SPEAKER: Pastor Russel Moldovan

The sermon titled Confronting Evil Interpersonally focuses on Jesus’ teaching in the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25–37) and how believers are to engage with evil and injustice through an interpersonal, Christ-centered framework. It begins by reminding us of Jesus’ creed—loving God and loving others—and shows how this love must guide our responses in a world broken by sin. The story of the lawyer questioning Jesus illustrates how God calls us beyond religious knowledge into real, active compassion. The Good Samaritan becomes the model, showing mercy when others, bound by prejudice or indifference, turned away. The sermon explores the deep hostility between Jews and Samaritans, emphasizing how radical Jesus’ teaching was—that true neighborliness means crossing barriers, entering another’s suffering, and choosing compassion over self-interest.The message also confronts the reality of evil in our world—whether it comes from others’ sinful actions, our own choices, or simply from living in a fallen creation. Through examples such as the tragic loss of life and the dangers of celebrating others’ downfall, the preacher highlights that Christians must resist bitterness and instead embody a culture of life. The conclusion turns practical, pointing to incarnational ministry as the way forward: entering into people’s pain with Christlike presence through prayer, care, and tangible acts of love. Ultimately, the three attitudes of the parable are contrasted—the robbers (what’s yours is mine, I’ll take), the priest and Levite (what’s mine is mine, I’ll keep), and the Samaritan (what’s mine is yours, I’ll give). Followers of Christ are called to take on the Samaritan’s heart, reflecting the self-giving love of Jesus on the cross.