Explore the Bible Study: Neighbors
9:11 PM
Have you ever helped someone who was in need? How did it make you feel? Whether you are the recipient or the giver of help, there is usually an incredible feeling of gratefulness. But, beyond the gratefulness we need to understand that these acts of loving our neighbor are to be a natural expression by those who profess Christ as their Savior. This is the focus of this Explore the Bible Study: Neighbors.
As you look at what is called The Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37 don't miss the importance of the message Jesus is going to convey. Jesus taught that loving God also meant loving your neighbor as yourself. You can’t have one without the other. If we truly love God, then we will love others as well. Jesus teaches this lesson during an encounter with a Jewish leader, an expert in the law, as Jesus journeyed toward Jerusalem for the culmination of His earthly ministry.
The conversation begins with a series of questions that leads up to Jesus providing a lesson on what it truly means to love God and love people through the telling of the parable about the good Samaritan. The questions that are asked include:
- "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" -- Luke 10:25. This question was asked by the expert in the law and was intended to catch Jesus in some type of theological trap. It backfired on the expert because Jesus responds with questions of His own. How do you answer this question?
- Jesus asked, "What is written in the law? . . . How do you read it?" -- Luke 10:26. The Jewish leader responded with what he already knew was the correct answer. His answer ties two significant passages together—Deuteronomy 6:5 (part of the Shema) and Leviticus 19:18: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind,” and “your neighbor as yourself.” (Luke 10:27, CSB) Jesus affirms the answer but adds one very important statement, "Do this and you will live." (Luke 10:28, CSB)
- Who is my neighbor? -- Luke 10:29, CSB. This was the mans attempt to justify his sinful actions but Jesus had a story to tell that would reveal how someone who really loved God would love others.
- First, do you truly love God? Have you placed your faith in Jesus Christ? Are you striving to learn how to love God with your total being?
- Second, if you say you love God and are striving to love Him even more, how is that being reflected in how you love your neighbor? Do you only love people who are convenient to love or who are just like you? Do you only love those who agree with you?
- Third, have you expanded your view of who your neighbor is? Is it the neighbors who live near you? Is it the random person you encounter who has a need? Are you so moved with compassion for those around you that you will do anything to share and show the good news of Jesus to them?
The downloadable teaching helps provides more details for this study along with some tools you can use in guiding your group to apply this session both personally and as a group.
Video Study
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