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Bouquet Canyon Church
Be the Neighbor People Need
Locations & Times
Bouquet Canyon Church
26900 Bouquet Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita, CA 91350, USA
Sunday 10:00 AM
1. Unconditional Love
2. Selfless Heart
3. Mercy without Excuse
4. Compassion across Boundaries
5. Humble Action
Discussion Notes (for use in a small group or individual study)
Sermon: Be the Neighbor People Need
Questions:
1. Opening question: If you were stranded on the side of the road somewhere unfamiliar, what kind of person would you hope would stop to help you—and why?
2. The sermon, given by Chris Newman, was based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. What stood out to you in the sermon? Do you have any questions to bring up?
3. Unconditional Love
a. Read: Luke 10:25–37 (focus on vv. 33–35)
b. What makes the Samaritan’s love “unconditional”? What expectations or conditions would have been normal in that culture? (See also: Matthew 5:43–48; Romans 5:6–8)
c. Who is someone in your life that is difficult to love without conditions—and what would it look like to love them anyway?
4. Selfless Heart
a. Read: Philippians 2:3–8
b. How does Jesus define true humility and selflessness in this passage? What does it mean to “look not only to your own interests”? (See also: Mark 10:45)
c. What is one practical way you can put someone else’s needs ahead of your own this week, even when it costs you something?
5. Mercy without Excuse
a. Read: Luke 10:31–32 (priest and Levite) + James 2:14–17
b. Why might the priest and Levite have passed by? What does James say about the danger of “excuse-filled faith”? (See also: 1 John 3:17–18)
c. Where are you tempted to justify not helping—what “reasons” do you tend to give yourself?
6. Compassion across Boundaries
a. Read: John 4:4–10 (Jesus and the Samaritan woman)
b. What barriers did Jesus cross in this interaction? Why is that significant in light of the Good Samaritan? (See also: Galatians 3:28; Acts 10:34–35)
c. Is there a group of people (culturally, politically, socially) that you tend to avoid or distance yourself from? What would it look like to move toward them instead?
7. Humble Action
a. Read: Micah 6:8
b. How do justice, mercy, and humility work together in this verse? Why is humility essential to true compassion? (See also: Luke 18:9–14)
c. What keeps you from taking action when you do feel compassion—fear, inconvenience, pride? How can humility help you move forward?
8. Looking at all of this, what is one specific, concrete way you can “be the neighbor” this week—and who is it for?
9. Pray that God would:
a. Open your eyes to see people the way He sees them
b. Soften your heart to feel true compassion
c. Give you courage to act, even when it’s inconvenient
d. Shape you into someone who reflects the mercy of Christ
Sermon: Be the Neighbor People Need
Questions:
1. Opening question: If you were stranded on the side of the road somewhere unfamiliar, what kind of person would you hope would stop to help you—and why?
2. The sermon, given by Chris Newman, was based on the Parable of the Good Samaritan. What stood out to you in the sermon? Do you have any questions to bring up?
3. Unconditional Love
a. Read: Luke 10:25–37 (focus on vv. 33–35)
b. What makes the Samaritan’s love “unconditional”? What expectations or conditions would have been normal in that culture? (See also: Matthew 5:43–48; Romans 5:6–8)
c. Who is someone in your life that is difficult to love without conditions—and what would it look like to love them anyway?
4. Selfless Heart
a. Read: Philippians 2:3–8
b. How does Jesus define true humility and selflessness in this passage? What does it mean to “look not only to your own interests”? (See also: Mark 10:45)
c. What is one practical way you can put someone else’s needs ahead of your own this week, even when it costs you something?
5. Mercy without Excuse
a. Read: Luke 10:31–32 (priest and Levite) + James 2:14–17
b. Why might the priest and Levite have passed by? What does James say about the danger of “excuse-filled faith”? (See also: 1 John 3:17–18)
c. Where are you tempted to justify not helping—what “reasons” do you tend to give yourself?
6. Compassion across Boundaries
a. Read: John 4:4–10 (Jesus and the Samaritan woman)
b. What barriers did Jesus cross in this interaction? Why is that significant in light of the Good Samaritan? (See also: Galatians 3:28; Acts 10:34–35)
c. Is there a group of people (culturally, politically, socially) that you tend to avoid or distance yourself from? What would it look like to move toward them instead?
7. Humble Action
a. Read: Micah 6:8
b. How do justice, mercy, and humility work together in this verse? Why is humility essential to true compassion? (See also: Luke 18:9–14)
c. What keeps you from taking action when you do feel compassion—fear, inconvenience, pride? How can humility help you move forward?
8. Looking at all of this, what is one specific, concrete way you can “be the neighbor” this week—and who is it for?
9. Pray that God would:
a. Open your eyes to see people the way He sees them
b. Soften your heart to feel true compassion
c. Give you courage to act, even when it’s inconvenient
d. Shape you into someone who reflects the mercy of Christ