Love Where You Live (part 1): Won't You Be Their Neighbor?
#1 A Quiz
To start small group tonight, have your members take a quick quiz. Ask them to write down the names of as many of their neighbors as they can in one minute.
If some members did very well, ask them to share with the group what they've done to get to know the people they live near. Do they have any practical tips to share?
If other members don't do as well, ask why. What's keeping you from getting to know your neighbors?
Is making friends with your neighbors something that comes easily to you?
Later we'll come back to this...
#2 Neighborly
Read Luke 10:25-37 (If most of your group heard the sermon Sunday you can simply have a member summarize the text.)
Think about this question for a minute and then answer together:
- According to Jesus' story, is it convenient to be a good neighbor?
- What kinds of sacrifices might a good neighbor be called upon to make?
- What does a good neighbor prioritize?
Have you ever lived near a good neighbor? What made that person a good neighbor? What does a good neighbor do that you can learn from and copy?
#3 Not Easy
Now (be honest), do you actually want to be a good neighbor? Or do you think it'll be a big hassle?
- Take a moment to vent a little if you need to. Life is hard. God calls us to do a lot. Do you feel like maybe being a good neighbor is just one more thing you won't get right? It's okay to say that to your group. Tell us how you feel...
If members of your group are feeling this way, discuss why and how this CAN be done. Figure out a reason to believe/hope you might be able to do this. Be sure to circle back to depending on God.
One reason it's hard to be a good neighbor is simply that the devil doesn't want you to be one. Pray as a group that you'd be delivered from the evil one and could overcome the temptation to put off interacting with your neighbors.
#4 To-Do List
Now's the part of the night where you get specific. Together with your group make a list of ways you could get to know your neighbor better. Make them specific and actionable. See how many different ideas you can come up with in ten minutes of brainstorming.
Have each group member pick one step from your list and commit to taking that step this week.
Then, pray for each group member by name.
You might have members text the group when they take their step this week.
#5 Personal/Impersonal
What do you think of the following statement?
"A good neighbor always trumps a good program."
Is that true? What does it mean? What does it mean in terms of leading people to Christ?
What does it mean for the body at Round Rock? What will make our body grow most effectively?
#6 An Example
Watch this video of people being good neighbors. You might need a tissue.
http://digitalsynopsis.com/advertising/samsung-hearing-hands-duyan-eller-video-call-center/
Do you have a neighbor who needs help right now? How could you meet his or her immediate needs?
#7 No Harm, No Foul
Read Romans 13:9-11
The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
Love does no harm to a neighbor.
Is there any chance you're doing harm to your literal neighbors? What might that look like? How could you stop?
#8 Weird
Do you have any weird neighbors? For one minute you’re allowed to share one story about a weird neighbor you’ve had.
After that story, identify one or two weird behaviors of your own. What might your neighbors think is weird about you?