Rooted – Week 7: Shalom Description: This week, we close our Rooted series by exploring what it means to embody mercy and live as agents of God’s peace—His shalom. In this message, Nate teaches through the parable of the Good Samaritan and shows how Jesus flips the story: we’re not the hero; we’re the broken traveler in need of rescue. And only when we receive His mercy can we extend it to others. Discover: – Why mercy is the foundation of true justice – How God calls His people to seek the peace of the city – What it means to live as peacemakers in a divided world – How God’s mission is renewal through His people God’s call isn’t comfort—it’s contribution. It’s not escape—it’s engagement. Let’s go and do likewise.
Series: Rooted
Week: 7 – Shalom
Scripture: Luke 10:25–37; Jeremiah 29:4–7; Titus 3:4–5; Micah 6:8
Big Idea:
God calls His people to embody mercy personally and shalom collectively—bringing His peace, justice, and renewal to the world. But we can’t extend true mercy or live in true shalom until we’ve first received it from Christ.
The expert in the law asks, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (Luke 10:25)
His question isn’t about love—it’s about justifying himself.
Like him, we all seek to prove our worth: through comparison, religion, or performance.
But we can’t meet the standard or change the rules. We fall short.
The parable of the Good Samaritan isn’t about moral improvement—it’s about mercy received.
We are not the Good Samaritan; we’re the traveler, beaten and broken by sin.
Religion (the priest) and morality (the Levite) can’t save us.
But the despised One—Jesus—comes near, binds our wounds, pays our debt, and restores us.
Only when we’ve received mercy can we truly extend mercy.
Mercy (Hebrew: hesed) isn’t just withholding punishment—it’s love that moves toward brokenness.
Mercy acts; it steps toward pain, binds wounds, and restores what’s broken.
When mercy is extended, shalom begins—wholeness, harmony, everything in its right place.
Micah 6:8 calls us to act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly.
In Jeremiah 29, God tells exiles to seek the peace and prosperity (shalom) of their city.
Shalom is more than peace—it’s renewal and restoration.
God’s mission isn’t to rescue people from the world but to renew the world through His people.
Every act of mercy and service becomes a declaration of the gospel.
We too are exiles (1 Peter 2:11). Our calling isn’t escape—it’s engagement.
To be a peacemaker is to bring heaven’s peace into earth’s chaos (Matthew 5:9).
Every time we forgive, serve, build, or pray—we participate in God’s justice.
“Seek the peace and prosperity of the city… for if it prospers, you too will prosper.” (Jeremiah 29:7)
But we can’t give what we haven’t received.
The true Good Samaritan—Jesus—restored us first so that we can restore others.