An Unlikely Neighbor, 365 DAYS OF LOVE #102

PASSAGE: Luke 10:25-37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan)

MEMORY VERSE: "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind...Love your neighbor as yourself" Matthew 22:37-39

NOTES: Luke 10
-One day, a man asked Jesus, "teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"
Jesus replied by telling him to recite what was written in the law: "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'"
-The parable: a man was going from Jerusalem to Jericho (17 miles), when a group of robbers came and took his clothes, beat him, and left him on the road to die. 3 people passed his way:
1. THE PRIEST:  (Probably on his way to the Temple) He saw him, and went to the other side. Probably feared for the robbers
2. A LEVITE: Passed to the other side
3. A SAMARITAN: took pity on the man--bandaged his wounds, put him on his donkey, and took him to an inn. He paid for all his expenses and told the innkeeper to look after him. The thing is, Samaritans and Jews did NOT like each other. He seemed the least likely to help a Jewish man!
The priest and the levite were not criminals or super selfish people. They were probably just scared that they would be robbed too! It seems like a reasonable thought, right? But what does Jesus say? Let’s take a look:
-Which of these was a neighbor to the man who fell? The man replied, "the one who had mercy on him."
Jesus says: "Go and do likewise."
This parable shows us how we can truly LIVE out what God tells us to do. Sometimes it's easy helping people--especially people you like. But Jesus wants us to love EVERYONE "as ourselves"--we can do that when we first love God with all our heart! When we open our hearts to love God, he gives us more room to love others. This is how we show that we are God's children, and that we are FOUND.
-We can also learn to love by imitating examples of parents, teachers, or friends who are very loving. What are some ways that people have shown love to you?
-Examples of ways to show love?
It may not always be easy, but God will always help us if we ask Him in prayer.

ACT OF LOVE: When VBS ended today, two of my kids were still at church after the rest of my class had left because their mom was late. I stayed with them for around 15-20 minutes until their ride came even though one of my helpers offered to do it. I used those few minutes to get to know them personally, since I can't always talk to every single kid individually. Also, I wrote an encouragement note to one of my helpers, Kevin, as a token of my appreciation for his work!