CONNECT
1. If new people have joined your group, take time to introduce yourselves to each other.
2. What’s one small act of compassion that has stuck with you over the years?
3. Who has been a merciful person in your life? Explain.

PRAY
Spend a few minutes quieting your hearts and turning your attention toward God. Allow time for people to voice their prayers (open to anyone who wants to chime in), using these prayer prompts as a guide:

God, I thank You for…
God, we pray for Brookwood that…
God, we pray for our community that…
God, we pray that during our time together You would…

Add your own words of prayer and praise.

We must learn to regard people less in the light of what they do or omit to do, and more in the light of what they suffer.
– Dietrich Bonhoeffer

SCRIPTURE MEMORY
Memorizing Scripture enables us to carry within us the life-giving, life-shaping words of God at all times in all places. Here’s a verse to memorize based on this week’s teaching:

“You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.”
Luke 6:36 (NLT)

STUDY AND DISCUSSION
▶️ Don’t worry about getting to all the questions. That’s not the point. Be thoughtful and prayerful. Let the Holy Spirit guide your reflection and discussion.

▶️ If your group has eight or more people, it might be helpful to break into circles of four or five for greater participation and deeper discussion. When you come back together, invite each group to share a few takeaways from their conversation.

You might have different people read:
10:25-28 (the lawyer’s question)
10:29-35 (the parable)
10:36-37 (Jesus’ conclusion)

1. Why did the expert in the law ask Jesus about inheriting eternal life?

2. What do you notice about the way Jesus responded?

3. How is eternal life related to loving God and loving your neighbor?

4. Why did the man ask the follow-up question, “who is my neighbor?”

5. Why did Jesus choose a priest and a Levite to be the ones who passed by the man who needed help? What point was He trying to make?

6. What’s significant about Jesus choosing a Samaritan as the hero of the story? How does this challenge cultural or personal biases?

7. What do you notice about the way the Samaritan cared for the man?

8. Describe a time you experienced or witnessed this kind of tender care and compassion.

9. What keeps us from seeing the needs of others? How can we fight against this?

10. Who in your world is hurting? How is God calling you to tend to their need?

11. Jesus’ compassion is fully available to us. Now. Always. How do you need Him to care for you?

12. There’s so much need in our community and among many of our own friends and family, it can often feel overwhelming. What can you do to get started? What can you do as a group?

THE BIG TAKEAWAY
After this week’s lesson, what’s one thought, question or takeaway you’re sitting with right now? Pause and ask God what He wants you to know or think about. Allow time for Him to speak, being sensitive to thoughts that come to mind. Growing often comes by simply making yourself available to God.

PRAY
Invite someone to close your time in prayer.

App and the Daily Devotional
Spend time with God with the Daily Devotionals available on the App. You can also find Sunday Message resources and videos, leave prayer requests, give and more.

Why Jesus?
If you’ve never experienced God’s forgiveness and grace, we’d love the opportunity to talk with you about a life-changing relationship with Jesus. Email thepastors@brookwoodchurch.org or call 864.688.8200.

Additional Study Tools
For additional Bible Study tools, guides and devotionals, check out bible.com, youversion.com, biblegateway.com and blueletterbible.org.