StoneBridge Community Church
Senior Pastor Jon Saur
We understand that people may be traveling and that families may be squeezing in one last getaway before school starts. Summer Light is a 5 week, message series that will carry the StoneBridge community through the dog days of summer. The series is not consecutive, allowing for you to attend when you can and not feel like you've missed out!
Luke 10:25-37 NRSV
Sermon Outline
To help you follow along, here is a loose outline of this week's sermon.
I. Biblical Law
A. Biblical law is viewed as negative or boring
B. In Jesus' day, Biblical law was incredibly important and interesting.
C. The law reflected God's will for human life.
D. Jesus presents himself as a teacher of the law.
E. As such, Jesus' teaching is effectively law for his followers.
II. The Good Samaritan
A. Jesus' teaching carries the weight of God's law.
B. The Priest and the Levite represent people who should know God's law, but don't.
C. The Samaritan was an enemy who shouldn't know God's law, but does.
D. Jesus' teaching about who one's neighbor is would be shocking in his day.
III. Today
A. The definition of who our "neighbor" is doesn't depend on the categories we think are important.
B. It depends on mercy and who shows mercy.
C. The Samaritan becomes the man's neighbor because he shows mercy.
D. Who are people we consider "enemies" or "opponents" who are supposed to be our neighbors?
E. How can we love them?
IV. Love
A. Love is not just a fuzzy feeling.
B. Love is concrete action, like the samaritan shows us.
V. Life
A. If this teaching makes us uncomfortable, it should.
B. It is a challenge.
C. But in God's law is where life is found, because it is where God's will for our lives is found.
D. May we find life by loving our neighbors, according to Jesus' interpretation.
GROWTH GROUP / PERSONAL REFLECTION QUESTIONS
1. How have you viewed Biblical law in the past?
2. Does it change anything for you to think of the Good Samaritan parable not as just a story, but as Jesus' interpretation of God's law?
3. How would you translate Jesus' definition of "neighbor" to today's world?
4. Which "neighbors," according to Jesus' definition, is God calling you to love now?
NEXT STEPS
1. Reflect on Jesus' definition of "neighbor."
2. Make a list of people who are your "neighbors" according to Jesus' definition.
3. Reach out to those people to see how you can love them.
We encourage you to use Facebook, Instagram, and other social media to share images, quotes, links, or what you've learned from this week's message and YouVersion message notes. Social media can also be a great way of inviting your friends to worship and special events.