May 1 | Discovery

Study Questions for Groups

1. In the course of obeying God over the past week, did anyone comment (favorably or negatively) on your Christlike behavior? Would you share what happened?

2. With whom did you share or show that “love is greater than laws” and/or “people are more important than procedures” over the past week. Tell us about that.

Ask two people to read aloud Luke 10:25-37 one after the other, preferably from different Bible versions. Then ask a third person to retell the passages in their own words in a minute or less.

3. What stands out in this famous “parable of the good Samaritan” passage, perhaps for the first time?

4. Let’s dig deeper:

• The expert in the law tried to justify himself before Jesus. Why is that a bad idea?

• What elements in this parable are real? What elements might be classified as fictional?

• The priest and the Levite would both be considered “religious.” How does this parable show us that being religious is not enough in God’s eyes?

• Based on this parable, who is your neighbor?

• In what specific ways did the Samaritan show compassion to the man who was robbed?

• In what ways can taking “pity” and taking “care” of someone in need be a form of loving God “with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind” and loving “your neighbor as yourself”?

5. What do you learn about God from this passage?

6. What do you learn about people?

7. Jesus gave a simple command: “Go and do likewise.” How will you obey that command?

8. With whom will you share the messages from this passage this week?

9. Based on our study and discussion, complete this sentence: “This week, I will . . .”

10. How do you need mercy or care this week?

For Next Week: Read and reflect on Luke 12:13-34 as we continue studying some of Jesus’ parables. You can also read next week’s supplemental texts as well as the Study and Application sections as part of your personal study.