“Andy Forecloses”

Introduction

 

Lester Scobey, wife Helen, and daughter Mary, rent a house from mean=spirited Ben Weaver, who owns the department store in Mayberry. When Lester cannot come up with his monthly rent of $52.50, Ben demands in no uncertain terms that Andy serve an eviction order on the family.  Andy does not like this part of his Sheriff duties and he goes to visit with the Scobeys to see if Lester can find a way to make the rent payment.

 

Andy and Barney vow to help the Scobeys after Andy discovers that Ben Weaver wants to use the property as a warehouse.  Ben informs Andy that the law plainly states that he is within his rights to demand full payment on the note ($780.00) based on the clause in their contract.

 

Lesson Points

 

Pulling Together – Andy, Barney, and the Town

 

Strength in One (The Good Samaritan Luke 10:30-37)

30In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. 35The next day he took out two silver coins[1] 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.'
36"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?"
37The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him."
Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

 

Strength in Numbers (Early Church Acts 4:32)

“32All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of his possessions was his own, but they shared everything they had.”

 

Application for Our Community and Our Church Family

 

 

Keeping the Faith – the Scobeys

Hard Times Will Come

 

Handling Stress

22Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. 23Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. 24Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! 25Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[? (Luke 12: 22-25)

 

Finding Comfort

3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. (2 Corinthians 1:3-5)

 

Trusting in the Outcome

5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all our ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. (Proverbs 3: 5-6)

 

28And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

 

Discussion

 

1. Do you think in our busy society that we have lost the attitude of helping out neighbor in need?

 

2. Discuss the Scobey’s outlook throughout their ordeal.

 

3.  In what way(s) do you see yourself in the character of Ben Weaver?

 

4. What did it take for Ben to really see his true behavior