Group Guide
This Week's City 7:
7. How can I trust that the Bible is still God’s Word today? I trust the Bible is still God’s Word today because Jesus rose from the dead proving He was God and said His words would never pass away. Through the Holy Spirit, God inspired the writing of the Scripture, determined the canon of Scripture and protected the copying of Scripture so that we might know Him and worship Him to this day.
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
(Matthew 24:35; 2 Timothy 3:16; 2 Peter 1:16-21; Revelation 22:18-19)
Ice-Breaker:
Did you watch Mr. Rogers as a kid? What were you go-to shows that bring all that nostalgia rushing back?
Discussion Questions:
Read Luke 10:25-37 aloud.
- An expert in the Law asks Jesus a question to test him. Jesus proceeds by giving him an answer that illustrates this "expert's" complete lack of understanding. "What must I DO to inherit eternal life?" Do? You don't "do" anything to inherit something. You simply need to be a part of the family. Your membership in the family guarantees your inheritance. It's easy for Christians to drift into this way of thinking. Our default is always religion. Even if we know the truth, we behave as though if we do better and try harder it will make us more acceptable to God. Is this something you struggle with in your walk with the Lord? What are the dangers of this kind of theology? What can it lead to?
- On Sunday, Clayton gave us four good questions that are answered by this parable. First, it answers for us, "Who is my NEIGHBOR?" The very question suggests that some are neighbors and some are not. For most Jews, a "neighbor" was another Jew. Samaritans and Gentiles were not neighbors. They were enemies. Perhaps this is why the religious leaders in the parable would've avoided helping the Samaritan... they did the math. It just wasn't worth the trouble. The truth is, grace doesn't do math. Jesus leaves the 99 to find the one; that's bad math. If we are to be like Jesus, the answer to this question is that anyone in need is our neighbor. They are the ones we are supposed to love and serve. No matter why they got there or what bad decisions they made. When it comes to your thought process and whether or not you should help people that are struggling, are you tempted to do the math? Do you first consider what poor decisions got them into this mess? How do we retrain our hearts?
- The second question is, "What is LOVE?" Jesus' parable makes it clear that love is not an emotion. His description of loving your neighbor makes no mention of feelings. Love is action. Love is sacrifice, mercy and compassion. Read 1 Corinthians 13 for a reminder of what REAL love is. When it comes to the relationships in your life, and to people in need that you encounter, how well do you love? In what areas do you need to grow?
- Third, Jesus answers, "What does a Christian look like?" Once Jesus painted the picture of what it means to love your neighbor, he told the man to go and do the same. James 1 says that pure and genuine religion is to look after widows and orphans. We are to be a people that love God with our whole HEART and our SOUL.... In other words, with our emotions. We are to love him with our STRENGTH... our desire, will and obedience. And we are to love him with our MINDS... our knowledge and the study of God and his Word. We are to be both/and people. Theologians AND humanitarians. Filled with the Spirit AND grounded in his Word. To truly grow spiritually you will be growing in ALL of these areas. Are you currently growing spiritually? In which areas do you need to most growth?
- Finally, he answered, "How is a person SAVED?" Not only are we called to be the good Samaritan in our own lives, but we are also the Jewish man that was beaten and left for dead. Jesus, who was our enemy, who was despised and rejected, came to our rescue. He helped us and rescued us. He took the wine of his blood and poured it out for us. He gave us the oil of the Holy Spirit to heal us. He paid for everything we owed or would ever owe. So, who is the ultimate good Samaritan? It is Jesus! Have you ever seen this parable in this light? What does it do to your Spirit to put yourself in the place of the beaten man, knowing that Jesus showed you such compassion and mercy? What should our response be?
Prayer Topics:
- That we would never think we could earn his love.
- That we would never do the math when it comes to showing compassion.
- That we would love people well.
- That we would be growing spiritually in every area.
1 Comment
Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!