifies three of these key principles that I want to explore:
1) lack of love can be easy to justify... although it is never right.
2) our neighbors are anyone who is in need... regardless of age, race, creed, gender or social background.
And 3) true love means acting to meet someone else’s need.
Perhaps the religious leaders in our text thought they had a legitimate reason for not stopping… maybe they thought the business they had to attend to was their most important priority and they could not afford to be delayed.
Maybe they thought the person’s injuries were not life-threatening and that someone else would come along and tend to them.
Or it could be that they thought it was all just a hoax, and they were afraid they were being set up… after all, one can’t be too careful... can one?
But regardless of the rationale they may have used as their justification for passing by on the other side of the road... even when we can easily justify a lack of love for someone else, it is still never right. We must never forget that Jesus said we are to love one another...
And He even went so far as to say, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 4:43 – 44).
So, yes... we have been commanded to love one another... period... no fine print... no exceptions... and no exclusions shall apply.
And that dovetails with the second key principle that can be found in this parable... which is that our neighbor is anyone of any background who is in need... their race, gender, socio-economic status, political party affiliation, age, weight, height, hair color, eye color... none of that matters.
According to the text, it was a Samaritan who stopped to render aid. Now, as you may be aware... the Samaritans were a mixed-race group of people who were hated and shunned by the Jews. Now, according to scholars because the man who was beaten and left for dead was going from Jerusalem to Jericho, there is a high probability that he was Jewish.
Yet seemingly with no thought as to who the man was or what his background may have been, the Samaritan went out of his way and showed him kindness and compassion… in other words, he showed him love... as a true neighbor would do.
He simply saw someone who was in need, and he reacted accordingly… and according to the text, he even went above and beyond in meeting the needs of the stranger. He not only used his available resources to see that the man’s wounds were cleaned and bandaged… he made provision for the man to have food and shelter as well…
And as if that was not enough, he even arranged to come back to check on him the next day.
He was the epitome of what it means to be a neighbor... taking care of someone in need… and doing so with the understanding that our neighbor is literally anyone of any background who is in need.
And that brings us to the third key principle found in this parable… which is... love means acting to meet the person’s need.
It is not simply enough to see and acknowledge that someone has a need. As followers of Christ, we are compelled to do something to meet the need.
In James 2 (15 – 17), we find these words:
Maybe they thought the person’s injuries were not life-threatening and that someone else would come along and tend to them.
Or it could be that they thought it was all just a hoax, and they were afraid they were being set up… after all, one can’t be too careful... can one?
But regardless of the rationale they may have used as their justification for passing by on the other side of the road... even when we can easily justify a lack of love for someone else, it is still never right. We must never forget that Jesus said we are to love one another...
And He even went so far as to say, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (Matthew 4:43 – 44).
So, yes... we have been commanded to love one another... period... no fine print... no exceptions... and no exclusions shall apply.
And that dovetails with the second key principle that can be found in this parable... which is that our neighbor is anyone of any background who is in need... their race, gender, socio-economic status, political party affiliation, age, weight, height, hair color, eye color... none of that matters.
According to the text, it was a Samaritan who stopped to render aid. Now, as you may be aware... the Samaritans were a mixed-race group of people who were hated and shunned by the Jews. Now, according to scholars because the man who was beaten and left for dead was going from Jerusalem to Jericho, there is a high probability that he was Jewish.
Yet seemingly with no thought as to who the man was or what his background may have been, the Samaritan went out of his way and showed him kindness and compassion… in other words, he showed him love... as a true neighbor would do.
He simply saw someone who was in need, and he reacted accordingly… and according to the text, he even went above and beyond in meeting the needs of the stranger. He not only used his available resources to see that the man’s wounds were cleaned and bandaged… he made provision for the man to have food and shelter as well…
And as if that was not enough, he even arranged to come back to check on him the next day.
He was the epitome of what it means to be a neighbor... taking care of someone in need… and doing so with the understanding that our neighbor is literally anyone of any background who is in need.
And that brings us to the third key principle found in this parable… which is... love means acting to meet the person’s need.
It is not simply enough to see and acknowledge that someone has a need. As followers of Christ, we are compelled to do something to meet the need.
In James 2 (15 – 17), we find these words:
Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
Now, I am guessing someone is wondering... what are we supposed to do? How do we stop the madness we see swirling around us so we can meet the needs of others? How can we possibly hope to effect any change with the obstacles and barriers that are being put into place?
Rather than throwing up our hands and giving in to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness... I want to offer a word of encouragement today that change can and does start with even the smallest of ripples.
Have you ever stopped to watch a pebble that has been dropped in a lake, or an ocean, and seen how it starts a ripple effect that grows increasingly larger as it moves from the center outward? It is a rather interesting phenomenon.
