Our purpose and design is to glorify God.
That which Glorifies God is what Magnifies Jesus and dignifies humans.
All this is done through the power of the Holy Spirit. Resulting in Lives Changed By Christ.
Jesus calls us to follow Him.
Join us in this year long study in the Life of Jesus by visiting here or join the email list at
https://groups.google.com/g/magnify-jesus for emails.
When it comes to thank you notes are you: (a) Miss Manners (b) Sir Sometimes? (c) Father Forgetful? Why?
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
Have you noticed things in Luke that signal his gentile perspective? Cite a few examples.
What is it like to be a leper? What would healing mean for them? What are we to learn from the story of the ten lepers?
As one of the nine, how would you rationalize not going back to Jesus to say "thank you"?
What is significant about the one being a Samaritan?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
Where have you observed Christ's power to unite people who are typically kept separate in society?
How do you express your gratitude to Jesus?
Explain Jesus' disappointment in the failure of the other nine lepers who had been healed. Do you ever take things for granted with God? With family? With friends?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
============ THE LORD OF GRATITUDE by Bob Russell (August 26-27, 2000)
A few years ago, I invited my two sons and their wives to go with us on vacation. I said, "I'll pay for it all, if you'll go." They said, "We'd love to go!" We got a van and drove to Niagara Falls. We had a great time. It was expensive, but it created a memory. I'll never forget when we turned into our driveway, both of my daughters-in-law said, "Thanks for spoiling us this week." They didn't have to say anything else. That made every dime worth it.
Hebrews 12:28 - "Since we have a Kingdom nothing can destroy, let us please God by serving him with thankful hearts and with holy fear and awe."
Isaac Walton said, "God dwells in two places: heaven, and humble, thankful heart." In Luke 17:11-19 there's a familiar biblical example of gratitude. As we study this story, let's allow Christ to transform us into grateful people.
I. The Bible Story- Exposition
A. Here were ten guys in about the worst possible circumstances.
1. Leprosy was a terminal, incurable disease that slowly ate away at the nerve endings.
2. Jesus Christ, the healer, represented their only hope of a return to normalcy. When He drew near, they called out in a loud voice, "Jesus, have pity on us!"
3. Jesus saw them and commanded, "Go show yourselves to the priest."
B. Notice the reaction of these men when they were cured.
1. One of them was a Samaritan. He was of a despised race.
2. But this Samaritan did the right things. He came to Jesus to express thanks. He was the only one who returned to give thanks.
3. Jesus was pleased with this man's expression, but He was disappointed in the others.
II. A question - Why are some people more grateful than others?
A. Unrealistic expectations.
1. Some of you had a privileged upbringing. Your parents and grandparents gave you almost everything you ever wanted.
2. Anytime life is less than perfect; you focus on the negative and miss the positive.
B. Affluent experience.
1. Generally speaking, the more we have the less grateful we are.
2. If you have eaten at Ruth's Chris Steak House, you're not as likely to enjoy a meal at Ponderosa. If you've driven a Jaguar, it's hard not to complain about your used Malibu.
C. Negative companions.
1. If your closest associates are grateful, positive people, you are likely to be thankful for what you have.
2. If you closest friends are negative, critical, complaining, ungrateful people, you will soon emulate them.
D. Frequent comparisons.
1. If you compare your job, your family, your house, your health, your physique to others, it can make you a very thankless person.
2. No matter how much you have, there's always someone who has it better.
III. An Application
A. Acknowledge that everything you have is God's.
1. Nothing you and I have is ours; it all belongs to the Lord. He loans it to us.
2. When we really grasp this concept, it makes us appreciate what we have.
3. God gives us the privilege of living in His world, but He doesn't guarantee for how long.
B. Give yourself exposure to those who have less.
1. One of the reasons we're not thankful is that we compare ourselves with those we think have it better.
2. One of the ways we can increase our sense of appreciation is to be around those that have it tougher. (That's one of the reasons we encourage short term missions trips.)
