Study Questions – Local Matters Sunday (8.1.25)
Local Matters
CGS – Luke 10:25-37
INTRODUCTION: This Sunday (8/3), Pastor Wayne spoke to us about our Local Matters initiative and reminded us that our zip codes aren’t accidental. We are all planted in those zip codes by God in this season of our lives to radiate his goodness and the hope of the gospel in word and deed. Simply, we want to be people who take seriously Jesus’ command to love our neighbors. To do that, we need to embrace the value of purposeful responsiveness. Thinker and theologian Bob Goff helps us to think about being purposefully responsive in his book, Everybody, Always.[1]
In chapter eight, Bob Goff recounts a story centered around an impromptu visit to a pizza restaurant. What begins as a casual moment becomes a striking illustration of what it means to love people spontaneously and sacrificially. Goff notices a young couple at another table, clearly in love but financially limited. Instead of ignoring them, he decides to secretly pay for their meal—just because he can. This small act of generosity becomes a picture of how love, when lived out in the way of Jesus, “does” without hesitation or the need for recognition.
Goff writes, “We don’t need to have all the answers before we decide to love people.” This statement encapsulates the chapter’s theme: love doesn’t require a perfect plan—it just requires action. Too often, people wait to love until it’s safe, convenient, or makes sense. But Goff encourages readers to live with open eyes and open hearts, ready to respond to everyday opportunities to bless others. He adds, “I used to think I needed to invite everyone to my big moments. Now I know it’s better to invite people into my small moments.” The story at the pizza place isn’t about grand heroism; it’s about noticing someone, acting, and expecting nothing in return. That is the kind of love Jesus modeled—quiet, generous, and deeply present. Ultimately, chapter eight reminds readers that love is often most powerful when it is least expected and most unnecessary. It doesn’t wait for approval or praise. It simply shows up—with pizza, with presence, with grace.
In chapter two, Goff writes, “Loving the neighbors we don’t understand takes work and humility and patience and guts.” This quote captures the essence of Christlike love: it is costly, inconvenient, and sometimes even a little awkward. It does not rely on mutual comfort or shared interests but instead grows from a deep conviction that every person is made in the image of God and worthy of love. Carol wasn’t lovable in the world’s eyes—she was unpredictable and emotionally unstable. Yet Goff and his family chose to see her not as a problem, but as a person.
This story echoes Jesus’ command in Luke 10:27 to “love your neighbor as yourself.” When asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered with the parable of the Good Samaritan—highlighting that neighbor-love crosses cultural, emotional, and social boundaries. Goff applies that parable in real life, suggesting that our neighbors are not merely the people who are easy to love or who live on our street; our neighbors are everybody, always.
Remember, your zip code isn’t accidental. God has a plan for you to live out incarnational love so that others would come to follow Jesus in a life-defining way. Or, as we said in our 1 Corinthians series, our lives are to be a billboard for God’s goodness and glory.
GETTING STARTED – As you begin your group time, take time to answer this question together: When has someone extended love and care to you unexpectedly? How did that impact your day and life?
IN THE WORD – Let’s dig back into the passage. It is important to strengthen our muscles in reading God’s Word. On Sunday, we walked through the passage in the sermon. Hopefully, that helped you to see the landmarks of the passage with fresh eyes. Now, with your group, go back through it and see what God is saying to you specifically.
First, before you read the passage, take a moment to ask God’s Spirit to quiet your mind and heart and to illuminate the text to you. Second, read the passage aloud to the group. Then, follow the simple method below. (O.P.A)
Observe: Make 8-10 observations from the passage. Pay close attention to observe and note repeated words and phrases, names, places, and themes.
Principles: From your list of observations, what patterns or big ideas do you see emerging? Can you distill it down into 2-4 big idea truths?
Apply: Moving from your list of principles, it is time to apply God’s Word. Remember, we believe that God’s Word is living and active and that it can change the way we live Monday-Friday. What is one tangible way to apply a truth from your list above?
Note: Another way to approach your time together is to talk through the following questions about the article of faith we are studying that week.
- What did you hear God’s Spirit say to you through the passage this week? How does it encourage you? How does it sharpen you?
- How have you seen God at work in your life this week? Have you enjoyed him? Have you heard his voice and the leading of his Spirit? Big ways or small ways.
- Take time to read the Parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37) and discuss the following questions.
- How does Jesus answer the question, “Who is my neighbor?”
- Why was the Samaritan’s action of love and care so profound?
- As a Christian, what is the source of our love and generosity? How does the fact that we’ve received love from God motivate us to give love to our neighbors?
- What is a tangible way for you to extend love to your neighbors this week?
- Consider a purposefully responsive step via Local Matters: https://ccames.org/localmatters/
[1] Goff, Bob. Everybody, Always: Becoming Love in a World Full of Setbacks and Difficult People. Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2018.