Most people, if not all, would say that they believe showing love to others is critical. They would say that being a loving person is an important quality for anyone to have. However, the truth is that while it is easy to talk about the importance of loving people, actually loving people can be difficult sometimes, especially when people have hurt us or are difficult to love. Although difficult, loving people, when it is hard, is exactly what you and I are called to do as followers of Christ. Today, we will take an up-close and personal look at what it means to love others well, even when it is not easy.
What is the best example of love you have ever seen?
Bible Study Questions
1. Why do you think loving others can be very difficult at times?
WATCH SERMON RECAP
2. Read Luke 10:26-29. What did this religious man get right in his interaction with Jesus? What did he get wrong?
Luke 10:26-29 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” 28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!” 29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
Luke 10:26-29
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “ ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ ”
28 “Right!” Jesus told him. “Do this and you will live!”
29 The man wanted to justify his actions, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
3. Read Luke 10:30-37. Based on what we know about the three people who saw the man who had been beaten up and left for dead, what is surprising about their response?
Luke 10:30-37
30 Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.
31 “By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. 32 A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.
33 “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. 35 The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.
36 “Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.
37 The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”
Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”
4. What does the culmination of Jesus’ response to the question “Who is my neighbor” that is found in verses 36-37 teach us about the command, “Love your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:26)?
Application
1. What are the reasons we look for loopholes when it comes to who we are supposed to show love to?
2. What stands out to you about how the Samaritan showed love to the man who was left for dead on the side of the road?
3. Without naming names, is there anyone or any group of people you are struggling to show love to? What are some steps you can take to allow God’s love to break through?
Take some time to talk about the call we have to love our neighbors as followers of Christ. How is your group doing at this command? What are you all doing well? How do you want to grow? After everyone has shared, think of one person you can think of to invite to our Christmas Eve services. Write their name down and commit to inviting them this week. Then, next week, talk about how it went.
It is clear from our Bible study that one thing that stands in the way of loving the people around us well is judgment. We often use the word “judge” or “judgment,” but do we understand what it means and what the Bible teaches about it? Today, we will take a deep dive into the word judgment, what Scripture warns about being judgmental, and the better way to live than judgment.
Definition:
What does the Bible say?
Evaluate:
MONTHLY MEMORY VERSE (Available for download on Sagebrush App)
Luke 2:10 But the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people."
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