C. Avoid grumbling and complaining.
1. The Bible makes it clear that God is honored by praise and thanksgiving.
2. But the Bible is also clear that grumbling and griping incur God's wrath.
D. Express thanks frequently to God for His generosity.
1. When we mature as Christians we quit griping, regardless of circumstances.
2. Our personality is transformed to praise, joy, worship, and thanksgiving.
3. When you praise God for his blessings, He changes your attitude.
E. Live a joyful life.
Conclusion
Warren Wiersbe points out the literal translation of Luke 17:19 is "Rise and go, your faith has saved you." The Samaritan's nine friends were declared clean by the priest, but this leper was declared saved by the Son of God! While it is wonderful to experience the miracle of physical healing, it is even more wonderful to experience the miracle of eternal salvation.
Jesus Tells the Parable of the Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32
Intro Questions
The Parable of
the Two Vineyard Workers
Matthew 21:28–32
28“But what do you think? A man
had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘My son, go, work in the
vineyard today.’
29“He answered, ‘I don’t want to!’ Yet later he changed his mind and
went. 30aThen the man went to the other and said the same thing.
30b“ ‘I will, sir,’ he answered. But he didn’t go.
31a“Which of the two did his father’s will?”
31b“The first,” they said.
31cJesus said to them, “I assure you: Tax collectors and prostitutes are
entering the kingdom of God before you! 32For John came to you in
the way of righteousness, and you didn’t believe him. Tax collectors and
prostitutes did believe him, but you, when you saw it, didn’t change your mind
later to believe him.[1]
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
Parables -
Two Sons
Matthew 21:28-32
———————————————
Change and choice are great blessings which allow for better opportunities. God has great power to change our lives in a positive way if we allow Him to be the Lord of our life. Practically speaking, too many people fight against change, especially when it affects them personally...
As novelist Leo Tolstoy said, "Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself." The ironic thing is that change is inevitable. Everybody has to deal with it. On the other hand, growth is optional. You can choose to grow or fight it. But know this: People unwilling to grow will never reach their greatest potential.
In one of his books, Howard Hendricks asks the question, "How have you changed...lately? In the last week, let's say? Or the last month? The last year? Can you be very specific?" He knows how people tend to get into a rut when it comes to growth and change. Growth is a choice, a decision that can really make a difference in a person's life.
John Maxwell says, “Most people don't realize that successful and unsuccessful people do not differ substantially in their abilities. They vary in their desires to reach their potential. And nothing is more effective when it comes reaching potential than commitment to personal growth. “
God says, "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever." 2 Peter 3:18
Questions to Get Us Thinking:
As a child, what kind of worker were you? How often did your parents have to yell to get you to work? Text
The Parable of the Two Sons — Matthew 21:28-32
28“What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, ‘Son, go and work today in the vineyard.’
29“ ‘I will not,’ he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.
30“Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, ‘I will, sir,’ but he did not go.
Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him.
Questions to help us “dig deeper” to find the treasure.
Which Son said, “No”? Which Son Said, “Yes”?
Due to varying textual evidence for Matthew 21:28-32, the versions offer these two different accounts of Jesus’ parable of the two sons:
1.The older son says no, but repents and goes; the second son says yes, but does nothing.
2.The older son says yes, but does nothing; the second son says no, but repents and goes.
Option one has stronger textual evidence. It is followed by KJV, RSV, NIV, Amplified, LB TEV, JB, and New Century Version.
Option two has been chosen by NASB, NEB, Phillips. In this argument, the older son represents the Pharisees, who openly and loudly proclaimed their intent to obey God, but did not follow through (23:3). The second son represents the tax collectors and other overt sinners who had refused to obey God, but were repenting (21:32).
Although option two does not have the strong textual backing of option one, it does fit the historical context of Jesus’ day better.
