Message Notes for September 12, 2021
Series: Neighborliness, Title: Love like Jesus

Key Verse: Mark 12:28-31 (ESV) And one of the scribes came up and heard them disputing with one another, and seeing that he answered them well, asked him, “Which commandment is the most important of all?” 29 Jesus answered, “The most important is, ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. 30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ 31 The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

Neighborliness = to care for my neighbor with the same sacrificial love that Jesus cared for me

What I learned from this study on the meaning of neighbor…
Notes:

This understanding of neighbor is different from my previous understanding in the following ways…
Notes:

The power to love my neighbor as myself comes from these two ways:

Loving God
1 John 4:7-11

Loving the oneness of His creation
Genesis 1:27

Family/Group Study Notes for September 12, 2021
Series: Neighborliness, Title: Love like Jesus

Who do you think of when you think of neighbor? How are your neighbors similar or dissimilar to you?
God’s definition of neighbor includes everyone. If everyone is our neighbor, what methods has Satan used to divide us, classify us, and make us fearful of each other? What can the Christian do to change this?
Read Mark 12:28-31. What is the question being asked and why? How does this two-part commandment sum up all of God’s desire for us in this world? Discuss together each aspect of loving God – heart, mind, soul, strength. What distracts each aspect from loving God in that area? What re-focusing would bring this commandment into more reality in your life?
Read Luke 10:29-37. How was this image of neighbor dissimilar to the one helping the neighbor? In this passage, Jesus not only helps us understand that anyone from any nationality or social need is our neighbor, but also emphasizes for Jesus followers to intentionally neighbor those different and in need. How could you begin to learn more about this kind of neighbor in your world and walk beside them in support and care?
Jesus shares two things that the man did – he showed compassion and he gave mercy. What do those words mean to you as you see need, brokenness and division in our world?
Read 1 John 4:16-21. What happens when we spend time with God? What does God help us to do? How does the love of God in us help remove fear from learning and helping our neighbors? What stands out for you the most in this passage?
What have you learned in this study that you want to put into action? Gather with those in your group and pray over this next move.