"Once an Amish man was asked, 'Are you a Christian?' His response was simple: 'You'll have to ask my neighbor.'"

–Rev. Jon Middendorf (in a message about the Good Samaritan)

Shout out to Lisa Stearns and the Alpha crew!

Finding faith is no small thing. It takes more than just individual courage; it takes a community!

Alpha is all about creating a space where the spiritually-curious can explore Christianity in a safe, relational environment (oh yeah, and the food is amazing!).

Join us in celebrating how God is meeting people where they are and connecting them to a Christ-centered community!

LUKE: Cost of Discipleship

Luke 10:25-37

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We’re diving back into the Gospel of Luke. After nine chapters introducing us to Jesus and His call, Luke now takes us with Him on the road to Jerusalem (Luke 9-19). Along the way, we’ll hear some of Jesus’ most famous teachings and stories, as He shows us what it truly costs to follow Him and why following Him is worth everything.

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The Big Idea

(What is the author's point?)

The best evidence of a genuine love for God is a genuine love for people.

Why It Matters

(Why is this relevant to us?)

Imagine you're walking along State Street, and suddenly someone walks up, sticks a camera and microphone in your face and asks, "What is the key to being a good person?" What would you say?

This is basically the question that the lawyer asks Jesus in Luke 10:25. 

His answer to that question is the story of the "Good Samaritan" that brings us back to the point of the entire Bible: love God and love people.

Sounds simple enough, right? But what does that mean? Who are we to love? What if they don't deserve it? How much love is enough? There are so many people in trouble, it's overwhelming. Where do we even begin?

The story of the Good Samaritan is one of the most important stories in the world because in it, we get God's perspective on what it actually looks like to belong to Him. 

As Jesus takes us on a walk down the dusty road to Jericho, He pushes us past empty religiosity and invites us to see and be transformed by the radical, concrete, over-the-top love of God for His enemies.

Good to Know

(What are some helpful insights into this passage?)

“a lawyer stood up to put him to the test,” (10:25) – The nomikos is a Torah expert similar to a scribe, think "Bible professor at the local seminary."

“What shall I do to inherit eternal life?” (10:25) – “Eternal life” was a standard Jewish way to ask about sharing in God’s end-time salvation (cf. Dan 12:2).

“What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” (10:26) – Jesus answers with a counter-question, basically saying, "you're the expert, how would you sum up the point of the Bible?"

“You shall love the Lord your God…and your neighbor as yourself” (10:27) – This was a common way of summing up the point of the Old Testament from Deuteronomy 6:5 and Leviticus 19:18. These passages were so core to the faith of first-century Jews that they quoted them every morning and evening.

“You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live” (10:28) – Jesus was saying, "Yeah, that's the point of the Bible." He was not saying this is possible to do on our own. He knew that we have all failed and needed God's forgiveness and power for true salvation.

“desiring to justify himself...who is my neighbor?” (10:29) – The lawyer wanted to score some points in this public debate. Most Jews believed they should only help other Jews. He was trying to smoke out Jesus' heretical beliefs.

“A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho” (10:30) – The 17-mile descent through Wadi Qelt was steep and dangerous, notorious for bandits.

“a priest…passed by on the other side…likewise a Levite” (10:31-32) – These were people who should have stopped to help, but didn't.

“But a Samaritan…had compassion” (10:33) – Everyone listening probably expected Jesus to say "an Israelite" or "a rabbi" next, but instead made a despised Samaritan the unlikely hero of the story.

"oil and wine” (10:34) – These were commonly used for first aid in the first century.

"two denarii…whatever more you spend, I will repay” (10:35) – This would have been equivalent to $500 today.

“Which…proved to be a neighbor…?” (10:36) – Jesus reframes from asking “Who qualifies as a neighbor?” to “Who proved to be a neighbor?” Jesus is clear, true neighborliness is about showing tangible, concrete acts of mercy to whoever God puts in our paths.

Group Guide

Following the series with your group? 

• Start with some icebreaker questions.
• Read the passage together before you dive in. 
• Share any insights from the message. Use the questions below to get your conversation started:

Conversation Starters

1. "What must I do to inherit eternal life?” (v. 25)

When Jesus answered this question in verse 28, was He saying we can earn our way to heaven? Why or why not? 

2. “Love the Lord your God…and your neighbor as yourself.” (v. 27)

How does this simple command confront our tendency to separate “spiritual” life from ordinary acts of love? If you measured your love for God by how you love difficult people, what would that reveal?

3. “But he wanted to justify himself.” (v. 29)

Why do you think the lawyer felt the need to defend himself? Where do you find yourself trying to explain away Jesus’ hard teachings instead of obeying them?

4. “But a Samaritan…” (v. 33)

This would have shocked Jesus' listeners and been borderline offensive. If Jesus told the story today, who might play the role of “Samaritan” in your world?

5. The Samaritan came near and had compassion. (v. 33)

What does true compassion cost us—emotionally, financially, socially?

6. “He went to him, bandaged his wounds…and took care of him.” (v. 34)

Notice how practical love becomes, touching, lifting, paying, returning. What do these small details teach us about what love actually looks like in daily life?

7. Who represents Jesus in the parable? Who do you relate to the most?

8. Who has God placed in your path? What does it look like to tangibly show the love of God, even if in small ways?

Prayer

Lord Jesus, please transform our hard, boundary-setting hearts with your boundless love. As you have loved us and laid down your life for us, let us love others and lay our lives down for them. Please make it clear who you are calling us to serve today. Amen!

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