In the three years of Jesus' earthly ministry, the Pharisees and Sadducees, religious leaders of the day, constantly bombarded Jesus with trick questions. Jesus taught a lot by using parables, everyday stories that had underlying meanings. It was obvious to every listener that many of those parables presented piercing truths about the religious leaders. In fact, after one string of parables the Bible says that the chief priests and Pharisees knew that He was talking about them.

One day, after being stung by Jesus' teachings, the Pharisees plotted together and came up with a question that was sure to trap Him. Is it okay to pay taxes? Jesus silenced them when He said, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and give to God what is God's." Then the Sadducees drilled Him with a question about the marriage and the resurrection. He silenced them with His response. Then it was the Pharisees turn. They plotted together and selected an expert in the law to trick Him with a question. Let's pick up the story there in Matthew 22:34-40.

Christians notoriously debate over whether something is more important than something else. What's more important? Evangelism or social action? Good news or good deeds? Inside the walls or outside the walls? Winning people to Christ or discipling them? Building up the church or becoming externally focused? Worship or evangelism? Local missions or global missions? Caring for our members or caring for those in the community? Focusing on our own needs or focusing on the lost? Loving God or loving others?

Loving God or loving others? This expert in the law asked Jesus to name the most important commandment of all. Isn't it interesting that He singled out one as the most important but couldn't leave it at that? He had to throw in the second one as well because one without the other is meaningless. "Jesus, what is the greatest commandment?" In essence Jesus response was, "Love God and love others."

Notice how Jesus joined the first commandment with the second one. He stated the first command, "Love God with all your heart." Then before stating the second command, notice the one word conjunction at the beginning of verse 39—"and." The beauty of the "and." Jesus wasn't about to get caught up in needless debate on what's more important, loving God or loving others. They both are essential. There is a great lesson for us as well. We need to quit using the "or" word to set priorities and understand the beauty of the "and." It's good news and good deeds. It's evangelism and social ministry. It's local missions and global missions. It's inside the walls and outside the walls.

Last week Kenny did a fantastic job talking about our need to witness to others, to share the good news. Today, I want to complement his message by stressing our need to engage in good deeds. But remember the beauty of the "and." Both feed off the other. Good deeds should lead to good news. Good news should lead to good deeds.

Most of you know that I am an avid Clemson fan. We get season tickets and enjoy tailgating before the games. When they're on the road and on the tube, I'm right there in front of the TV. I talk to the coaches. I talk to the players. And I jump on the referees. I remember several weeks ago when we played Wake Forest in Winston Salem, we were playing horrible for three quarters. Man, I was so negative. The boys had a couple of friends over to watch the game with us. And I remember saying to them, "Y'all get to see your pastor at his worst today."

I think it finally dawned on me that afternoon. After all these years of hollering and cheering and rebuking and blasting players, coaches and referees—it finally dawned on me that they couldn't hear me. I finally realized that all my ranting and raving actually have no effect whatsoever on the outcome of the game. So I took drastic measures. At half-time I changed pants. I put on my ratty khakis that have brought the Tigers luck every single time. And in the fourth quarter, they must have known I changed pants because they came back and won in big fashion. (By the way, I didn't wear them last week at the Virginia Tech game.)

In the same way, as long as I am in my house, I can't do good deeds and change the outcome of someone's life. I can't change the outcome of a game unless I'm on the field playing. I can complain about injustices, I can have good intentions, and I can claim that I'm too busy. But I can't really love my neighbor until I get outside and do something for him.

The 40 Days of Outreach have provided many of our members with opportunities to engage in hands-on ministry. Most people are hands-on learners. They learn by doing. Educators know how important it is to provide students with hands-on learning experiences. The Bible teaches the same principle. It tells us that faith without works is dead. We are told throughout the Bible to demonstrate by our actions that we love others. God wants you and me to engage in good deeds. He wants good deeds to become a vital part of who we are as individual believers and who we are as a congregation of believers.

In your daily travels I know you have come across an older model car that has 556 bumper stickers displayed on every square inch of the body. One such vehicle had an eye-opening sticker displayed under the rear window. It said, "Do Something Really Radical—Practice Your Religion."

Do you practice your religion? Why are good deeds so important? After all, with so many needs in our world, what lasting impact can I make? Can what little I do make a difference? This morning I challenge you to make whatever adjustments in your life you need to make to adopt a lifestyle of good deeds. Why? Because good deeds can accomplish a lot.

What can good deeds accomplish? First, good deeds benefit others. I know this is obvious, but let me amplify. The Bible says, "Let us do good to all people" (Galatians 6:10). We live in a broken world. Your acts of love, kindness, mercy and compassion move people toward physical and emotional wholeness. Feeding the hungry, improving housing, and clothing the poor are all things that God cares deeply about. The Lord never put a stipulation on whom we care for. God never stipulated that we should base our good deeds on whether someone was willing to come to church or not. Not at all. We serve others because we are followers of Jesus Christ period. Evangelism focuses on the whole person.

