A friend of my sister Jane maintains that if it’s good theology it is teachable in a children’s sermon. If not, it might be questionable. Now that’s food for thought!

Luke tells the story (Luke 10) of a lawyer who poses a theological question to Jesus. Jesus had just summarized the great commandment:

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind, AND love your neighbor as yourself.”

Being a lawyer, the man sought to better articulate, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus responds by telling him the story of the good Samaritan, the outcast man who tended to an injured man by the side of the road when others of the faith ignored him. “Which of these three proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into robber’s hands?” asked Jesus. The lawyer replied, “The one who showed mercy toward him.” Jesus directed him (and us), “Go and do the same.”

That’s simple enough for a child to understand and good theology for us too. Even a child knows to ask:

“Who are the people in my neighborhood?” “Won’t you be my neighbor?”

These questions are essential to the premise of Go Light Your World.