Who is My Neighbor?

Luke 10:25-37

Love others with the gospel!

  1. Invest your time

It’s time to reevaluate our busyness!

We are stewards of the gospel in the realm of our time and relationships.

  •      How do you justify your neglect of the gospel?
  •      Does your pace of life leave room for gospel relationships?
  •      Is your “talent” buried, while you hurry frantically in pursuit of everything else?
  1. Invest your compassion

People are eternal, a valuable investment of our time!
Step into people’s lives:

  •      Cultivate a caring heart
  •      Listen empathetically
  •      Ask probing questions
  •      Persist in demonstrating care
  •      Intercede in faithful prayer
  1. Invest your focus

If the greatest commandment is to love God and love others… how am I doing?
Can we practically love everybody?
My focus is my neighbor – those around me where I am right now.
Consider who God has put in your life to love with the gospel:

  •      Family
  •      Friends
  •      Literal neighbors
  •      Coworkers
  •      Enemies
  •      Nearby strangers

 

Application Questions for Reflection

  1. What questions or reactions do you have? What is one application you will make?
  2. It’s easy to broaden the application of loving our neighbors as referring to everyone (Luke 10:27). Why is it important to remember the more immediate context of those near us where we are?
  3. One of the most valuable assets that everyone has is time (Ephesians 5:16). How can time be used to invest in others for the gospel?
  4. One of our greatest obstacles that paralyzes and hinders evangelism is our busyness! What things in life seem urgent, but are less important?
  5. What is the reality of those who don’t trust Jesus as Savior? How does this impact our perspective of the lost, and move us to respond?
  6. Notice the irony that God’s people are the ones who neglect a person in need (Luke 10:31-32). The gospel is everyone’s greatest need!  What if we only talk about evangelism but never take action?