Becoming a Neighbor: Living Out God's Love

In a world filled with distraction, division, and distrust, the call to be truly present with God and others is more urgent than ever. The story of the Good Samaritan, though familiar, challenges us to move beyond simply knowing the right answers about love and actually living them out in our daily lives. The heart of the matter is not about defining who qualifies as our neighbor, but about becoming the kind of neighbor who reflects the extravagant, barrier-breaking love of God.

Jesus’ interaction with the expert in the law reveals that loving God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and loving our neighbor as ourselves, is not a checklist for earning God’s favor. Rather, it is a response to the love God has already lavished on us. The lawyer’s attempt to limit the scope of “neighbor” is met by Jesus’ radical redefinition: the neighbor is not determined by proximity, similarity, or even likability, but by our willingness to be present, compassionate, and interruptible for anyone in need.

The Good Samaritan, the unexpected hero, models this kind of love. He is not on a mission to help; he is simply willing to be interrupted, to cross boundaries, and to show mercy to someone who, by all social standards, should have been his enemy. This is a love that is shockingly extravagant, a love that does not ask, “Who is worthy?” but rather, “How can I be a neighbor right here, right now?”

We are invited to see ourselves not just as the helper, but also as the wounded one by the side of the road—broken, in need of grace, and rescued by Jesus, who crossed every barrier to be present with us. In response, we are called to embody that same presence and compassion, not just to those we find easy to love, but to everyone God places in our path. The challenge is to be unhurried, aware, and willing to let our lives be interrupted for the sake of love, trusting that when we show up, God shows up too.

Key Takeaways

• 1. True presence requires being interruptible. The Good Samaritan was not out looking for someone to help; he was simply willing to let his plans be interrupted by the needs of another. In a culture obsessed with productivity and personal agendas, spiritual maturity is often measured by our willingness to pause, notice, and respond to the people God places in our path. This kind of presence is costly, but it is where God’s love is most powerfully displayed. [43:54]
• 2. Love is not a means to earn God’s favor, but a response to God’s love. The lawyer’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” reveals a transactional mindset, but Jesus redirects him to the heart of the gospel: we love because God first loved us. Our acts of compassion flow from the security of being loved, not from anxiety about earning acceptance. This frees us to love extravagantly, without calculation or fear. [38:10]
• 3. The boundaries of “neighbor” are radically expanded in Christ. Jesus refuses to let us limit our compassion to those who are like us, agree with us, or are easy to love. The Samaritan’s care for the wounded man shatters social, religious, and ethnic boundaries, calling us to a love that crosses every dividing line. The question is not, “Who is my neighbor?” but, “What kind of neighbor am I becoming?” [47:44]
• 4. We are all the wounded traveler in need of grace. Before we can truly love others, we must recognize our own need for rescue. Jesus is the ultimate neighbor who crosses the road to bind our wounds, lift us up, and bring us to safety. Remembering our own story of being loved and healed by Christ keeps us humble and fuels our compassion for others. [51:18]
• 5. God’s love is shockingly extravagant and calls us to the same. The Samaritan’s generosity—his time, resources, and willingness to return—mirrors the abundance of God’s grace toward us. We are called to reflect this kind of love in a divided and distracted world, not by seeking out grand gestures, but by being present and compassionate in the ordinary interruptions of daily life. [49:21]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:10] - Series Introduction: The Art of Showing Up
• [03:05] - The Challenge of Being Present
• [06:20] - Jesus and the Expert in the Law
• [10:45] - The Shema and Loving God
• [14:30] - Knowing vs. Doing: The Lawyer’s Dilemma
• [18:50] - The Question: Who Is My Neighbor?
• [21:40] - The Parable of the Good Samaritan
• [28:15] - The Priest and the Levite: Passing By
• [32:40] - The Samaritan’s Compassion
• [41:27] - Crossing Boundaries: The Samaritan’s Example
• [43:54] - The Power of Being Interruptible
• [47:12] - Jesus’ Question: What Kind of Neighbor Are You?
• [49:21] - The Gospel in the Good Samaritan
• [51:18] - Jesus as the Ultimate Neighbor
• [54:26] - God’s Love Breaks Down Barriers
• [55:36] - Living Out God’s Love in Our Community
• [57:10] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Luke 10:25-37 (ESV) — > And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” And he answered, “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.” And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.”
> But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
> Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. He went to him and bound up his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he set him on his own animal and brought him to an inn and took care of him. And the next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper, saying, ‘Take care of him, and whatever more you spend, I will repay you when I come back.’
> Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

Observation Questions

1. What question does the lawyer ask Jesus at the beginning of the story, and what is Jesus’ response? ([06:20])
2. How does the lawyer try to limit the definition of “neighbor,” and how does Jesus respond to that? ([18:50])
3. What actions did the priest, the Levite, and the Samaritan each take when they saw the wounded man? ([28:15])
4. What details in the story show that the Samaritan’s care was “shockingly extravagant”? ([42:51])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jesus chose a Samaritan—someone despised by the Jewish audience—as the hero of the story? What point was he making about love and boundaries? ([41:27])
2. The sermon says the Samaritan was “willing to be interrupted.” Why is being interruptible so important for loving others well? ([43:54])
3. The lawyer wanted to “justify himself” by narrowing the definition of neighbor. What does this reveal about his heart and about human nature in general? ([18:50])
4. The sermon suggests we are not just called to be the helper, but also to see ourselves as the wounded traveler. How does this perspective change the way we view Jesus and our need for grace? ([51:18])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to be “unhurried, aware, and willing to let our lives be interrupted for the sake of love.” Think about your daily routine—where are you most likely to miss opportunities to be present with others? What is one practical step you could take this week to be more interruptible? ([43:54])
2. The Samaritan didn’t ask if the wounded man was “worthy” of help. Is there someone in your life you find hard to love or help? What would it look like to cross a boundary for them this week? ([47:44])
3. The lawyer’s question, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” shows a transactional mindset. Do you ever find yourself trying to “earn” God’s love or approval? How can you remind yourself that love is a response to God’s grace, not a way to earn it? ([38:10])
4. The sermon says, “We are all the wounded traveler in need of grace.” Can you share a time when you felt broken or in need, and someone showed up for you? How did that experience shape your view of God’s love? ([51:18])
5. The Good Samaritan’s love was costly—he gave his time, resources, and promised to return. What is one way you could reflect this kind of generosity in your relationships or community this week? ([49:21])
6. The story ends with Jesus saying, “Go and do likewise.” What is one specific way you can “show up” for someone in your path this week, even if it’s inconvenient? ([47:12])
7. The sermon mentions that God’s love “breaks down barriers.” Are there any barriers—prejudices, fears, or past hurts—that keep you from loving certain people? What would it look like to invite God to help you break down one of those barriers? ([54:26])