Reach Sunday – Study Questions
Love the Sojourner
Deut. 10:12-22
Speaker: Brad Wos (EFCA Central District – Multi Cultural and All Peoples Director)
INTRODUCTION: Reach Sunday is a time for us to focus as a body on the outward call for us as a church and as individual Christians, that is, the call of the Great Commission (Matt. 28:18-20). As a church, we believe in the importance of that call and the responsibility of believers to engage it as Jesus commanded. That means that we look for opportunities to share the gospel in the everyday places that we go and to join in gospel-advancing work to the ends of the earth. We join in that “ends of the earth” work by praying for, financially supporting, and going to serve alongside global partners for short periods of time. We also join God in his Great Commission Calling on our lives when we love the sojourner in our own neighborhoods and communities.
GETTING STARTED – As you get started in your group time, share about a time that someone went out of their way to love you. How did they do that? And, how did it impact you?
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?
One of the ways that we can think about application is by asking the question, how am I loving my neighbors? Here are a few simple ways to do that:[1]
1. Pray for them by name.
It will help you to talk to God about your neighbor before you talk to your neighbor about God. Add their names to your personal prayer list immediately after you meet them.
2. Stop and say hello.
When Jesus spoke to a sinful Samaritan woman at the public water well, his disciples were uncomfortable. No respectable rabbi should be seen talking to such a naughty neighbor! They all had a lot to unlearn.
Immediately after his conversation with this woman, Jesus told his disciples, “Open your eyes and look at the fields, because they are ready for harvest.” (John 4:35)
A friend of God will also be a friend of sinners.
3. Meet a tangible need.
In Luke’s version of the Great Commandment conversation, the scribe asked, “Who is my neighbor?” (Luke 10:29). He seemed to be looking for a loophole. The parable of the Good Samaritan was Jesus’ response to his question – and ours. Have you ever identified with the dismissive priest or Levite in that parable? I sure have!
Sometimes loving our neighbors is as simple as meeting a need. It could be mowing a neighbor’s lawn or taking out their trash. A couple in our small group recently assisted an elderly neighbor whose husband died by rallying other neighbors to do the same.
4. Give a holiday gift.
When Janet and I delivered some poinsettias to our nearest neighbors last December, one of those neighbors surprised me the next day with a pen he made for me from a fallen cherry tree in our yard.
“The goodwill of a neighbor is often more important than the love of a brother.” – Ambrose
5. Throw a party in your yard.
Last month, Janet and I threw a simple s’mores party in our backyard and it was a hit! We went door to door inviting people from every house we could see from our front door. Seven families showed up, most of whom had never met each other. (Fortunately, no kids fell in the fire pit!)
6. Host a reception in your home.
Matthew famously did this with his IRS co-workers, and Jesus was right in the middle of them. We have not done this yet, but we have plans to.
“When it comes to sharing the Gospel, Southern Baptists should do whatever they can to reach lovingly into the lives of people who don’t know Jesus, even if that process is uncomfortable.” – J.D. Greear, SBC President
[1] https://voices.lifeway.com/discipleship-evangelism/8-basic-ways-to-love-your-neighbors/