500 Reasons Week 2 – Discussion Guide
Getting Started
Main Idea:
Don’t let moments of invitation become memories of silence.
Discussion Starter:
Have you ever been helped by a good Samaritan? Share your story.
Introduction:
This week Pastor Chris preached on the parable of the Good Samaritan. Dr. Martin Luther King mentioned this parable in his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” speech the day before he was assassinated. Dr. King said this about the road between Jerusalem and Jericho:
That’s a dangerous road. In the days of Jesus it came to be known as the “Bloody Pass.” And you know, it’s possible that the priest and the Levite looked over that man on the ground and wondered if the robbers were still around. Or it’s possible that they felt that the man on the ground was merely faking. And he was acting like he had been robbed and hurt, in order to seize them over there, lure them there for quick and easy seizure. And so the first question that the priest asked — the first question that the Levite asked was, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me?” But then the Good Samaritan came by. And he reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”
Do we stop to help others and tell them about Jesus? Who are you bringing to Easter at Faith Promise?
Encounter God
Primary Scripture: Luke 10:25-37
Discussion Questions:
1. When we see someone hurting we can respond in many different ways. We may feel they deserve what they got because of the choices they made. We may feel afraid that we could also be hurt if we get too close. We may feel like being a hero and try to save them. What is your response when you observe someone hurting or in trouble? Does your response differ depending on your relationship to the hurting person?
2. The innkeeper had to have faith that the Samaritan would return and repay him. Do we have faith that God will provide? Share a story of how God has provided for your needs.
3. What is Jesus’ command at the end of this parable? How can we obey this command today?
Discovery Bible Method:
For deeper study, as an alternative to the questions above, read Luke 10:25-37 and use the Discovery Bible Method to explore the passage.
Embrace Others
Suggestion: Consider breaking the group into dyads or triads for this section.
Have you had any “moments of invitation” this week? Have there been opportunities to share your faith? Did you take those opportunities? Why or why not?
Engage the World Around Us
Engaging at Faith Promise: Easter is coming and there will be many extra services at Faith Promise. Can you sign up to serve at one of these services?
Engaging in Community: Visit the Faith Promise local missions page at https://faithpromise.org/love-local and find a ministry that your group can do together.
Engaging the World: Visit the Faith Promise missions page and look at the upcoming mission trip opportunities. Are you interested in going on a mission trip? Can you support someone else financially so that they can go? Pray for the teams serving on these trips.
Expand God’s Kingdom
Who are you bringing to Easter at Faith Promise? Pray as a group for opportunity to invite and to share God’s love with those around you.
Leader’s Notes
For the full text and audio recording of Dr. King’s speech see http://www.americanrhetoric.com/speeches/mlkivebeentothemountaintop.htm
2. See Philippians 4:19.
3. “Go and do the same.” That is, show mercy.
ALL groups at Faith Promise should participate in ALL 4 characteristics of a disciple of Christ (encountering God, embracing others, engaging the world, and expanding God’s Kingdom). However, each individual group may be primarily focused on one of these “Es” for a season, or for the life of that particular group. Below is an explanation of each type of group.
– Encounter Groups: the primary focus of Encounter Groups is the deeper study and application of God’s Word.
– Embrace Groups: the primary focus of Embrace Groups is making friends and being friends on a deeper level.
– Engage Groups: the primary focus of Engage Groups is serving the people of our area through our local partners and through God-directed opportunities.
– Expand Groups: the primary focus of Expand Groups is the development and multiplication of disciple-makers to lead more groups at Faith Promise.
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