Summary

In this sermon, guest speaker Tony Wolf shares a deeply personal message about what it means to truly love our neighbors and care for those in need. Drawing from the parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10 and Jesus's conversation with Peter in John 21, He challenges the congregation to move beyond simply saying they love God and to actively demonstrate that love through service and sacrifice. Tony weaves in his own story as an adopted orphan to illustrate how one act of compassion can completely transform a life. Tony also introduces the congregation to Holt International, an organization that supports orphans awaiting adoption around the world. He connects this opportunity to Matthew 25, where Jesus makes clear that caring for "the least of these" is the same as caring for Him. The sermon is a call to action: to stop walking past the needs around us, to get involved in the ministries of the local church, and to recognize that our true blessing is not our resources but Jesus Christ Himself, whose grace compels us to feed His sheep.

Intro Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank you for bringing us together today. As we open your Word and reflect on what we heard this week, we ask that you soften our hearts and open our eyes. Remove any distractions or preconceptions we carry into this room. Speak to each of us individually, and show us what you want us to take away from this time together. May this discussion not just be an exchange of ideas, but a moment where you move in our lives and draw us closer to you and to one another. In Jesus's name, amen.

Ice Breaker

What is one small, unexpected act of kindness that someone showed you that you still remember to this day?

Key Verses

• Luke 10:25-37
• John 21:15-17
• James 1:27
• Matthew 25:40

Questions

• In the parable of the Good Samaritan, the priest and the Levite both had reasons to justify passing by the injured man. What are some common reasons we give ourselves for not stepping in to help someone in need?
• Tony said, 'Our resources don't make us blessed. Our resources make us responsible.' What do you think he meant by that, and do you agree? How does that idea challenge the way you think about what you have?
• Jesus asked Peter three times, 'Do you love me?' and each time followed it with a call to serve others. Why do you think Jesus connected love for Him so directly to caring for people? What does that tell us about what genuine faith looks like?
• James 1:27 describes caring for orphans and widows as the kind of religion God accepts as pure and faultless. Why do you think this verse does not get talked about more often in church settings? What would change if it did?
• Tony shared the story of little Maria in El Salvador, who said, 'Someone in America loves my brother and sister, and one day someone is going to love me too.' How did that story affect you, and what does it reveal about the deep human need to feel seen and valued?
• Matthew 25 tells us that Jesus identifies personally with 'the least of these.' How does knowing that change the way you think about serving people who are struggling or marginalized?
• Tony mentioned that many of us can justify staying busy and letting someone else step in to help. What is one area of your life right now where you sense God might be calling you to stop walking past a need and actually do something about it?
• Tony closed by saying that coming to Jesus means coming just as you are, without needing to clean yourself up first. Is there anything holding you back from fully surrendering to what God is calling you to do or be? What would it look like to take that step this week?

Life Application

This week, identify one specific and concrete way you can 'feed the sheep' in your own community. It might be volunteering at a local ministry, reaching out to someone who is isolated or struggling, or simply introducing yourself to someone new at church. Write it down, share it with someone in this group for accountability, and follow through before your next meeting. As you do it, remember that whatever you do for the least of these, you are doing for Jesus Himself.

Key Takeaways

• Our true blessing is not our material resources or circumstances. It is Jesus Christ and what He accomplished on the cross. Our resources make us responsible, not simply fortunate.
• The parable of the Good Samaritan reminds us that loving our neighbor is not a passive feeling but an active choice that often requires us to stop, sacrifice, and step into someone else's pain.
• Jesus's repeated question to Peter, 'Do you love me? Feed my sheep,' shows that genuine love for God must express itself in tangible care for other people. Saying it and living it are two very different things.
• James 1:27 and Matthew 25 together make clear that God measures authentic faith by how we treat the most vulnerable among us, including orphans, widows, and the poor.
• Every person has the capacity to serve in meaningful ways, regardless of their background or training. Shaking a hand, holding a baby, or bringing encouragement are all acts of ministry that reflect the hands and feet of Jesus to a watching world.

Ending Prayer

Lord, thank you for this time together and for the truth of your Word that challenges and encourages us all at once. Thank you for the reminder that you see every person who is hurting, overlooked, or forgotten, and that you call us to see them too. Forgive us for the times we have walked past a need when we had the ability to help. Give us courage this week to stop, to serve, and to love the way you love. May the things we discussed today not stay in this room but go with us into our homes, our workplaces, and our communities. Let our lives be a reflection of your grace, so that others might come to know you through what they see in us. We ask all of this in the name of Jesus, who gave everything so that we could be called your children. Amen.