Sept 18 & 21

Matthew 22:37-39
Who is my neighbor?
Luke 10:25-37
The answer to the question “Who is my neighbor?” is not a who; it is a “Yes.”
Loving your neighbors is a difficult and messy task that requires us to get up close and personal.
“The cumulative testimony of the four Gospels is that when Jesus Christ sees the fallenness of the world all about him, his deepest impulse, his most natural instinct, is to move toward that sin and suffering, not away from it." - Dane Ortlund
Loving our neighbor is going to cost us something.
It's going to get weird, but don't be a weirdo.
We are wounded healers.
We can't love our neighbor if we don't know our neighbor.
Matthew 22:37-39

Read Luke 10:25-37 as a group.
In Luke 10, the religious expert wanted to “justify himself” by asking, “Who is my neighbor?” Where are you tempted to shrink the definition of “neighbor” so it feels easier or safer to love?
Jesus shows that being a neighbor is less about identity and more about compassion. How does compassion change the way you see people who are different from you, or even people you struggle to like?
The Good Samaritan’s love was costly—his time, money, and comfort. When has loving someone cost you something? Where might God be inviting you to step into inconvenience for the sake of love?
Henri Nouwen called Christians “wounded healers.” How have your own wounds or struggles given you opportunities to help others? What keeps you from stepping in until you feel “fully healed”?
We were all challenged to know our neighbors and fill out the neighbor card. How are you doing at filling it out and do you have any stories to share?

Pray that the Lord soften our hearts in a time of hardship and difficulty. Ask the Lord to help us combat bitterness and anger and move our hearts toward compassion for people.
Pray over your neighbors by name if you know them, and ask the Holy Spirit to create opportunities this week for connection and conversations.