When faced with the question, “who is my neighbor,” our minds can easily go to physical proximity – the couple across the street, the family next door, the single mom whose yard sits behind yours. When faced with this question, Jesus tells the story of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25 – 37), and in turn reframes the question from “who is my neighbor,” to “how do I become a loving neighbor.” He calls us not simply to proximity, but to action.

Action can be defined in a number of ways, but perhaps the most helpful way to think of it is this definition from Webster’s: “the accomplishment of a thing, usually over a period of time, in stages or with the possibility of repetition.” The act of becoming a loving neighbor requires repeated action. It requires that we consciously choose to be aware of the opportunity to neighbor every day. It requires that we consciously choose to honor the humanity of others. It requires that we choose to pick up when we could just as easily step aside.

Questions for Discussion:

1. Our love is defined by our actions, not our proximity. How does this change the way we love the people who surround us?
2. How do we justify our actions, or lack of action, when it comes to loving God? When it comes to loving our neighbors? When it comes to loving ourselves?
3. Jesus didn’t live in one place – how can we use his example of neighboring wherever he went to grow in our love of others?
4. How might Jesus be inviting you to love your neighbors this week?

Practice: Defining Your Neighborhood Roadside

We each encounter people along the roadsides of our lives that we too often ignore or step over. How might our roadsides change if we began to act with intention in our every day? Use this activity to help you and your Group become aware of the roadsides in your own lives.

You will need a map of your city of residence (or county if Group members live in different communities) and a different colored highlighter or marker for each Group member/family.

1. Lay out your city or county map and have each member grab a marker/highlighter to represent them.
2. Have each member/family highlight the streets where they live, places where they work, their normal shopping centers, favorite areas for recreation, streets around the church, and other places they visit often. This is to demonstrate that we as individuals interact with so many neighbors every week, and our “roadside” is broad. We have been called to purposeful and intentional action along every roadside.
3. Discuss why your “roadside” needs you to obey the command of Jesus to go and do the same. What changes might take place if you being to actively love your “roadside.”
4. Now that you have taken time to define and become aware of your “roadside,” take time to pray for those you will meet along the way and the opportunity, courage, and strength to love them well.