1. What is the most important point in this parable?
2. Typically and more commonly, we are blind to our on sins, we have a heart mask. In order to remove your heart mask, what core thought should rule our thoughts?
3. What is the context of this parable, especially following Matthew 21:23-27?
4. What group is like which son? How?
5. How do you suppose the religious leaders felt about this story?
6. What makes repentance difficult for us today?
7. What are some of the joys that are ours when we unmask our hearts with repentance?
8. To really remove the heart mask and know the joy of true repentance, everyone needs a prodigal experience.
Questions to help us live it today for The King
1. Taking this parable with the Prodigal Son, they both hold out to us many messages which can help us repent of our sins and know true joy. What messages do you hear?
2. Which son’s story is most like your own? Why?
3. This week, how can you translate your repentance into actions that really show your heart mask is being removed?
Jesus Brings Salvation to Zacchaeus's Home
Luke 19:1-10
If you could pick an ideal height, how tall would you be?
What occupation would you least like to do?
When was the last time you climbed a tree?
Since only the tax collectors knew the rate required by Rome, they could inflate the rate and keep the difference. Though a Jew, Zacchaeus would have been hated as a traitor who got rich at his people's expense. For Jesus to go to his house was improper in the eyes of their fellow Jews.
God is ... What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ... What do we learn about people in this passage?
How does Zacchaeus compare with the rich young ruler (Luke 18:18-30) in his approach and response to Jesus?
What unique spiritual challenges do gifted, beautiful, or wealthy persons face? Can such a life situation become a curse?
How sympathetic are people likely to be with someone like Zacchaeus? Why?
If you had been Zacchaeus when Jesus stopped under his tree and told him to "come down immediately," how would you have felt? (Scared, special, embarrassed, suspicious, surprised that he knew my name)
Why did Zacchaeus volunteer to make such generous restitution to those he had cheated? (He felt guilty, his heart was full of love and gratitude toward Jesus, he wanted to be accepted by the community, or a miracle had happened in his life.)
Why does Jesus dine with him? Why does this bother others? Do you think Jesus' words in verses 9-10 stopped the crowd's muttering?
If you had been Zacchaeus at the end of the story, how would you feel? (Clean inside, included in God's family, brand new, loved, broke, etc.)
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
Where did Jesus first find you? (Up a tree? Out on a limb?)
How might a church show acceptance to all people?
How did he get you to join him?
Jesus saw the positive qualities in Zacchaeus. Who really affirmed you when you were a kid and felt like a "little guy up a tree"?
What wrongs do you need to make right? Do you need to make amends to anyone? If so, how will you do it?
What relationship most helps you to feel good about God's love?
You can ... Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by social media links at the bottom of this.
==========
WHEN I THINK of Zacchaeus, I see Danny DeVito--someone short, crooked, and a little flamboyant...
As an employee of the Roman government who made himself rich by skimming the tax money, Zacchaeus was ostracized from Jewish society. He's scum. And since he manages the local tax collectors, he's a crook managing other crooks. His mere presence disgusts his fellow Jews because he is a reminder that they are an occupied country. Roman soldiers stand next to his tollbooth, enforcing his collections.
But Jesus boldly intrudes into Zacchaeus's life. He stops and looks up at him, and then invites Himself over for dinner and to stay the night. This is similar to the President stopping his motorcade to say he's coming to your house--Jesus is the hottest thing to hit Israel in a few hundred years. If you were Zacchaeus, you'd be honored. Yet I doubt the President would say "I must stay" or "come down immediately" (literally, "hurry up").
But in the first century "good people" didn't eat with tax collectors because a meal was not just about eating; it was a sharing of life. Jesus' willingness to eat with Zacchaeus told everyone that Jesus not only accepted the tax collector, He also forgave him. This disgusted the crowd. Jesus had broken a social taboo.
When we love, we get dirty. Here the dirt comes the opinions of people who look down on Jesus for associating with someone who has stolen from his fellow Jews and divided their money between himself and the Roman government.
