Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

Tough Questions. Real Answers.
Am I My Brother’s Keeper?

I. Introduction

II. In Our Image

A. Genesis 1:26 (NIV) Then God said, “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness ….”

B. You can tell what I believe about the image of God in you by the way I treat you.

C. Matthew 25:40 (NIV) “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

D. Satan cannot the image of God in us, but he can convince image bearers to stop it in one another.

III. Two Ways to Be Human

A. Every person lives with one of two postures: a life turned toward self, or a life poured for others.

1. I John 3:11 (NIV) For this is the message you heard from the beginning. We should love one another.

2. I John 3:11-12a (NIV) ¹¹For this is the message you heard from the beginning. We should love one another. ¹²Do not be like Cain.

3. I John 3:11-12b (NIV) ¹¹For this is the message you heard from the beginning. We should love one another. ¹²Do not be like Cain, who belonged to the evil one and murdered his brother.

4. I John 3:16a (NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

B. The Way of Cain / The Way of Jesus

1.

a. Micah 6:8b (NASB) He has told you, mortal one, what is good; and what does the LORD require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and walk humbly with your God?

2.

a. The image of God causes us to see people not only for who they are , but for who they might become .

b. The greatest investment we can make in another person is not helping them climb a corporate ladder, improve their social standing, or achieve their personal goals. The greatest investment we can make in a person’s life is helping them discover the Author of life.

c. Matthew 5:14-16 (MSG) “You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”

3.

IV. Conclusion

A. I John 3:16 (NIV) This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.

B. I John 3:16-17 (NIV) ¹⁶This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. ¹⁷If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity (compassion) on them, how can the love of God be in that person?