Won't You Be My Neighbor - April 19, 2026

What do Mr. Rogers and the Parable of the Good Samaritan have in common? More than you might think. Just as Fred Rogers believed everyone deserved kindness and respect — from handicapped children to gruff U.S. Senators — Jesus taught that our neighbor is anyone we encounter in need, without exception. In this message from Luke 10:25-37, we explore the familiar story of the Good Samaritan and discover what it truly means to love our neighbor.Through this parable, Jesus reframes the question. The religious expert asked, "Who is my neighbor?" — hoping to find a loophole that would limit who he was required to love. But Jesus flips the question entirely: instead of asking who qualifies as your neighbor, he asks whether you are being a neighbor. The Samaritan — a cultural enemy of the Jewish man he helped — didn't debate definitions. He simply saw a need and met it, in costly, practical, and sacrificial ways.Loving your neighbor isn't just a moral call — it flows from something deeper. Because Jesus, the true Good Samaritan, found us beaten down by sin and paid our debt in full, we are now freed and empowered to love others the same way. Whether the need is food and shelter, forgiveness, mercy, or grace, the call is the same: go and do likewise.