Why does Jesus intrude? He's on a God-directed mission to seek and save what was lost. Jesus sought out Zacchaes. He didn't just wait for people to come to Him. He is an invading king. But what a strange kingdom: the poor, outcasts, prostitutes, Samaritans, and women! No wonder Jesus told Pilate, "My kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36). Paul E. Miller, "Saying 'Yes' To Gentle Intrusion," Love Walked Among Us, 149-150
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." Luke 19:10
======
#Evangelism
August 5, 2003
A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. (Luke 19:2-4)
People often talked about his parentage. There were rumors in Jericho that his father had been a Roman merchant, his mother a Jewish prostitute. There was no basis for those stories, of course. But when your job is to shake down your fellow countrymen in the name of the occupying forces, no one worries too much if the gossip going around about you is actually true. They never called him by his given name anymore. When they saw him coming, "ben-zanah" was about the most polite description they used -- "son of the whore." He had heard much worse than that.
His skin had gotten thick. On most days, most of the insults rolled right off his back. He had chosen this life, after all. Long ago he had stopped attending the synagogue, even before they had voted to throw him out. He knew that he didn't belong there. He tried to remember the last time he had been to worship at the temple in Jerusalem; it had been years. His only trips to the city now were to deliver the taxes that he and his sub-contractors had collected. And when he went, he avoided the temple. Oh, he doubted anyone would recognize him, but why take the chance? They weren't his kind of people, anyway.
He had friends. Acquaintances, anyway. They came often to the luxurious home paid for and furnished by the "commissions" he collected. Hey, a guy had to make a living. And Rome didn't care how much their tax collectors took as long as Caesar got what was his. So Zacchaeus enjoyed his wealth by throwing lavish parties for the other cast-offs in and around Jericho. Roman officials and military. Other tax-collectors. Prostitutes. Criminals. They didn't look down their noses at him, they were glad for his hospitality and always ready to share some food and wine and singing. They didn't cross the street when they saw him coming or whisper about him behind his back or spit at him or threaten him like the "respectable" people in town.
News travelled fast in Jericho. Someone had seen the teacher everyone was talking about, Jesus, on the road into town. Pretty soon everyone was talking about it. Some said he could do miracles. Some talked about his teaching. Some said he was a prophet; some even thought he might be the Messiah. What intrigued Zacchaeus most was overhearing someone recount a story he had heard Jesus tell. It was about a Pharisee and a tax collector in the temple, and Jesus has said that the tax collector's sorrow for his sin had made him more acceptable to God than the Pharisee. That had cracked up everyone who knew the arrogance of some of the Pharisees. It awakened in Zacchaeus something he thought was gone forever. Right then and there, he had decided that he needed to see this Jesus.
The crowd had already lined the street into town when Zacchaeus got there. Standing on tiptoe, he tried to peer over the heads of the mob. Cursing his 5'2" body, he tried to push through to the front. The mob shoved him back, shoved him down. That's when he heard someone say, "There he is!!" The crowd started to cheer; Zacchaeus felt like crying. He couldn't have explained why seeing Jesus was this important to him; something just told him he had to. Then he noticed the tree.
He hadn't climbed one since he was a boy, but he didn't hesitate. He was just able to grab the lower branches on the short tree. He got his foot against the trunk and started to leverage himself up. He found a knot for his other foot, reached up and found he was able to reach a higher branch. Then suddenly, he was sitting on a thick branch, clutching another in white-knuckled hands, looking down on the scene below him. There was a group of men and women on the road, but which of the men was Jesus? It hadn't occurred to him that he couldn't identify the Galilean. He was just about to shout Jesus' name when one of the men in the crowd looked up. When he saw Zacchaeus sitting in the tree, he smiled. No, he didn't just smile. He laughed out loud. He threw back his head, closed his eyes, and cracked up. He leaned on the shoulder of one of the guys standing next to him. He wiped tears from his eyes. And just when Zacchaeus was starting to feel self-conscious, Jesus spoke.
