Love Thy Neighbor

Dear Friend, We are so excited for the “Love Thy Neighbor” sermon series!

As a church, we are going to dive into the challenge of loving others well. We will talk about loving God, neighbors, ourselves, and even our enemies. We will also explore the meaning of “love” and “neighbor.” Our hearts, words, attitudes, and actions will be challenged!

When asked which was the most important commandment, Jesus replied, “’You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments” Matthew 22:37-40 (NLT). Jesus teaches us that loving both God and others is very important and understanding this concept will be transformative!

This discussion guide is a companion to the “Love Thy Neighbor” sermon series. Included are weekly group discussion questions, actions steps., and personal reflections. We encourage you to join a connect group, start a group, or gather with family and friends for this five-week study. If you happen to miss a Sunday, catch the message online. You don't want to miss this series!

With Love, Pastors Nate and Jodi Ruch

KEY SCRIPTURE “Jesus replied, ‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind…love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Matthew 22:37, 39b (NLT)

3

THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT All Summed Up!

Jesus sums up The Greatest Commandment as loving God AND loving our neighbor! In a divisive culture, this can feel like an irony to do both! But we can love others better when we cultivate our love for God.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Read the scriptures aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) Who are the three people you love in this world the most? Why? 2) Read Matthew 22:34-40. What does it mean to love the Lord with all your heart, soul, and mind?

3) Why do you think Jesus summed up the commandments in this way? How is loving God related to loving people?

4) Read I Corinthians 13:1-13. How important is it to love others? How impactful is faith without love?

5) Which of the characteristics of love listed in that passage stands out to you the most? Which is the most challenging for you to practice?

ACTION STEPS Take time to share prayer requests within your group.

Invite a neighbor, co-worker, or loved one to join you at church for this series.

GOING FURTHER What can the following verses teach us about Godly love?

Deuteronomy 6:4-6 Matthew 19:16-22 I Corinthians 13:1-13 John 13:34-35 1 John 4:7-10

PERSONAL REFLECTION: In what ways do you want to grow in your love right now? Toward God? Toward family? Toward the needy?

KEY SCRIPTURE “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’”

Matthew 25:40 (NLT)

3

WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? Along the Path

Jesus defines “neighbor” by using the parable of the Good Samaritan.

"Neighbor" is not just someone close to us or someone we like, it’s anyone in need. Being a neighbor means showing mercy to people along our path and not allowing convenience or prejudice to influence our response.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Read Luke 10:25-37 aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1. Have you ever helped a stranger in distress?

What happened?

2. Why do you think Jesus responds with a story instead of a straight answer?

3. How might one justify the actions of the priest and the Levite (see Lev 21:1-3)?

4. Given the divisions between Jews and Samaritans (see John 4), what’s unusual about this plot twist?

5. Think of all the paths you travel regularly (digitally, work, family, errands). Who is in your path that you could be a Good Samaritan to this week?

ACTION STEPS Take time to share prayer requests within your group.

Download “Bless Every Home App https://app.blesseveryhome.com/ and walk your neighborhood praying for your neighbors.

GOING FURTHER What can the following verses teach us about the people in our path?

John 4:1-42 Matthew 25:31-46 Philippians 2:3-5

PERSONAL REFLECTION: How well do you know your neighbors?

What can you do this week to connect with them?

KEY SCRIPTURE “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)

KNOW GROW LIVE

LOVE YOURSELF? I AM with You!

God appears to Moses in a burning bush and commissions him to rescue the Hebrews from captivity. The Lord helped Moses sort through his shame and insecurity. He promised to be with him.

As we come to Jesus with our shortcomings, He will help and be near to us too!

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Read Exodus 3:1-4:16 and discuss these questions in your group: 1) Why do you think God used a burning bush to get Moses’ attention? What did Moses do as a response to the bush? (3:1-6) 2) What was Moses asked to do? Why could this feel like an impossible assignment? (3:711) 3) How did Moses respond to the assignment?

What excuses does he give? (3:11, 4:1, 4:10, 4:13) 4) How did God respond to Moses? What did he promise to do?

5) When has God reassured you of His presence and power? How did it make you feel?

ACTION STEPS Take time to share prayer requests within your group.

Do some self-care! What have you been putting off that you can do for yourself this week?

GOING FURTHER What can the following verses teach us about paying attention to ourselves?

Exodus 34:21 1 Timothy 4:7-8 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 1 Corinthians 9:24-27 1 Peter 3:3-4

PERSONAL REFLECTION: Have I been kind to myself?

How has my self-talk impacted me and the way I treat others?

KEY SCRIPTURE

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

Ephesians 4:29 (NIV)

IT’S ALWAYS 4:29 Time to Benefit!

Our words, actions, and attitudes should benefit others. We are to live by the Spirit rather than gratify the desires of the flesh, not for self-indulgence but rather for serving one another in love.

The fruit of the Spirit empowers us to put our love into action.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS Read the scriptures aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) Read Ephesians 4:29. How are we supposed to use our words? Why does this matter?

2) Read Galatians 5:16-26. What does it look like to use your freedom to serve one another in love? (vs 13) 3) What does it look like for the Holy Spirit to guide every part of our lives? Are there any areas of your life where the Holy Spirit is not guiding?

4) The sinful nature and the Holy Spirit both want to guide your life, how can you yield to the Holy Spirit? And what is the benefit of doing so? (vs 16, 22) 5) In our culture, it’s easy to become provoking, conceited, and jealous. How do we overcome these things?

ACTION STEPS Take time to share prayer requests within your group.

Pick up Thanksgiving Gift box(es) from church and pack as a group.

GOING FURTHER What can the following verses teach us about our words and actions?

Proverbs 18:21 Matthew 12:33-37 Luke 6:43-45

PERSONAL REFLECTION: Refrain from all toxic words (such as swearing, complaining, gossiping, judging...)

This week, practice using words that build others up!

KEY SCRIPTURE

“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies!

Do good to those who hate you.

Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.”

Luke 6:27-28 (NLT)

3

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES Atititude Check!

We reflect God’s character by treating others with love and compassion. Jesus teaches us to love our enemies, do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and give without expecting anything in return. Believers practice unconditional love, non-retaliation, and mercy toward others, including their enemies.

DISCUSSION DISCUSSION QUESTIONS QUESTIONS Read Luke 6:27-36 aloud and discuss these questions in your group: 1) The author suggests doing good to those who only do good to you is not enough, why do you think the author has this perspective?

2) How do you do good to those who hate you? Why do you think this is important?

3) Who would you regard as your enemy?

4) How should we pray for those who mistreat us?

5) What does it mean to bless those who are cursing you?

ACTION STEPS Take time to share prayer requests within your group.

Send a word of blessing to an enemy this week.

GOING FURTHER What can the following verses teach us about loving our enemies?

Romans 5:8-11 John 8:1-11 Matthew 5:3-12, 23-24, 43-48 Romans 12:14-21

PERSONAL REFLECTION: Make a list of your enemies. Pray a blessing over each one. Is there anyone who considers you their enemy? What can you do to bless them?

FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CONNECT GROUPS, GO TO: WWW.EMMANUELCC.ORG/CONNECTGROUPS

EMMANUELCC.ORG 7777 University Ave NE, Spring Lake Park, MN 55432