The Hidden Kingdom - Pt 3. The Parable of the Good Samaritan

The parable of The Good Samaritan is familiar to most people who have spent time in church, however, this week, Andrew helped us take a deeper dive into what it really means to love your neighbor as yourself. The true and generous love from the Father flows out of us when we meet Him with a heart of total devotion, and with that overflow, the inconvenience of helping others becomes the most convenient thing because love becomes our highest priority. Discussion Questions Key verses: Luke 10:25-37, Matthew 22:37-40, Philippians 2:3,4 1. Andrew said that the command in Luke 10:27, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself,” was the foundation of our Christian life. Do you agree with that statement? Why or why not? If you agree, why? 2. Love for our neighbors comes out of a place of overflow from the Lord. How has this been true in your life? Have you experienced difficulty in loving others when you try to do it of your own strength? 3. Andrew discussed how moments with the Lord look differently in different phases of life (fishing, skateboarding, hiking). What do your moments with the Lord look like now? Have they changed in your life? Are there times in your day that you could turn your focus on Him or that you feel Him calling you to give to Him? When you have been willing to turn that time over to Him in the past, how has it changed your attitude towards others and your circumstance? 4. What does the statement, “ Not in a hurry, even in the busyness” mean to you? Do you feel that you are capable of shifting your mindset to this type of attitude? Why or why not? 5. Why is self-hatred a tool of the enemy? What power do we have against those attacks? How have you seen self-hatred rob you or someone else? 6. The Samaritan showed love to the Jewish man on the road with his time, treasure, and talent. Why is it important to include all three of these and not just rush through helping others to check a box? How have you seen the Lord bless when you are willing to slow down and invest your time and energy into getting to know the person or people you are trying to help?