Jesus did not choose a priest and a Levite by accident. These were not background extras in the parable. They were spiritual heavyweights. The priest stood at the center of temple worship. The Levite helped guard and guide the rhythms of the holy place. If anyone should have known what God’s heart looked like up close, it was them.
The Gospel does not shrink our world; it expands it. It doesn’t narrow our circle; it widens it. Jesus refuses to help us love safely, because the Gospel never existed to protect our comfort. It exists to release our compassion.
The Church has never had a relevance problem. We’ve had a proximity problem. From the beginning, God’s strategy has been shockingly consistent: He comes near. Before there were choirs, sanctuaries, or church brands, God was walking through a garden calling, “Where are you?” He heard the groans of enslaved people and said, “I have come down to deliver them.” And then He went all the way in. The Word became flesh and moved into the neighborhood.
Outreach ministry is putting faith into action by intentionally reaching out to help and serve others in practical ways. In today's churches, outreach plays a vital role in reinforcing the core values of believers. Discover the why behind outreach ministries, what they do, and how to make a bigger impact on your church community.