"Zacchaeus!" he shouted over the crowd noise. The crowd went silent.
How did this man know his name? Had someone in the crowd told him? Great, just great. "Zacchaeus ben-zanah," no doubt. Jesus chuckled again. "Zacchaeus, come down right now," he ordered. Then his face got serious. His eyes got intense. The smile straightened. "I HAVE to stay at your place today." It was a curious thing to say. It wasn't a request, and it wasn't a demand. Something was compelling Jesus to eat with Zacchaeus just as something had compelled Zacchaeus to climb that tree to see Jesus. A few people tried to explain to Jesus who his host was. He waved them off. Zacchaeus heard the muttering around him as Jesus told him to lead the way. Zacchaeus shook his head. Associating with him had turned Jesus from hero to zero in this town in seconds.
Jesus and Zacchaeus talked all day and late into the evening. Zacchaeus talked about what he did for a living. He admitted his faults. He even wept as he described his longings to worship in the temple, to join in the prayers at the synagogue. He hadn't even realized how much he missed the reassurance of knowing that whatever happened he was a son of Abraham and a recipient of the promises God had made. He motioned toward the door, toward the crowd still milling around, wondering what was going on in the house. "They call me "Ben-zanah," he said, shaking his head. "And it's not even true."
Zacchaeus was shocked to see tears in Jesus' eyes, and not tears of laughter this time. He bent down a little, looked the tax collector right in the eye. "I want you to know something, Zacchaeus. I want you to know that God loves you. I want you to know that he doesn't share the opinion of you that these people who claim to be so close to him share. He knows you deep down and loves you. He wants to forgive you. Those promises he made are for you,too."
Zacchaeus drew in a deep breath sharply. The tears started to fall again. He started to object, started to list his sins. Then he remembered the story that had intrigued him, that the tax collector had been justified because he was sorry for his sins. "Lord, if that's possible, right now I give half of everything I have to the poor. And....and...and if I've cheated anyone, I'll pay them back four times over!!!"
Jesus smiled and laughed again. He put an arm around Zacchaeus and led him to the door. He threw it open, and people milling around outside stopped in their tracks. "Salvation has come to this house today," he shouted, smiling. "And I want you people to know something; this is no longer Zacchaeus ben-zanah here. This man standing beside me is a son of Abraham, just like the rest of you. The promises are for him, too!"
They're for each of us, I think Zacchaeus would tell us. They're for everyone who feels a compulsion to see and know Jesus and acts on that compulsion. Whether that compulsion leads you to climb a tree, to pray, to go to church, to pick up a Bible, to talk to someone, to be baptized, to make some changes -- whatever it leads you to do, act on it. That desire to know Jesus is from God, and it will end with your salvation. It will end with you being a child of the promises that he has made to those who belong to him.
"For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost."
=======
God is ...
What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ...
What do we learn about people in this passage?
Describe the personalities and qualities (positive and negative) of Mary and Martha based on this scene. How do these two sisters differ? Is Mary's choice better?
What about Jesus' call to servant-hood? What is Jesus' point?
How does stress affect your spiritual life? How does God help you deal with it?
What was Martha’s solution to her conflict of priorities in Luke 10:40?
I will ... What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
Describe a time when you used your work responsibilities or social obligations to avoid Jesus. How do you seek to serve while also keeping God-given priorities?
How can you practice “Mary’s choice” this week?
You can ...
Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by
social media links at the bottom of this.
Jesus Tells the Parable of the Good Samaritan Luke 10:25-37 Have you ever helped a stranger in distress? What happened?
God is ...
What do we learn about God in this passage?
We are ...
What do we learn about people in this passage?
Who's testing whom in this story?
What does Luke 10:26-28 show about Jesus’ attitude toward the Old Testament Law?
