Neighbors | Food for Thought

Suggested Passages

• Luke 10:25-37

Questions

• Consider who you’ve had as neighbors. Who have been some of the best? …some of the worst? Why?

  • What would make your ideal neighbor?

  • What kind of a neighbor do you think you’ve been? What makes you say that?

• Consider your current neighbors. What makes you want to move away from / avoid them?

  • What would need to change in them to make it easier for you to move towards them?

  • Consider, however, that redeeming neighbors has less to do with our neighbors changing, but with us changing. What needs to change in you in order for you to move towards your neighbor(s) more easily?

• Consider the two greatest commandments that are mentioned in this passage. How might the priest and Levite (who have to stay ceremonially clean in order to serve in the temple) use the Law to say they actually need to avoid certain kinds of people in order to serve the Lord?

  • How are you prone to use ideas of staying holy, not being “of the world,” and other spiritual-sounding things in order to justify avoiding certain kinds of people, attitudes towards others, lack of compassion, etc.?

  • How are God’s commands and the work of the gospel actually freeing, empowering, and in line with moving with compassion towards those in need of help?

• How you making yourself aware of other people’s needs? Not just physical, tangible ones, but spiritual ones, as well?

  • Does prayer, gospel truth, etc. ever feel like a “consolation prize” for helping people? Why or why not?

  • What do you need to set aside, put down, or put away in order let yourself “look up” and “open your heart” to who’s around you and what God might be doing? What keeps you distracted?