Pastor Mattek • October 16, 2022

Faith that Helps a Hurting Neighbor

“Love your neighbor as yourself” (Leviticus 19:18).


We know that’s what God’s Word says, but how hard it is to put it into practice. So often instead of eagerly serving those around us we ask, “Who is my neighbor? (Luke 10:29) Who do I really need to love as myself?” Because of the way our fallen nature works, we see our neighbor’s value only as a means to justify ourselves. That leads to showing love for our neighbor only insofar as that love helps us look good in our own eyes and the eyes of others. Any neighbor we could be excused for not loving will be avoided.


But, Christ came to destroy our need for self-justification. Our need to justify ourselves has been eliminated by the justification God freely offers us at Christ’s cross—the greatest act of loving a neighbor ever. As a result we are freed to live lives of faith that seek to help our hurting neighbors—no matter the neighbor, no matter the need. We are free to help hurting neighbors in ways that seem senseless to this world—no matter the cost, no matter the distance, no matter the time. Lord, increase our faith that we might love our neighbors as you have so perfectly loved us!

Judgment/Peace

By Pastor Quinn • November 9, 2025
If you were making a list of things that might make society more peaceful, would you include “more judgment”? Likely not. Many people assume that judgment leads to conflict, not peace. However, a lack of judgment is a luxury many cannot afford. Our world is full of victims of abuse, violence, and oppression. In many cases this evil goes unnoticed and unpunished. A future without the hope of judgment means no peace. If there is no hope of judgment, victims would be driven either into total despair or to be consumed by the desire for revenge. A future that includes judgment, however, gives those who are wronged the peace of knowing that one day there will be perfect justice.  When we are horribly wronged, what are our options? Taking matters into our own hands? Despair? Jesus provides a better option. Trust that he will keep his promise to return, bringing judgment. The effect of that promise? We have peace, knowing that every wrong will eventually be righted by the one righteous Judge.

Sainthood/Stamina

By Pastor Quinn • November 2, 2025
This week Jesus’ sharp words expose our desire to pursue comfort and avoid pain at all costs. Jesus explains that following him will be hard. Jesus’ disciples will be called to let go of things they love and embrace things we naturally loathe. Jesus promises that discipleship comes with crosses—a unique type of pain. So, Jesus tells us that we must count the cost of following him. He wants us to do that now, ahead of time, rather than waiting until we are in the heat of the moment and emotions are running high. However, our calculations must not only consider what we might give up for Jesus. They also entail calculating what we get through him! When we perceive the infinite blessings we find in Christ, the decisions we just make, while difficult, will be clear. Whatever is lost as we follow Jesus pales in comparison to what we gain.

Promises/Prayer

By Pastor Quinn • October 19, 2025
Disciples of Jesus need to learn how to pray. And learning to pray is not like many of the other things we learn to do in our lives. Once we know how to write our name, tie our shoes, or ride a bike, the learning is done. There is virtually no danger we will forget how to do those things. Not so with prayer. Learning to pray consists of a lifetime of persistence. So, what is the cause of persistent prayer? The precious promises of God. “God is not human, that he should lie. . . . Does he promise and not fulfill?” (Numbers 23:19). God cannot lie. So, we know every promise he makes us—to forgive, to provide, to help, to be with us—he must keep. When we persistently go to God in prayer and press him to keep his promises, God does not view that as nagging. He loves it! Because it demonstrates that our faith grasps not only that he can do what we ask, but that he will . . . because he promised.
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