Love Goes. Love Reaches. | The Great Commission | Summer at DC
Summer @ DC : the Great Commission
Love Goes. Love Reaches
Soul Tattoo: Love doesn’t stay put. Love goes. Love reaches.
1.The Older Brother (Luke 15:25-32) – The Religious Insider
Modern Day Characteristics:
- Grows up in church, knows “the rules,” moral, avoids “big sins”
- Resentful toward grace for others who “don’t deserve it”
- Judgy, self-righteous, views the world as “us vs. them”
- May struggle with compassion for lost or broken people
Barrier to Reaching Others:
- Pride, lack of empathy, frustration with messy people
- May want people to “clean up first” before they’re welcomed
The Father leaves the party to plead with him. Even the “righteous” need grace.
Luke 15:28-31 (NIV) — The Father says, “Everything I have is yours.”
- The Prodigal Son (Luke 15:11-24) – The Broken Outsider
Modern Day Characteristics:
- Burned out, ashamed, distant from God
- Feels they’ve gone “too far” to come home
- Distrustful of church people or religion
- Hides behind success, pleasure, or performance to cope
Barrier to Reaching Others:
- Deep shame, fear of rejection, not believing they’re welcome
- Feels judged by Christians before even hearing the Gospel
Luke 15:20 — “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion…”
3.The Samaritan Woman (John 4:1-30) – The Wounded Seeker
Modern Day Characteristics:
- Wounded by past relationships, rejection, or abuse
- Cautious, skeptical of religion
- Searching for meaning but trying to fill the void with temporary things
- Hides behind sarcasm, distrust, or indifference
Barrier to Reaching Others:
- Fear of being exposed, vulnerable, or disappointed again
- Misunderstands who Jesus is
John 4:29 (NIV) — “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?”
Love must be the reason we go. Not anger. Not annoyance. Not fear. LOVE.
Matthew 9:36 NIV — “When He saw the crowds, He had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.”
Matthew 5:14-16 NIV — “You are the light of the world… let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.”
The Great Commission is not a job to complete—it’s the overflow of God’s love in you.