Second, good deeds glorify God. Jesus said, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16). When I read that verse, I think of the late Pastor Sam Hilbourne, who, by the way, today is being placed into the Chapin Hall of Fame. He did so many good works in our community. It was his vision that started ChristGate. It was his vision that turned a crime-infested night club into a ministry center. He was one of the most humble men I've ever known. I never sensed at all that he looked for the praise of men. When the mayor's prayer breakfast honored him in 2005, he was the most surprised person in the house. In fact, he had excused himself to go to the bathroom right when they were getting ready to show a video tribute of him. We had to wait until he got back into his seat. Many people in the Chapin community, especially those who live on the margins of society, give honor and praise to God because of the good works of a Christian named Sam.

Third, good deeds validate the good news. Jesus said, "Your love for one another will prove to the world that you are my disciples" (John 13:35). How do we prove to the world the validity of our faith? Do we validate our faith by our sound doctrine, by our church programs, or by our biblical preaching? No, we validate our faith when we demonstrate our love for others through the good deeds that we perform.

This week I was reading about the Communist takeover of Russia in 1917. Even though the Communists vigorously persecuted Christians, they did not make Christianity illegal. In fact, their Constitution guaranteed freedom of religion. However, the Constitution made it illegal for churches to engage in any good works in the community. The church couldn't feed the hungry, help the sick, house the orphan or educate children. Those responsibilities were handled by the state. What was the result? In 70 years, churches in Russia were completely irrelevant and totally ineffective. Take away good deeds and you diminish the church's power, relevance and effectiveness. Lenin did this by design. Many churches today are doing this by default by focusing on its own needs to the neglect of those outside the walls.

Fourth, good deeds move people toward Jesus. A couple of times during the 40 Days I have mentioned Vineyard Community Church in Cincinnati. Every year hundreds come to know Jesus through the servant evangelism efforts of this church. Every Saturday they have members out in the community doing good deeds with no strings attached, all in the name of Jesus. On one single summer day they joined with other churches and handed out 300,000 soft drinks and bottles of water just to demonstrate God's love.

Here's what happens. When non-believers see Christians doing deeds of service with no strings attached, they are drawn to Jesus. They see the good works and want to hear the message behind why these folks are so nice. Deeds of service open the door for healthy conversations about Jesus and our faith. Deeds of service are often the catalyst that opens the door for the unchurched to check out the church.

Fifth, good deeds create goodwill to the city. A year ago a group of leaders and I were haunted by the question: If we were to shut our doors next week, would we be missed? We weren't quite sure we would be missed. But we were determined that we were going to do something about it.

Ask that same question now and there is no doubt in my mind that we would be missed. We've clothed a hundred children with new school clothes. We've repaired homes. We've stepped up food collections. We've adopted needy families. We've thrown parties at the elementary school for those in the mentoring program. We gave out candy to a thousand kids last week. Our youth pastors are hanging out at the schools building relationships. Many students are experiencing life change due to the Ignite services at The Pointe. We've helped ChristGate remodel their units. Yes, we would be missed. And my dream is that what we see happening now will explode into even more good deeds so that 40 Days of Outreach will become Everyday Outreach.

Jesus never got caught up in those needless debates about love God or love people, good news or good deeds, or inside-the-walls or outside-the-walls. He stressed the beauty of the "and." He focused on worship. But His worship overflowed into doing goods deeds everywhere He went. But He didn't stop with good deeds. He also shared the good news. He healed the demoniac man and then commissioned him to tell his whole town. He forgave the woman caught in adultery and then told her to go and sin no more. He conversed with Nicodemus and then told him he had to be born again. The beauty of the "and."

As I close let me ask you a penetrating question. What kind of legacy do you want to leave behind after you die? One day you're going to be gone. Those who know you will think of something when your name surfaces. How will they remember you? What will you leave behind that will keep moving forward?

How do you want to be remembered? He sure was an avid Clemson fan. He never missed a day of work in thirty years. She sure had a green thumb.

What about Pastor Sam? You may not know that he had a Ph.D. in engineering and served on the faculty at USC for years. Some may remember him as professor. But what most remember him for is the work that he did for God's kingdom. I hope your list of accolades will be long and impressive; but more importantly, I hope you will be remembered by the eternal investments you made in people's lives and in doing good deeds for Jesus.

That's the kind of legacy I want to leave. I want people to be able to say, "He made a difference. He led me to Christ. He helped people find their gifts for ministry. He did good deeds in the community for the kingdom. What about you? And what are you doing now to assure that the dreams for your legacy will be fulfilled?