In his letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:15), the Apostle Paul wrote, “See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.”
I believe that verse is actually meant to motivate us... encouraging us that IT’S OUR TURN to start a ripple effect of love by doing good and showing kindness to one another and everyone we come into contact with... seemingly random acts of kindness can create a ripple that will grow increasingly larger as it moves from the center outward...
Providing inspiration for the beneficiaries of our love and kindness to in turn do good and show kindness to someone else... kind of like the 2000 film, Pay It Forward.
For those who may not have seen the movie, it is the story of a young man named Trevor who is given a homework assignment to develop a plan to make the world a better place.
Trevor’s plan is to do a good deed for three people, with the stipulation that rather than paying him back... those three people have to pay it forward and do a good deed for three other people.
In theory, each of those three people paying it forward to three more people will result in an exponential increase of kindness... thereby making the world a better place.
Now, before you start to think or say that we cannot possibly hope to make a difference to that degree in a world that is running rampant with hate and evil... perhaps you may recall the story about the young man and the starfish…
When a man who was walking along a beach covered with starfish came upon a young boy that was picking up the starfish and throwing them into the ocean.
The man asked the young boy what he was doing, and he explained that he was throwing starfish back into the ocean because the tide had washed them up onto the beach and they could not return to the sea by themselves. The young boy went on to explain that once the sun got high, they would die... unless he threw them back into the water.
The old man tried to dissuade the boy... telling him that there must have been tens of thousands of starfish on the beach and he could not possibly make a difference. Undeterred, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean... then he turned, smiled and said, “Made a difference to that one!”
And when we accept our assignment and understand that IT’S OUR TURN to do something to make a difference in the life of someone else... even just one someone else... we have the ability to create a ripple effect… spreading love that has the potential to explode exponentially.
Now, if we turn our attention back to the text... after Jesus told the lawyer the Parable of the Good Samaritan, He asked him, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The lawyer answered, “The one who had mercy on him.”
To which Jesus responded, “Go and do likewise.”
In essence, Jesus was telling the man it was his turn to go and start a ripple of love…
Even in the midst of turbulent times like the ones we are living in right now… love has the power to turn the tide… and it all starts with a tiny little ripple that makes a difference to even that one person.
Now, at the risk of stating the obvious... there is someone else who, just like that Good Samaritan and that little boy, was willing to go above and beyond and make a difference to even just that one… in fact, He was willing to out of His way to make a difference for each and every one of us.
He found us when we were at our lowest point… and picked us up out of the gutter where the enemy had tried to leave us for dead… He cleaned us up and made provision for us until the day when He comes back for us…
And until that day when He does come back for us... He has left us with the commandment to fulfill and that is to love one another. As it says in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Now, that phrase “love one another” appears at least a dozen times in the New Testament which would seem to indicate that it is a fairly significant concept for us to grasp. After all, repetition is often used within the Bible as a means of expressing the importance of a matter.
There should be no doubt that we have been given a mandate to follow… which is to love God and to one another… just as Jesus taught.
And so, it is up to us as the church, the body of believers, to make a difference in this world and start that ripple effect of love that will turn the tide…
IT’S OUR TURN to become the visible demonstration of Christ’s love in this world... showing love to our neighbors... even as we love ourselves...
Because as the song says, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. That’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”
Let us never forget... love is what brought Christ to earth… “for God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Love is the key to inheriting eternal life… it is why Christ gave His life in exchange for ours…
And it is Christ and His love for us that is the true foundation of the church as we know it today... not the church that is made out of brick and mortar and outfitted with pulpit and pews... but the church that is made up of the body of believers... all of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord... who have made the decision to be His disciples and follow His command to love God and the people of God...
As you may be aware, the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) officially started yesterday in Memphis, TN. Last night, the keynote speaker for the opening worship service was Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, the daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King’s sermon was based on Ephesians 3:20 – 21, and the theme for this year’s assembly which is “Beyond.”
Rather than throwing up our hands and giving in to feelings of helplessness and hopelessness... I want to offer a word of encouragement today that change can and does start with even the smallest of ripples.
Have you ever stopped to watch a pebble that has been dropped in a lake, or an ocean, and seen how it starts a ripple effect that grows increasingly larger as it moves from the center outward? It is a rather interesting phenomenon.
In his letter to the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 5:15), the Apostle Paul wrote, “See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all.”
I believe that verse is actually meant to motivate us... encouraging us that IT’S OUR TURN to start a ripple effect of love by doing good and showing kindness to one another and everyone we come into contact with... seemingly random acts of kindness can create a ripple that will grow increasingly larger as it moves from the center outward...
