Sermon Companion
Big Idea for the Week:
Jesus doesn't just ask us to identify our neighbors. He calls us to become the kind of people who love our neighbors.
Monday – Love Has a Cost
Read: Luke 10:25–28
“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.” — Luke 10:27
Devotional
The lawyer came to Jesus with a question that sounded spiritual, but Luke tells us he was actually testing Jesus.
He asked, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus eventually brought him to the heart of God's law: Love God and love your neighbor.
That sounds simple—until you actually try to live it.
Loving your neighbor is rarely convenient. It may cost you time. It may cost you money. It may interrupt your plans. It may require you to enter someone else's mess.
That's why loving our neighbor can feel overwhelming.
But notice something important: Jesus doesn't give us permission to simply admire the command. He says:
“Do this, and you will live.”
Christianity isn't simply knowing what Jesus said. It's allowing what Jesus said to change what we do.
Ask yourself today:
Am I becoming someone who actually loves people, or am I simply someone who knows that I should?
Cross References
- Deuteronomy 6:4–5
- Leviticus 19:18
- Matthew 22:37–40
- 1 John 4:20–21
- James 1:22
Reflection
What does loving God with your whole life look like for you right now?
Who is someone God may be asking you to love more intentionally?
What might loving that person cost you?
Prayer
God, help me move beyond simply knowing Your commands to actually living them. Give me eyes to see the people You have placed around me and the courage to love them even when it costs me something.
Read: Luke 10:29
“But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’”
Devotional
This might be one of the most human questions in the Bible.
Jesus says, “Love your neighbor.”
And the lawyer responds, essentially:
“Okay, but exactly who counts?”
We do this too.
When obedience becomes uncomfortable, we tend to redefine the command.
We ask:
“Does that person really count?”
“Do I really have to help them?”
“What if they brought this on themselves?”
“What if they don't believe what I believe?”
“What if they don't appreciate it?”
“What if I don't have time?”
The lawyer wanted a smaller definition of “neighbor.”
Jesus was about to give him a much bigger one.
The question isn't simply:
“Who qualifies for my love?”
The better question is:
“Am I becoming the kind of person who loves?”
Jesus doesn't allow us to put boundaries around compassion based on someone's worthiness.
Cross References
- Matthew 5:43–48
- Luke 6:27–36
- Romans 12:9–21
- Galatians 6:10
- James 2:8–9
Reflection
Think about the people you naturally find difficult to love.
What excuses do you find yourself making about them?
Ask God to show you whether you've created a definition of “neighbor” that is smaller than Jesus' definition.
Prayer
Jesus, forgive me for the times I've tried to redefine Your commands when obedience became uncomfortable. Give me Your heart for people—even people who are different from me, difficult for me, or people I don't naturally choose.
Read: Luke 10:30–32
“Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side.”
Devotional
The priest and the Levite knew the Law.
They knew what God had commanded.
But knowing the command and obeying the command are two different things.
There may have been legitimate reasons they didn't stop. Perhaps they were concerned about ceremonial uncleanness. Perhaps they thought the scene was a trap. Perhaps they were busy.
And that's exactly what makes this story uncomfortable.
Because our excuses don't always sound evil.
Sometimes they're legitimate.
“I'm busy.”
“I have responsibilities.”
“I have a family.”
“I don't have the resources.”
“Someone else will help.”
And sometimes those things are true.
But Jesus challenges us with this:
We cannot use legitimate responsibilities as an excuse to completely avoid loving people.
We can't help everyone.
But “I can't help everyone” must never become “I will help no one.”
The priest and Levite saw the need.
The Samaritan saw the person.
Cross References
- Isaiah 58:6–10
- Micah 6:8
- Matthew 25:34–40
- James 2:14–17
- 1 John 3:16–18
Reflection
Where might you be tempted to “walk to the other side” today?
Look around you.
Who needs encouragement?
Who is lonely?
Who is hurting?
Who needs practical help?
Who needs someone to simply notice them?
Challenge: Don't just notice someone today. Do something.
Send the text.
Make the phone call.
Buy the meal.
Offer the help.
Sit with them.
Pray with them.
Prayer
Father, give me eyes to see the needs around me. Don't let busyness, fear, inconvenience, or excuses keep me from loving someone You have placed in my path today.
Read: Luke 10:33–34
“But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.”
Devotional
This is the shocking moment in the story.
The hero is a Samaritan.
