Active Love: Embracing God's Call to Serve

So often, the world around us asks for more commitment by demanding more from us—our time, our money, our attention. We see this in everything from subscription services to schools and gyms, all constantly seeking greater engagement. Yet, there’s a common perception that the church is different, that it expects more commitment by asking less of us: just avoid certain sins, show up occasionally, and you’re set. This perspective, however, is incomplete and doesn’t capture the fullness of what God desires for His people.

When we look at the Ten Commandments, it’s easy to focus on the “thou shalt nots,” as if God’s primary concern is that we simply avoid wrongdoing. But a deeper look, especially through the lens of Luther’s Small Catechism and Jesus’ own teaching, reveals that God’s commands are not just about refraining from harm—they are about actively doing good. For example, the commandment “You shall not murder” is not satisfied by merely avoiding violence; it calls us to help our neighbor in every physical need. God’s expectations are not minimal; they are expansive, calling us to love and serve others as He has loved and served us.

The parable of the Good Samaritan illustrates this beautifully. The priest and the Levite did nothing to harm the wounded man, yet their failure to help was itself a failure to fulfill God’s command. We, too, often find ourselves walking past those in need, content with doing “less” rather than the “more” God desires. But we are also the wounded one—broken by sin and the world—whom Jesus, the true Good Samaritan, comes to rescue at great personal cost. He binds our wounds, pays our debt, and gives us new life.

Yet, Jesus doesn’t leave us as we are. He sends the Holy Spirit to continue the work of sanctification, shaping us to become more like Him. Our identity as children of God is foundational; it is from this place of being loved and redeemed that we are called to do more—not to earn God’s favor, but to reflect His love to the world. As God’s children, we are invited to move beyond simply avoiding sin, to actively loving and serving our neighbors, just as Christ has loved and served us.

Key Takeaways

• 1. God’s commands are not just about avoiding harm, but about actively doing good. The commandments call us beyond “do not” to “do”—to help, to serve, and to love our neighbors in tangible ways. This shift from passivity to active love is at the heart of God’s expectations for His people. [06:30]
• 2. The parable of the Good Samaritan challenges us to recognize that failing to help is itself a failure to love. It’s not enough to simply avoid wrongdoing; God calls us to step into the needs of others, even when it costs us something. Our lives are meant to reflect the mercy we have received. [08:19]
• 3. Jesus is the ultimate Good Samaritan who finds us in our brokenness and pays the highest price to restore us. Our salvation is not just a rescue from sin, but a restoration to wholeness and purpose. This costly love is the foundation of our new life. [10:34]
• 4. The Holy Spirit continues the work of transformation in us, moving us from justification to sanctification. We are not left alone after being saved; God is committed to shaping us, growing us, and making us holy, so that our lives increasingly reflect His character. [12:49]
• 5. Our core identity as children of God shapes everything we do. Knowing who we are in Christ—rescued, redeemed, and beloved—empowers us to live differently. From this identity, we are called to do more: to love, to serve, and to share the grace we have received with others. [15:28]
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Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:48] - The World’s Demands for More
• [02:02] - Examples from Daily Life
• [02:58] - The Church’s Perceived Expectations
• [03:44] - Misconceptions About Heaven and Holiness
• [04:57] - Rethinking the Ten Commandments
• [05:40] - Luther’s Catechism and the Fifth Commandment
• [06:30] - God’s Call to Active Love
• [07:26] - The Parable of the Good Samaritan
• [08:19] - The Sin of Doing Nothing
• [09:17] - Identifying with the Broken
• [09:54] - Jesus as the True Good Samaritan
• [11:10] - The Ongoing Need for Help
• [12:14] - The Promise of the Holy Spirit
• [13:26] - The Work of Sanctification
• [14:14] - Leadership: Core, Capabilities, Context
• [15:28] - Our Identity as Children of God
• [16:23] - Called to Do More
• [17:01] - Closing and Sending

Bible Reading

Luke 10:25-37 (ESV) – The Parable of the Good Samaritan — > And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
> But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
> Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
> Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

2. Exodus 20:13 (ESV) – The Fifth Commandment
> “You shall not murder.”

3. John 14:16-17 (ESV) – The Promise of the Holy Spirit
> “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.”

Observation Questions

1. In the parable of the Good Samaritan, what actions did the priest and the Levite take when they saw the wounded man? What did the Samaritan do differently? (Luke 10:31-34)
2. According to the sermon, how does Luther’s Small Catechism expand the meaning of the commandment “You shall not murder”? [05:40]
3. What does Jesus promise his followers in John 14:16-17, and how does this relate to the ongoing work in a believer’s life?
4. The sermon mentions that the world often asks for more commitment by demanding more from us. What are some examples given of this in daily life? [01:20]

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus use the example of the priest and the Levite in the parable? What point is he making about what it means to love your neighbor? (Luke 10:31-32)
2. The sermon says that simply avoiding harm is not enough to fulfill God’s commands. Why is active love and service necessary according to both the parable and the explanation of the commandments? [06:30]
3. How does seeing ourselves as the wounded person in the parable change the way we understand Jesus’ role as the Good Samaritan? [09:54]
4. What is the significance of the Holy Spirit’s ongoing work (sanctification) in the life of a believer, as described in the sermon? [12:49]

Application Questions

1. The priest and Levite didn’t harm the wounded man, but they also didn’t help. Can you think of a recent situation where you “walked by on the other side” instead of helping someone in need? What kept you from getting involved? [08:19]
2. The sermon challenges us to move from “do not” to “do”—from avoiding sin to actively loving and serving others. What is one specific way you could help a neighbor or someone in need this week? [06:30]
3. The world often asks for more of our time, money, and attention. Are there commitments in your life that make it hard for you to respond to God’s call to love and serve others? What could you change to make more room for this? [01:20]
4. The sermon says that failing to help is itself a failure to love. Is there a person or group in your life that you tend to overlook? What would it look like to show them mercy this month? [08:19]
5. Jesus is described as the ultimate Good Samaritan who rescues us at great cost. How does remembering what Jesus has done for you motivate you to serve others, even when it’s inconvenient or costly? [10:34]
6. The Holy Spirit is given to help us grow and become more like Jesus. Is there an area of your life where you sense God wants to change you or help you grow in active love? How can you invite the Holy Spirit to work in that area? [12:49]
7. The sermon says our core identity is being a child of God. How does this truth shape the way you see yourself and the way you treat others? Is there a practical step you can take this week to live out your identity as God’s child? [15:28]