Scripture
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”—Luke 10:36-37
Today, Marc reminds us that the central Commandment, found in Deuteronomy 6:5 is, “And you will love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your strength.” He then punctuates this truth with how we go about doing that, which is found in Leviticus 19:18, by “loving your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus’ contemporaries understood that verse this way: “And you will love your neighbor who is like yourself.”
In this teaching, Marc brings home the reality that you and I are more alike than either of us is like God, and between me and God stands you! And the way that I relate to you, God will relate to me. Therefore, if I want mercy from God, I show mercy to others. Jesus even said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.”
Question: Who do you need to be seeing that you usually pass by? Who do you need to find patience with that you typically don’t tolerate well? Who do you need to be loving, so that the people around you can honestly believe that you love God with all your heart, soul, and strength?
Family Chat: What does it look like when kids hate you at school? What would it look like to love them even though they do that?
Take Action: Whether virtually or in person, meet with your small group this week and talk through both the questions you’ve answered this week and the challenges you have faced (or are still facing!) as you follow Jesus. Be honest about what’s worked for you and areas where you may have missed the mark.
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Scripture
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ but I say to you, “Love your enemies and pray for those that persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven, for He makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends his rain on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you salute only your brother, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” —Matthew 5:43-48
In today’s teaching, Marc introduces us to the most radical statement that Jesus ever made. When Jesus quoted Leviticus 19:18, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” in the context of the day it was understood as, “Love your neighbor who is like yourself.”
You see, you and I are more alike than either of us is like God! And in the way that I treat you, God will treat me.
Jesus’s most radical call is a command to love those who hate us. If we who are followers of Jesus would simply live this out, we would solve the issues that tear apart our world today.
Question: Think for a moment about a person in your life who you have a really hard time with, maybe even they hate you! Can you pray for them right now?
Family Chat: What does it look like when kids hate you at school? What would it look like to love them even though they do that?
Take Action: What do you need to do today to be obedient to the words of Jesus and love those who hate you?
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Scripture
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “What is written in the Law?” he replied. “How do you read it?” He answered, “ ‘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, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” “You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.” But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’ “Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?” The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.” Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” – Luke 10:25-37
In today’s video, Marc tells about a moment when Jesus takes a lawyer’s question and flips it on its head. At the conclusion of telling this story, he asked the lawyer, “Who proved neighbor?” In other words, Jesus did not allow the lawyer—nor does he allow us—to draw lines that define insiders and outsiders.
We are to be merciful to everyone. We are to love our neighbor, even those who are outside of our spheres of influence. And the lawyer responded with, “The one who showed mercy,” to which Jesus concluded by saying, “Go and do likewise.”
Question: Who is someone outside of your circle who could be touched by God’s mercy today? Who is the one person who needs the most mercy from you? What is the best way you can show mercy-filled love to them in today’s tense climate?
Family Chat: What does a good friend look like? Which comes first: having a good friend or being a good friend? How can you be a good friend?
Take Action: Go and be the neighbor.
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Scripture
“Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.—Matthew 7:1-5
In today’s devo, Tanner talks about a time when he did something wrong that hurt others, and he should have been judged, but he was treated with mercy and grace!
Beyond the moment of our redemption and our salvation, Jesus is calling us to live a radically different life that demonstrates mercy and grace towards others—even when they don’t deserve it—as God himself has shown towards us.
Tanner invites you to look for an opportunity this week when maybe somebody in your life who doesn’t even deserve a second chance, you choose to hold onto an attitude of forgiveness, allowing the light of Christ to shine through you, so that you become a witness through not just your words but also your actions—the most powerful way to bring people to Jesus!
Question: Do you find yourself showing mercy towards others? Or would you say you generally lean towards judging others?
Family Chat: When you get in trouble, why is your first response to say, “but he…” or “but she…”? Tell them about Jesus’ instruction to first look at the log in your eye before the speck in your brother/sister’s eye (You should laugh. It’s a funny word picture.)
Take Action: Look for an opportunity this week to extend mercy and grace toward someone, regardless of whether or not they deserve a second chance. Choose to forgive them this week, having the same attitude that Christ has towards you.
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Scripture
So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.—Matthew 7:12
Too often in our world today, our focus is on “me” at the center of the universe: how does this affect me? How did that person treat me? How does that social media post impact me?
Jesus, however, challenges us to think about treating others the way we want to be treated. This certainly affects our relationships, but it also affects our relationship with God! How we treat others is how God will treat us!
In Matthew 5:7 Jesus says, “Be merciful, and you will receive mercy;” and in Matthew 6:14 he says, “Forgive, and you will be forgiven.” It’s a sobering reminder.
Question: Who can you think about that you might need to forgive from your heart? Who comes to mind who may need to forgive you for the way you’ve treated them? Are you paying close attention to how you treat others, whether friends, family, strangers on the road, or people at work? Would you be comfortable with God treating you the same way?
Family Chat: What’s the “Golden Rule”? When [fill this in with a common source of conflict at your house], what would you want the other person to do? So, according to Jesus, what should YOU do?
Take Action: When someone wrongs you or cuts you off in traffic this week, be merciful! When someone does or says something that you find offensive, forgive them and let it go. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what one percent adjustment you need to make today in the way you treat others. Journal about your experiences. Talk to your life group about it.
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Scripture
The Parable of the Lost Sheep
“Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Doesn’t he leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? And when he finds it, he joyfully puts it on his shoulders and goes home. Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent.
The Parable of the Lost Coin
“Or suppose a woman has ten silver coins and loses one. Doesn’t she light a lamp, sweep the house and search carefully until she finds it? And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.’ In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
In today’s video, Marc explains that Jesus belonged to a stream of piety within ancient Judaism that saw the value of a single individual to God, illustrating this idea with two little parables in Luke 15 of the lost sheep and the lost coin.
Marc tells a story of watching a shepherd in Israel stop and wait for a lamb to catch up to the flock when separated from them by a group of tourists! Just as this shepherd values that one sheep, so indeed does our Father value even one lost person.
Marc challenges us to be honest about how we view these two parables. We love to think about ourselves being the one that God values and goes after. But what if you were part of the 99, and your neighbor, or coworker, or someone you may not like is the person God sees as the one?
Question: Are you the 99, or are you the one? If you are not confident in your relationship with God, text NEXT to 88000. We would love to help you take your next step with Jesus!
Family Chat: What does it feel like to lose something important? Tell your kids the story of the Lost Coin, and remind them that is how Jesus feels about them and about people.
Take Action: If you answered you are the 99 in that question, ask the Holy Spirit to create a divine appointment or two for you this week, so that you can boldly share with others what God has done for you.
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