"Extending a Helping Hand" (May 25, 2025 Sermon)

Send us Fan MailPreaching: Dylan LewellynStanding at the crossroads of faith and action, this sermon challenges us to examine our unconscious biases against people experiencing homelessness. As Guilford Park prepares to welcome homeless guests, we confront that instinctive reaction—"Pastor, you've lost your mind"—which reveals how deeply society's prejudices have influenced even the most compassionate hearts.What does someone's housing status have to do with their character? This powerful question cuts through our conditioned thinking. Through a moving story about a Mason who gave money to a homeless man without judgment, we learn a profound lesson: "I will not be judged whether he buys food or liquor. I will be judged because I gave when I was able to." This perspective liberates us from the need to control outcomes and invites us to embrace the simple act of giving when we can.The sermon weaves together Psalm 109 and Jesus's healing at the Pool of Bethesda to illustrate God's special concern for those who suffer. The psalmist, experiencing scorn and abandonment, finds hope in God who "stands at the right hand of the needy." Similarly, Jesus approaches a man who had been ill for 38 years—not waiting to be sought out, but actively seeking to help. When Jesus tells the man to carry his mat on the Sabbath, he prioritizes human dignity over religious rules, challenging us to reconsider what truly matters in our faith.Though we cannot perform miracles, we can offer kindness, resources, and presence to those in need. Every smile, every meal shared, every moment of dignity restored creates ripples of healing in our broken world. As our church opens its doors to shelter those without homes, will you join us in extending not just helping hands, but open hearts? Together, we can embody Christ's compassion in tangible ways that transform both our community and ourselves.Follow us on Instagram @guilfordparkpresbyterianchurchFollow us on Facebook @guilfordparkpcFollow us on TikTok @guilfordparkpreschurchWebsite:  www.guilfordpark.org