Does the lawyer seem to think he has passed the test in Luke 10:28? How so?
Who is your neighbor? What was wrong with the lawyer’s meaning of a neighbor?
Why does Jesus answer with a story instead of a straight answer? What commandment was Jesus illustrating by this story?
How might one justify the actions of the priest and the Levite (see Leviticus 21:1-3; Numbers 19:11-22)?
Given the divisions between Jews and Samaritans (see John 4), what's unusual about the plot twist in this story? What is Jesus' point here?
I will...
What has the Holy Spirit revealed to us in this passage? How can I apply it to my life this week?
The parable defines not just who our neighbor is, but also what love is. What does it show love to mean?
What attitude or behavior does God want you to have that is the most difficult to accept?
Who have been Good Samaritans in your life? What makes a Good Samaritan really good? How does one demonstrate a right relationship with God?
To whom will you be a Good Samaritan this week?
Describe a time when you used your work responsibilities or social obligations to avoid Jesus. How do you seek to serve while also keeping God-given priorities?
You can ...
Who do you know who needs to hear this? Feel free to share with others by
social media links at the bottom of this.
The World is my country, all mankind are my brethren, and to do good is my religion. --THOMAS PAINE
Feb 28, 2025 = A sermon by Preaching Minister Randy Johns from the series, "Stories Jesus Told."
This sermon focuses on the Parable of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37.
Parables -
Parable of the Good Samaritan
Luke 10:25-37
———————————————
A city councilman in Erie, Pennsylvania, has identified an important issue. He thinks something should be done about it. His proposed remedy won't work.
Jim Casey thinks relationships with one's neighbors is important. On his view, television, computers, and other devices that tend to close us in our houses or apartments have made neighborliness obsolete for many people. Security, civility, and quality of life would be enhanced if people got to know each other.
So Casey put an idea before the Erie City Council to study whether it should require all new homes in that city to be built with front porches. "We need to get out and meet our neighbors," he said. "If porches can help us get back to that good quality of living, then good." We could wish it were that simple!
Thinking that porches will create better communities is akin to thinking laws could cure racism. True enough, some laws needed to be passed. Those laws established a minimal standard of what would henceforth be regarded as acceptable. But they didn't make a single bigot open-minded and tolerant. Neither will front porches create community and neighborliness. It takes much more.
A verse in the Old Testament says this: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Leviticus 19:18). When Jesus referred to this text approvingly one day, a certain fellow in his audience became defensive. "And who is my neighbor?" he wanted to know. So Jesus told what just might be the best-known story in all literature. He told about a Samaritan who came to the aid of a Jew who had been beaten, robbed, and left to die. The same poor man had, by the way, been sidestepped by two people of his own ethnic and religious group (Luke 10:25-37).
The Gospels aren't anti-Semitic, and the point of the Parable of the Good Samaritan isn't to put Jews in a bad light. The basic problem in human relations isn't a lack of front porches but a lack of mutual respect.
According to Jesus, the way to love your neighbor is to take a risk, extend a hand, and do something positive in the life of a person outside your customary circle of friends. In your neighborhood, workplace, or church, you know who and where "they" are. This week is your chance to approach just one.
Opening Questions — Get Us Thinking:
Have you ever helped a stranger in distress? What happened?
The Parable of the Good Samaritan — Luke 10:25-37
25On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26“What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?”
27He answered, “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’c ; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’d ”
28“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
29But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
30In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead.31A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side.32So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side.33But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.34He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him.35The next day he took out two denariie and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
36“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
37The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
·Brainstorm types of people who are considered the unloved in our society today.
·What is the main point to the parable?
Research Questions — “dig deeper” to find God’s Will
1.What is Jesus’ point here?
2.Does the lawyer seem to think he has passed the test in verse 28? How so?
3.Why does Jesus answer with a story instead of a straight answer?