Providing inspiration for the beneficiaries of our love and kindness to in turn do good and show kindness to someone else... kind of like the 2000 film, Pay It Forward.
For those who may not have seen the movie, it is the story of a young man named Trevor who is given a homework assignment to develop a plan to make the world a better place.
Trevor’s plan is to do a good deed for three people, with the stipulation that rather than paying him back... those three people have to pay it forward and do a good deed for three other people.
In theory, each of those three people paying it forward to three more people will result in an exponential increase of kindness... thereby making the world a better place.
Now, before you start to think or say that we cannot possibly hope to make a difference to that degree in a world that is running rampant with hate and evil... perhaps you may recall the story about the young man and the starfish…
When a man who was walking along a beach covered with starfish came upon a young boy that was picking up the starfish and throwing them into the ocean.
The man asked the young boy what he was doing, and he explained that he was throwing starfish back into the ocean because the tide had washed them up onto the beach and they could not return to the sea by themselves. The young boy went on to explain that once the sun got high, they would die... unless he threw them back into the water.
The old man tried to dissuade the boy... telling him that there must have been tens of thousands of starfish on the beach and he could not possibly make a difference. Undeterred, the boy bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it as far as he could into the ocean... then he turned, smiled and said, “Made a difference to that one!”
And when we accept our assignment and understand that IT’S OUR TURN to do something to make a difference in the life of someone else... even just one someone else... we have the ability to create a ripple effect… spreading love that has the potential to explode exponentially.
Now, if we turn our attention back to the text... after Jesus told the lawyer the Parable of the Good Samaritan, He asked him, “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The lawyer answered, “The one who had mercy on him.”
To which Jesus responded, “Go and do likewise.”
In essence, Jesus was telling the man it was his turn to go and start a ripple of love…
Even in the midst of turbulent times like the ones we are living in right now… love has the power to turn the tide… and it all starts with a tiny little ripple that makes a difference to even that one person.
Now, at the risk of stating the obvious... there is someone else who, just like that Good Samaritan and that little boy, was willing to go above and beyond and make a difference to even just that one… in fact, He was willing to out of His way to make a difference for each and every one of us.
He found us when we were at our lowest point… and picked us up out of the gutter where the enemy had tried to leave us for dead… He cleaned us up and made provision for us until the day when He comes back for us…
And until that day when He does come back for us... He has left us with the commandment to fulfill and that is to love one another. As it says in John 13:35, “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
Now, that phrase “love one another” appears at least a dozen times in the New Testament which would seem to indicate that it is a fairly significant concept for us to grasp. After all, repetition is often used within the Bible as a means of expressing the importance of a matter.
There should be no doubt that we have been given a mandate to follow… which is to love God and to one another… just as Jesus taught.
And so, it is up to us as the church, the body of believers, to make a difference in this world and start that ripple effect of love that will turn the tide…
IT’S OUR TURN to become the visible demonstration of Christ’s love in this world... showing love to our neighbors... even as we love ourselves...
Because as the song says, “What the world needs now is love, sweet love. That’s the only thing that there’s just too little of.”
Let us never forget... love is what brought Christ to earth… “for God so loved the world that He gave His only son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
Love is the key to inheriting eternal life… it is why Christ gave His life in exchange for ours…
And it is Christ and His love for us that is the true foundation of the church as we know it today... not the church that is made out of brick and mortar and outfitted with pulpit and pews... but the church that is made up of the body of believers... all of us who have accepted Jesus as our Savior and Lord... who have made the decision to be His disciples and follow His command to love God and the people of God...
As you may be aware, the General Assembly of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) officially started yesterday in Memphis, TN. Last night, the keynote speaker for the opening worship service was Rev. Dr. Bernice A. King, the daughter of the late Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. King’s sermon was based on Ephesians 3:20 – 21, and the theme for this year’s assembly which is “Beyond.”
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
She encouraged listeners to take the whole passage to heart, rather than simply focusing on the first part and what God is able to do. She made a point of highlighting the fact that... regardless of the circumstances happening in the world around us... we are not powerless... because as the Scripture points out... we have God’s power at work within us.
Which means there is no excuse for any of us to simply ignore the needs of our neighbors and pass by on the other side... IT’S OUR TURN to be those Good Samaritans as we show love to one another... drawing on the power at work within us to be the Church that God has created us to be...
Hymn of Discipleship: The Church's One Foundation (vs 1, 2, 5) #272.
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Which means there is no excuse for any of us to simply ignore the needs of our neighbors and pass by on the other side... IT’S OUR TURN to be those Good Samaritans as we show love to one another... drawing on the power at work within us to be the Church that God has created us to be...
Hymn of Discipleship: The Church's One Foundation (vs 1, 2, 5) #272.
