Sermon Based Group Homework
For the message on May 23, 2021
Passage: Mark 12:28-31; Luke 10:25-37
QUICK REVIEW
This Sunday, Mike concluded our series “Love God. Love People. Repeat.” with a message about what it means to truly love our neighbor. Mike helped us know what it means to be for people, not against them.
Looking back at your notes from Sunday’s message, was there anything you heard for the first time, caught your attention, or challenged you?
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
What household chore have you continually put off even though you’ve had good intentions of getting it done?
LET’S GO DEEPER
1. Jesus told the parable of the Good Samaritan as a way to demonstrate what it means to love our neighbor. In the story, the first two that pass by may have had good intentions but decided not to get involved. It’s clear that Jesus wants us to know that loving our neighbor requires action! How does each of the following passages help you understand what loving our neighbor looks like?
James 2:14-18 (NLT2)
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? 17 So you see, faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. 18 Now someone may argue, “Some people have faith; others have good deeds.” But I say, “How can you show me your faith if you don’t have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.”
1 John 3:16-18 (NLT2)
16 We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters. 17 If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person? 18 Dear children, let’s not merely say that we love each other; let us show the truth by our actions.
Matthew 5:43-44 (NLT2)
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy. 44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
Based on these passages, is love an inward feeling or an outward action?
Based on your response to the question above, how loving are you towards those who come across your path on a daily basis?
2. The shocking punchline of the story came when Jesus described how a despised Samaritan chose to cross racial, political, and religious lines to help a desperate Jew who was left for dead by robbers. Jesus showed that loving our neighbor means that we are FOR people, all people, regardless of our differences. What warning does the following passage give against showing preferential treatment to some people but not others?
James 2:1-4, 8-9 (NLT2)
1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3 If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4 doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?
8 Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 9 But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.
Why do we sometimes hesitate to help or assist those who are different than us?
When have you recently shown love toward someone completely different from you?
3. The Good Samaritan came along and sacrificed his time, supplies, and money to help the helpless Jew. Jesus wanted to show us that loving our neighbor would be costly. Andy Stanley said, “The value of a life is measured by how much of it is given away.” When was the last time that love cost you something?
To what extent did Jesus tell us to love our neighbor in John 15:12-13?
What are some examples of actions you could take this week to love those who come across your path in a sacrificial way?
TAKE IT HOME
1. What is your biggest takeaway from this sermon and study?
2. Do you have any prayer requests for your group?
Prayer Requests:
