There Goes the Neighborhood: Being a Good Neighbor

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Moves Into the Neighborhood—Transforming How We Neighbor

When Jesus moves into our lives and communities, everything about how we treat others is called to change. His presence sets the standard for how we love, include, and serve those around us, even those we might naturally want to exclude. The call is not to contract God’s kingdom or put up walls, but to expand it—welcoming those we might otherwise keep at a distance. As Jesus “became flesh and dwelt among us,” we are challenged to let His example shape our own approach to being a neighbor, especially to those we find most difficult to love. [57:10]

John 1:14 (ESV)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Reflection: Who is one person you tend to avoid or exclude in your daily life, and what would it look like to intentionally welcome or serve them as if Jesus Himself had moved into your neighborhood?

Day 2: Loving God and Neighbor—The Heart of True Faith

The greatest commandments are to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbor as ourselves. This love is not limited to those who look, think, or live like us, but extends to the stranger, the immigrant, and even those we might consider outsiders. Remembering that we, too, were once strangers and recipients of grace, we are called to extend that same love and hospitality to others, breaking down barriers and expanding the reach of God’s kingdom. [01:00:08]

Deuteronomy 6:5 (ESV)
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might.

Leviticus 19:18, 34 (ESV)
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. ... You shall treat the stranger who sojourns with you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.

Reflection: Is there a “stranger” or outsider in your community whom you have overlooked? How can you show them the same love and welcome that God has shown you?

Day 3: Good Neighbors Show Up in the Lowest Places

Being a good neighbor means showing up for people in their lowest, most vulnerable moments—not just within the church walls, but out in the world where real pain and need exist. It’s easy to serve when it’s convenient or visible, but true godliness is revealed when we step into someone’s suffering, offering compassion and practical help even when it costs us comfort or reputation. The oil and wine we receive in worship are meant to be poured out for the healing of others, wherever we encounter them. [01:16:51]

Luke 10:30-37 (ESV)
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.”

Reflection: When was the last time you stepped into someone’s pain or need outside your comfort zone? What is one practical way you can “carry the oil” of compassion to someone hurting this week?

Day 4: Compassion That Costs—Generosity as the Companion of Care

True compassion is more than a feeling; it is generosity in action. The Samaritan didn’t just feel pity—he paid the cost, funding the wounded man’s recovery and promising to cover any further needs. Compassion that costs nothing is just sympathy, but compassion that opens our hearts and wallets can change lives. God calls us to meet needs when we feel them, to let our care be accompanied by sacrificial generosity, trusting that what we give can be the very means of someone’s healing and hope. [01:31:50]

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (ESV)
Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

Reflection: What is one tangible need—local or global—that you have noticed but not yet acted on? How can you move from feeling compassion to funding or meeting that need this week?

Day 5: Jesus—The Suffering Savior and Compassionate Samaritan

Jesus is both the one who suffered for us and the ultimate Good Samaritan who meets us in our lowest places. He was beaten, stripped, and left for dead, yet He did not pass us by. Instead, He poured out the oil of His Spirit, bound up our wounds, and paid the ultimate price for our healing and salvation. His compassion pursues us, restores us, and calls us to do likewise—to be neighbors who show mercy, even to those we might call enemies, because we have been shown mercy ourselves. [01:39:43]

Isaiah 53:4-5 (ESV)
Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to receive Jesus’ healing compassion today—and how can you extend that same mercy to someone who least expects it?

Sermon Summary

It is a joy to witness a church filled with young people eager to serve, and it’s a reminder of the importance of training up the next generation in the ways of Christ. But as we reflect on what it means to be a neighbor, we must confront the uncomfortable truth that our culture—and even our own hearts—often draw boundaries around who is “in” and who is “out.” Historically, systems like restrictive covenants and HOA fees have been used to exclude, to keep certain people out of neighborhoods. This is not just a relic of the past; it’s a reflection of the human tendency to exclude those we dislike or deem unworthy.

Yet, when Jesus “moved into the neighborhood,” as John 1:14 says, he shattered those boundaries. He set a new standard for what it means to be a neighbor—not just to those we like, but even to those we might consider our enemies. The parable of the Good Samaritan is not just a call to random acts of kindness; it is a radical redefinition of neighborliness. The priest and the Levite, religious insiders, passed by the wounded man, unwilling to let their holiness leave the temple and enter the messiness of real life. The Samaritan, despised and considered an outsider, saw the man’s humanity, entered into his suffering, and acted with costly compassion.

True neighborliness means showing up in the lowest places, not just within the safety of our church walls but out in the world where people are hurting. It means seeing people as human beings made in God’s image, not as problems to be avoided. It means using the “oil and wine” God has given us—our resources, our compassion, our time—not just for ourselves or our church, but for the healing of others, even those we might otherwise avoid.

This kind of love is not theoretical. It is practical, sacrificial, and generous. It is the love that Jesus himself demonstrated, both as the one who suffered and as the one who saves. He did not pass by on the other side; he entered into our suffering, paid the ultimate price, and calls us to “go and do likewise.” The challenge is clear: will we expand God’s kingdom by including those we might want to exclude? Will we act on what we see, and will we feel needs when we feel needs? This is the call of Christ—to be good neighbors, even to our enemies, because that is how the world will know the love of God.

Key Takeaways

1. True Neighborliness Crosses Boundaries Genuine love for neighbor refuses to draw lines of exclusion, whether those lines are based on race, class, politics, or personal preference. The Good Samaritan saw only a human in need, not a category or a problem. We are called to see past our prejudices and to recognize the image of God in every person, especially those we are tempted to avoid or exclude. [57:56]
2. Compassion Requires Action, Not Just Emotion It is not enough to feel sympathy or pity; compassion moves us to enter into the suffering of others and to act for their good. The priest and Levite saw the wounded man but did nothing, while the Samaritan’s compassion led him to bind wounds, give resources, and ensure ongoing care. Our faith is proven not by what we feel, but by what we do for those in need. [79:09]
3. Holiness Must Leave the Temple Spiritual devotion that never leaves the sanctuary is incomplete. The oil and wine of our worship are meant to be poured out in the streets, workplaces, and neighborhoods where real pain exists. If our service is confined to Sunday mornings, we miss the heart of God, who calls us to carry his healing presence into the world. [81:08]
4. Generosity Is the Companion of Compassion Compassion that costs us nothing is mere sentiment. The Samaritan’s care was costly—he opened his wallet as well as his heart. True love for neighbor is willing to pay the price, whether in time, resources, or comfort, to see others restored and made whole. [91:50]
5. Jesus Is Both Sufferer and Samaritan Ultimately, Jesus is the one who entered our lowest place, suffered for us, and paid the price for our healing. He is the neighbor who did not pass us by, but came near, bound our wounds, and welcomed us into his kingdom. Our call to be good neighbors flows from his example and his grace toward us. [96:40]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[51:34] - Celebrating Young People Serving
[52:09] - The Pain of HOA Fees and Exclusion
[53:30] - Restrictive Covenants and Racism
[54:58] - Who Do We Exclude?
[56:39] - Jesus Moves Into the Neighborhood
[57:56] - God’s Standard for Neighboring
[59:31] - Who Is My Neighbor?
[61:23] - Loving the Stranger and the Immigrant
[62:41] - Good Neighbors Show Up in Low Places
[65:47] - Passing By on the Other Side
[68:51] - The Levite’s Missed Opportunity
[70:42] - The Samaritan’s Compassion
[73:14] - Seeing Humanity, Not Labels
[77:41] - Acting on What We See
[81:08] - Carrying the Oil Outside the Church
[83:31] - Serving as a True Neighbor
[89:51] - Feeling Needs When You Feel Needs
[91:50] - Compassion and Generosity
[96:40] - Jesus: Sufferer, Samaritan, and Savior
[100:53] - Closing and Invitation

Bible Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: “There Goes the Neighborhood”

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### Bible Reading

Luke 10:25–37 (ESV) — The Parable of the Good Samaritan

> 25 And behold, a lawyer stood up to put him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How do you read it?” 27 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.” 28 And he said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this, and you will live.” 29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 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. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion. 34 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. 35 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.’ 36 Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?” 37 He said, “The one who showed him mercy.” And Jesus said to him, “You go, and do likewise.”

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### Observation Questions

In the parable, what actions did the priest and the Levite take when they saw the wounded man, and what reason did the sermon give for their behavior? [[06:13]]
What did the Samaritan do differently from the priest and the Levite when he encountered the wounded man? [[01:10:42]]
According to the sermon, what is significant about the oil and wine that the Samaritan used to care for the wounded man? [[01:20:29]]
How did Jesus answer the lawyer’s question, “Who is my neighbor?” and what was the main point Jesus was making? [[01:01:56]]

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### Interpretation Questions

The priest and Levite had just finished serving in the temple but chose not to help the wounded man. What does this suggest about the difference between religious activity and true neighborly love? [[01:06:35]]
The sermon points out that the Samaritan saw the wounded man’s humanity, not his background or label. Why is it important to see people as human beings made in God’s image, especially those we might want to avoid? [[01:13:14]]
The Samaritan’s compassion led him to take practical, costly action. What does this teach about the relationship between compassion and generosity? [[01:31:50]]
The sermon says Jesus is both the sufferer and the Samaritan in the story. How does this shape our understanding of what it means to be a neighbor? [[01:36:40]]

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### Application Questions

The sermon talked about how we sometimes draw boundaries around who we consider “in” or “out.” Are there people or groups you tend to avoid or exclude, even unintentionally? What would it look like to cross those boundaries this week? [[54:58]]
The priest and Levite kept their “holiness” inside the temple and didn’t let it affect their actions outside. Are there ways you keep your faith inside the church walls instead of letting it shape how you treat people in everyday life? What’s one way you can carry your “oil and wine” into your neighborhood or workplace this week? [[01:21:08]]
The Samaritan’s compassion cost him time, resources, and comfort. Is there a situation or person in your life right now where you feel called to show costly compassion? What’s holding you back, and what step could you take? [[01:31:50]]
The sermon challenged us to “act on what we see.” Think of a recent time you noticed someone in need. Did you act, or did you pass by? What would you do differently if you had another chance? [[01:17:41]]
The story of Mr. Rogers washing Officer Clemens’ feet was used as an example of radical neighborliness. Is there someone in your life who needs to experience that kind of unexpected kindness from you? What’s a practical way you could serve them this week? [[01:26:15]]
The sermon said Jesus didn’t pass us by but entered into our suffering. How does remembering what Jesus has done for you motivate you to be a better neighbor to others, even those you find difficult? [[01:36:40]]
The challenge was given to “expand God’s kingdom by including those we might want to exclude.” What is one specific step you can take this month to include someone who is often left out or overlooked? [[57:56]]

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Sermon Clips

But what if they were Jesus? What if Jesus came and moved into your space? What if Jesus came and moved into your neighborhood? I don't have to worry about that being a hypothetical because the Apostle John says that's exactly what he did. John chapter 1 verse 14 says that the word Jesus became flesh and he dwelt among us. Eugene Peterson says this in the message version. He says he became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood. And when Jesus moves in the neighborhood, everything about how you neighbor, everything about how you treat the people around you should change. [00:56:39] (50 seconds) #JesusInTheNeighborhood

So this morning, I just came to remind you that the Messiah's moving trucks have rounded the corner. That the president of the kingdom homeowners association has showed up to remind you that you're supposed to be a good neighbor. And despite how I feel, Jesus is the one who sets the standard on how I should treat my neighbors. He sets the standard on who's in and who's out. And he sets the standard, listen to me, on how you should treat the person that you dislike the most. Because when Jesus comes through, there goes the neighborhood. [00:57:29] (47 seconds) #MessiahSetsTheStandard

God calls every one of us to be a good neighbor even to your worst enemy. Because how you treat the people around you tells others about how you feel about the God who sits above you. When you leave here today, I want you to be able to go further in expanding God's kingdom to include the people that you might want to exclude. There are some people that you say, I don't really want to see you on the other side of glory. But God is calling us to be better neighbors. [00:58:32] (45 seconds) #ExpandGodsKingdom

God says when you strip all the things that you identify somebody as, the one thing that's left is that that person is just a human being created in God's image. And if you can't see that person as human, you'll never find your way to serve that person. So we're always looking for ways to dehumanize someone else. Oh, they're a Republican. I don't deal with them. Oh, they're a Democrat. I don't deal with them. That's what we do in our culture. But the Samaritan says, all I need to know, is he human? [01:13:14] (40 seconds) #ActOnWhatYouSee

Because you can't help what you can't see. Here's the problem. The priest and the Levite saw him too. Look at verse 31 and 32. It says, the priest saw him, the Levite saw him, but only the Samaritan acted on what he saw. Why is that? Because the priest and the Levite saw a problem and not the person. Oh, we do that all the time. That same person we saw at the stoplight. Our first question isn't, how can I help this person? What did they do to get here? [01:18:03] (44 seconds) #GoAndDoLikewise

But God says, I want you to see the person and not the problem. Because if we see them as a problem, they become less human than they actually are. The Samaritan sees this man as a person. The text says he has compassion on him. The word compassion literally means he suffers with him. He enters into this man's suffering and suffers with the man. That's what compassion is. Compassion is, I'm going to enter into this suffering with you and suffer with you. [01:18:55] (43 seconds) #SufferingSaviorAndSamaritan

This Samaritan said when I come back whatever you charge I'm willing to pay. Because there's not anything that I'm not willing to pay to see this man be healed. He didn't care what it costs. He said this man is worth it no matter what the cost is. This Samaritan opened his heart but he also opened his wallet. for him compassion actually had a companion it's called generosity. His compassion led to care which led him to paying the cost to be a good neighbor. [01:30:40] (44 seconds)

You know it said that compassion that costs you nothing is just sympathy. It's one thing to feel needs emotionally but it's another thing to go out and feel that need yourself. And family if we're going to talk about this Samaritan feeling needs we can't walk past the need that I think is right in front of us. Jesus says the Samaritan didn't just feel compassion he funded it and because he funded it a life was literally saved. [01:31:20] (41 seconds)

They struck him. Pilate flogged him. And those same priests and Levites passed by on the other side. He's a suffering savior. But that's where the comparisons end. This Samaritan was left half dead. But my Bible says that on one Friday my savior didn't half die. It says that he said it is finished and he hung his head and he died. He died for your sins. He died for your wounds. He's a suffering sovereign savior who joins you in your suffering. [01:37:22] (53 seconds)

He didn't move away from me but he pursued me and came closer to me. He's the one who took the wounds that were meant for me. The one who takes the oil of his spirit and pours it over our brokenness. This Samaritan I'm talking about as a Samaritan who can bind up what life has bruised. He's the one who climbed off his heavenly high horse and took on the form of a servant and became obedient to the point of death even death on the cross. [01:39:07] (43 seconds)

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