To Jesus' original audience, that wasn't a heartwarming detail.
It would have been offensive.
The Jews and Samaritans had deep hostility toward one another. Yet the person Jesus' audience would have expected to be the least likely to help becomes the one who does.
Why?
Because he had compassion.
But biblical compassion isn't merely feeling bad for someone.
The Samaritan didn't simply say:
“That's terrible. I hope somebody helps him.”
He moved toward the pain.
He bandaged the wounds.
He touched the blood.
He gave up his animal.
He took the man somewhere safe.
He paid for his care.
Biblical compassion moves.
Sometimes we feel compassion but never act.
Jesus calls us to move beyond feeling something to doing something.
Cross References
- Philippians 2:3–4
- Colossians 3:12
- Matthew 9:36
- Matthew 14:14
- Hebrews 13:1–3
- 1 John 3:17–18
Reflection
Who is hurting around you right now?
What would it look like to move toward their pain instead of simply feeling sorry for them?
Challenge: Ask God, “God, reveal to me who You want me to love and how.”
Then pay attention to what happens today.
Prayer
God, give me compassion that moves. Help me get past awkwardness, inconvenience, and discomfort so that I can love people the way Jesus loves me.
Scripture: Luke 10:34–35
“He went to him and bound up his wounds... Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him.”
Devotional
The Samaritan didn't just give the wounded man a few minutes.
His compassion cost him something.
It cost him:
His convenience.
His comfort.
His time.
His resources.
His money.
The Samaritan even told the innkeeper:
“Whatever more you spend, I will repay you.”
In other words:
“Put it on my tab.”
Your sermon makes an important connection here.
The Good Samaritan becomes a picture of the Gospel.
We were the ones who were helpless.
We were the ones who couldn't fix our own condition.
And Jesus looked at us and essentially said:
“Put it on My tab. I'll pay for it.”
Jesus didn't love us because we were worthy.
He loved us because He is loving.
And because we've received that kind of love, we are called to extend that kind of love.
Cross References
- Romans 5:6–8
- Ephesians 2:4–5
- 2 Corinthians 8:9
- Philippians 2:5–8
- 1 John 4:9–11
Reflection
What has following Jesus cost you?
Have you allowed the generosity of Jesus toward you to make you more generous toward others?
Challenge
Do something generous today that costs you something.
It doesn't have to be dramatic.
Give your time.
Give your money.
Give encouragement.
Give forgiveness.
Give someone your attention.
Prayer
Jesus, thank You that You paid a price I could never pay. Because You have been so generous toward me, make me generous toward others. Help me willingly give my time, resources, comfort, and attention when someone needs love.
Read: Luke 10:36–37
“Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?”
“You go, and do likewise.”
Devotional
The lawyer asked Jesus:
“Who is my neighbor?”
Jesus flipped the question.
He didn't answer:
“Your neighbor is this person, that person, these people, but not those people.”
Instead He asked:
“Which person proved to be a neighbor?”
That's the difference.
The lawyer wanted a definition.
Jesus gave him a mission.
The question isn't simply:
“Who is my neighbor?”
It's:
“Am I being a neighbor?”
And Jesus' command is incredibly simple:
“Go and do likewise.”
Tomorrow you will walk into another week.
You'll go to work.
You'll go to school.
You'll go to the gym.
You'll go to the store.
You'll interact with people.
You'll encounter people who are hurting, lonely, overwhelmed, confused, angry, lost, and searching.
So before you walk out the door, ask God one simple question:
“God, reveal to me who You want me to love and how.”
Then be willing to respond.
Put others first.
Be merciful.
Be hospitable.
Be generous.
Love people toward Jesus.
Because found people find people.
Cross References
- Matthew 28:18–20
- John 13:34–35
- Romans 12:10
- Galatians 5:13–14
- Philippians 2:3–5
- 1 Peter 4:8–10
Reflection
Who has God placed in your path right now?
Who might be your “Good Samaritan opportunity” this week?
What is one specific thing you can do to love that person?
What might you have to sacrifice to do it?
Challenge
Pray this prayer before you begin your day:
“God, reveal to me who You want me to love and how.”
Then don't be surprised if God gives you an opportunity.
Prayer
God, make me the kind of person who loves. Don't just help me identify my neighbor—help me become a neighbor. Give me eyes to see, a heart to care, courage to engage, and generosity to respond. Use me to help someone find and follow Jesus.