“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)
As a follower of Jesus, how can I love my “enemy?”
Follow the ____________ way.
Follow the ___________ way.
Follow the _____________ way.
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
A quick perusal of the newspaper or listening to the news shouts of a world in desperate need of this simple yet profound message. Followers of Jesus have been given this assignment to first, love God and to second, love oneself and one’s neighbor. What if by loving our neighbor, Jesus literally meant the precious people who live in our neighborhoods? What if by loving our neighbors Jesus meant all our neighbors regardless of age, socioeconomics, education or any other potentially divisive status? The cry of our neighbors who do not yet know the love of God in Christ and the gift of Christian community is the last line of the “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood” theme song. Our lost, hurting and broken neighbors are desperately crying out:
Won't you please, Won't you please, Please won't you be my neighbor?
Often this cry is disguised as addiction or affluence. Sometimes it’s masqueraded as violence or vitriol, but in the deep recesses of their soul, it’s our neighbors cry to simply be loved. And followers of Jesus are invited to hear their cry and be their neighbors.
Patti Nemazie came to know Jesus as her personal Lord and Savior through the ministries of Grace Church. Receiving a free paperback Bible as a first time visitor, Patti began reading it and was captured and transformed by the grace of God from a life of no purpose or passion into a fully devoted disciple of Christ to the glory of God.
In 2004, on fire and full of passion, God called Patti into ministry after Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Katrina devastated Southwest Florida. She began doing disaster relief in our community. This experience stirred in Patti her spiritual gifts of evangelism and faith.
In 2007, she was hired on staff as the Director of Missions at the Cape Coral campus of Grace Church. Her job title was changed to Director of Reach and Send Ministries in 2009. Through team based ministry she has led close to 75 short term mission teams to 5 continents watching God use these experiences to transform the lives of the team members and the Grace Church missionaries served. Locally, she led teams of amazing volunteers that led over 20 ministries and sent out more than 250 people monthly to serve outside the walls of the church. In January of 2016 Patti and family moved to Sarasota Florida to plant the 5th campus of Grace Church.
In addition Patti has served as a Chaplain with the Billy Graham’s Rapid Response Team, Certified Temperament Therapist, Crisis counselor and a Supreme Court of Florida County Mediator with a background in nursing.
Originally from Long Island, New York and living in Southwest Florida for the past 22 years, she is married to her high school sweetheart Steve, has two adult children Robbie and Brianna, an amazing daughter in law Kayla and 7 precious grandchildren.
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In 2004, on fire and full of passion, God called Patti into ministry after Hurricane Charley and Hurricane Katrina devastated Southwest Florida. She began doing disaster relief in our community. This experience stirred in Patti her spiritual gifts of evangelism and faith.
In 2007, she was hired on staff as the Director of Missions at the Cape Coral campus of Grace Church. Her job title was changed to Director of Reach and Send Ministries in 2009. Through team based ministry she has led close to 75 short term mission teams to 5 continents watching God use these experiences to transform the lives of the team members and the Grace Church missionaries served. Locally, she led teams of amazing volunteers that led over 20 ministries and sent out more than 250 people monthly to serve outside the walls of the church. In January of 2016 Patti and family moved to Sarasota Florida to plant the 5th campus of Grace Church.
In addition Patti has served as a Chaplain with the Billy Graham’s Rapid Response Team, Certified Temperament Therapist, Crisis counselor and a Supreme Court of Florida County Mediator with a background in nursing.
Originally from Long Island, New York and living in Southwest Florida for the past 22 years, she is married to her high school sweetheart Steve, has two adult children Robbie and Brianna, an amazing daughter in law Kayla and 7 precious grandchildren."
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Won't You Be My Neighbor? - Part 4 - SAR | Sermons | Grace Church
“You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you! In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike. If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much. If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that. But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:43-48 (NLT)
As a follower of Jesus, how can I love my “enemy?”
Follow the ____________ way.
Follow the ___________ way.
Follow the _____________ way.
When God’s people are in need, be ready to help them. Always be eager to practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you. Don’t curse them; pray that God will bless them. Be happy with those who are happy, and weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with each other. Don’t be too proud to enjoy the company of ordinary people. And don’t think you know it all! Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable. Do all that you can to live in peace with everyone. Dear friends, never take revenge. Leave that to the righteous anger of God. For the Scriptures say, “I will take revenge; I will pay them back,” says the Lord. Instead, “If your enemies are hungry, feed them. If they are thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals of shame on their heads.”
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