4.How might one justify the actions of the priest and the Levites?
5.If Jesus used this parable in Edmond today, who do you think he would use as the stories characters instead of the Jews and Samaritans?
6.Given the divisions between Jews and Samaritans, what's unusual about the plot twist in the story?
7.What did stopping and helping possibly cost the Samaritan?
8.Search verses 34 and 35, what all did the Samaritan do for the man in need? How is agape love different and higher than other kinds of love?
9.What would our country become if everyone “loved his neighbor” as the Samaritan did?
10.Put yourself in the place of the Samaritan in this Parable. What feelings do you experience when you realize a person who hates you need your help?
11.Why do you think God commanded us to love our neighbors or, even more difficult, to love our enemies? What do we learn about God when we do this?
Reflective Questions — live it today.
1.How does this Parable apply to us today?
2.If Jesus were telling the story to us today, whom would we most hate to see cast as the hero?
3.How is Jesus' challenge troubling to the expert in the law and to us today?
4.What attitude or behavior does God want you to have that is the most difficult to accept?
5.Imagine a conversation between the Samaritan and the Jew in the story. What are the first things you hear them say to each other?
6.Who has been a Good Samaritans in your life?
7.When you see someone in need of help, how does the person's appearance (race, clothing, cleanliness, status, etc.) affect the way you normally respond? Compare your usual response to God request that you “love your neighbor.”
8.What Makes a Good Samaritan really good?
9.To whom will you be a Good Samaritan this week?
GOOD SAMARITAN - Audio only
Kevin Rayner
Like a Good Neighbor (Luke 10:25-37) by Toby Levering
Stories
are the language of the soul. We connect with stories and we remember them. That
is why Jesus used storytelling so often to illustrate deeper truths. His
stories, known as parables, were Jesus’ way to communicate important Kingdom
principles. Although the details of these stories were imagined, the Kingdom
principles are not. They are true and eternal.
Opening
Thoughts:
To truly love your neighbor means crossing boundaries and borders to demonstrate
genuine concern through action. Who is your neighbor? How can you love
them?
25 On one
occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what
must I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 “What is
written in the Law?” he
replied. “How do
you read it?”
27 He
answered, “‘Love the
Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your
strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as
yourself.’”
28 “You have
answered correctly,” Jesus
replied. “Do this
and you will live.”
29 But he
wanted to justify
himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my
neighbor?”
30 In reply
Jesus said: “A man
was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They
stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half
dead.31 A priest happened to be
going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other
side.32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw
him, passed by on the other side.33 But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man
was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him.34 He went to him and bandaged
his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey,
brought him to an inn and took care of him.35 The next day he took out
two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when
I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may
have.’
36 “Which of
these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of
robbers?”
37 The
expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on
him.”
Summarize
the main story:
Describe the events of the story in your own words.
vReview
and retell the story.
Reflections
for applications:
v Characters
oPriest
oLevite
oSamaritan
o“Good
Israelite”
vApplication
& Layers
oLove
others
oLove
by doing
§James
2:15-16Suppose a brother or a sister is without
clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm
and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is
it?
vJesus
puts a twist in the story.
oIn
his story, Jesus makes the powerless victim the Israelite man, and the hero of the story is the despised
Samaritan!
§Sometimes
it takes empathy to activate love
§Go
be a neighbor!
·“What
will happen to me?”
·“What
will happen to him?”
oDoes
Christianity have an image problem?
==============================
Digging
Questions:
·How
will you respond to God’s “True Story”? What transformative move needs to be
made?
·What
do these biblical texts tell you about God and His nature?
·What
is God calling us (me and you individually) to do?
Take
Away Challenges
·What
has the Holy Spirit revealed to you in this passage? How will you apply it to
your life this week?
·Whom
do you know who needs to hear this?
·What
is God bringing to your attention in this discussion? What beliefs, thoughts or
actions need to be addressed or changed?
