Convocation: Who is the Real You?

Over 900 students gathered in the gym last Friday to kickoff the 2014-2015 school year at Mount Vernon’s Annual Convocation. Dr. Brett Jacobsen posed the question, “Who is the real you?”

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Dr. Brett Jacobsen asks 900+ in the Mount Vernon community, “Who is the real you?”

In his message, Dr. Jacobsen shared the 3 types of people outlined in the parable of the good samaritan:

Takers – The robbers. The thieves. The people who steal and serve themselves.

Spectators – Those who ought to help, but pass by on the other side. They know what is right, but they don’t do it.

Transformers – Like the good samaritan, those who stop to help. The people who make a difference. The ones who serve others. The folks who make an impact in the world for good.

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A note from Dr. Jacobsen and a transformer on my desk Friday morning before Convocation. “Thanks for being a transformer.”

Luke 10:25-37
New International Version (NIV)

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”

“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”

He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”

In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’

“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”

 So, who is the real you? Are you a taker, a spectator, or a transformer?

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