What must I do to inherit eternal life? An expert in the law once asked Jesus that very question, and the answer he received still crosses the boundaries of how we imagine God and other people. This sermon walks us through the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10) and shows that our neighbor is every human being, even the one we consider an enemy. Listen and discover which barriers God wants to cross in your life.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- The expert in the law tests Jesus and then presses further: "Who is my neighbor?" What do his questions reveal about what he was really after, and why does Jesus answer with a story instead of a definition?
- For the first listeners, a Samaritan was an enemy, while the priest and the Levite represented God's people. How would they have felt hearing who showed mercy in this parable?
- Notice that Jesus shifts the question from "Who is my neighbor?" to "Who proved to be a neighbor?" (Luke 10:36). What does this shift say about how we should see other people?
- The preacher quotes the dwarf Zoltan, who decided to do good only to himself and those closest to him. Why is this attitude so appealing, and how is it different from what Jesus teaches?
- The sermon says that God Himself crossed the barriers of prejudice and hostility to reach even those who were hostile toward Him. How does this truth change your motivation to love difficult people?
- Think of a specific person you would rather not talk to or serve, such as a difficult neighbor or boss. What one act of mercy could you show them this week?
