4 2 Connect without prejudice
4 Connect without prejudice 2 1 Getting Started In our first study, we saw that loving people and intentionally seeking 4 to tell them about Jesus go hand in hand. But which people should we seek to tell? After all, the reality is, when it comes to other people, we all have our preferences. Is it OK to decide who we’ll love? Is it OK for us to pick and choose who is “acceptable” to hear the gospel from us? Read Luke 10:25–37. 1. What does Luke mean in verse 29 when he tells us the expert in the law wanted to “justify” himself?
2. If someone later asked the priest & Levite why they passed by the afflicted man, what do you think they might say?
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25 May 1st June
Connect with Wisdom Connect with Community
For the Diary Women Encouraging Women 31st May
3. How does the parable answer the expert in the law’s question? That is, who is his neighbour? Who does God want him to love?
4. List the concrete ways the Samaritan cared for his neighbour.
Digging Deeper 5. Why does God want us to love others?
6. What does this parable teach us about who our neighbour is? Who does God want us to love? Is there anyone he’s OK with us not loving?
7. What does Jesus’ teaching here tell us about the personal cost of loving someone?
8. Why do we find it hard to love someone? What makes it possible for us to do so?
Ideas to Action The expert in the law was seeking to limit his responsibility. He wanted to reserve the right to pick and choose who to love. But this parable reminds him and us that God wants us to show compassion— including bringing the gospel—to anyone in need. No doubt about it, that’s a tough calling. But because Jesus—the ultimate Good Samaritan—has given us his Spirit, we can now connect without prejudice. 9. What sort of people might our “tribe” as a whole commonly overlook? Do we have prejudices that stop us from loving certain people and bringing them the gospel?
10. As we seek in God’s love to bring the gospel to such people, what might that cost us?
11. Is there a specific person or persons in your life whom you might be “passing by”, but whom God wants you to love?
Use the notes over the page to pray for another and for the people God wants us to take the gospel to in love.
Prayer Praise God that his Son had compassion on us even to the point of giving his life for us. Thank him for forgiving our lack of love because of Jesus’ great love, and for giving us, by his Spirit, new hearts that can love like Jesus. Ask God to help us to see all those around us in need and to serve them without prejudice, including trying to bring the good news about Jesus to them. Also pray Josh & Naomi Pryde and their children Elkarnah & Jasper. Pray for direction for their ministry as it seems the River Ashram will have to close, and ask God to show them where and how to continue their work with Hippies and travellers who are searching for God in Asia. Pray together about the encouragement and challenge raised by God’s Word through this study. Note prayer points below for your partners in the gospel (Growth Group members) and their contacts: Growth Group members
Unbelieving friends
2. If someone later asked the priest & Levite why they passed by the afflicted man, what do you think they might say?
Coming up... th
25 May 1st June
Connect with Wisdom Connect with Community
For the Diary Women Encouraging Women 31st May
3. How does the parable answer the expert in the law’s question? That is, who is his neighbour? Who does God want him to love?
4. List the concrete ways the Samaritan cared for his neighbour.
Digging Deeper 5. Why does God want us to love others?
6. What does this parable teach us about who our neighbour is? Who does God want us to love? Is there anyone he’s OK with us not loving?
7. What does Jesus’ teaching here tell us about the personal cost of loving someone?
8. Why do we find it hard to love someone? What makes it possible for us to do so?
Ideas to Action The expert in the law was seeking to limit his responsibility. He wanted to reserve the right to pick and choose who to love. But this parable reminds him and us that God wants us to show compassion— including bringing the gospel—to anyone in need. No doubt about it, that’s a tough calling. But because Jesus—the ultimate Good Samaritan—has given us his Spirit, we can now connect without prejudice. 9. What sort of people might our “tribe” as a whole commonly overlook? Do we have prejudices that stop us from loving certain people and bringing them the gospel?
10. As we seek in God’s love to bring the gospel to such people, what might that cost us?
11. Is there a specific person or persons in your life whom you might be “passing by”, but whom God wants you to love?
Use the notes over the page to pray for another and for the people God wants us to take the gospel to in love.
Prayer Praise God that his Son had compassion on us even to the point of giving his life for us. Thank him for forgiving our lack of love because of Jesus’ great love, and for giving us, by his Spirit, new hearts that can love like Jesus. Ask God to help us to see all those around us in need and to serve them without prejudice, including trying to bring the good news about Jesus to them. Also pray Josh & Naomi Pryde and their children Elkarnah & Jasper. Pray for direction for their ministry as it seems the River Ashram will have to close, and ask God to show them where and how to continue their work with Hippies and travellers who are searching for God in Asia. Pray together about the encouragement and challenge raised by God’s Word through this study. Note prayer points below for your partners in the gospel (Growth Group members) and their contacts: Growth Group members
Unbelieving friends
