BRBC Bible Notes

Week by week, we post notes based on the theme of the Sunday service, so that people can follow them in their own personal devotions, in prayer triplets, or in the church life groups.

Parables Bible Studies 

Bible Study # 1 : "Who Is My Neighbour?"

Living the Heart of the Good Samaritan

Main Passage:
Luke 10:25–37 (The Parable of the Good Samaritan)

Purpose of the Study
This Bible study is designed to:

• Encourage believers to live out compassionate love.
• Strengthen the local church in its mission to be a light in the community.
• Challenge each person to examine their heart, biases, and call to action.

Opening Prayer
“Lord, open our hearts to Your Word. Challenge us to see with Your eyes, love with Your heart, and serve with Your hands. Teach us what it means to be a true neighbour. Amen.”

1. Read the Passage: Luke 10:25–37
Ask someone to read it aloud slowly. Then ask the group to sit in silence for a moment and reflect.

2. Context and Summary
Jesus tells this story in response to a religious expert who asks, "What must I do to inherit eternal life?" and then, seeking to justify himself, asks, "And who is my neighbour?"
In response, Jesus paints a powerful picture of love that crosses ethnic, religious, and social boundaries. The hero is not the priest or Levite—figures of religious authority—but a Samaritan, a cultural and spiritual outsider, who shows compassion and mercy.

3. Key Themes and Reflections
A. Compassion Beyond Convenience

• The priest and Levite likely had reasons not to stop (ritual purity, fear, inconvenience), but Jesus highlights the Samaritan’s interruptible love.
• Reflection Question: When has compassion been inconvenient for you? What keeps us from helping others?
• Quote: “You can always give without loving, but you can never love without giving.” — Amy Carmichael
• Related Scripture:

 

Philippians 2:4 – “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”
James 2:15–17 – “If a brother or sister is poorly clothed… and you say, ‘Go in peace…’ but give them nothing…”

B. Love That Crosses Boundaries

• The Samaritan and the injured man may have been from opposing communities, yet compassion bridged the divide.
• Jesus is calling His followers to love beyond comfort zones—across race, politics, class, and even into ‘enemy territory’.
• Reflection Question: Who are the modern-day “Samaritans” in our community? Who do we struggle to love?
• Quote: “Our love to God is measured by our everyday fellowship with others and the love it displays.” — Andrew Murray
• Related Scripture:

Galatians 3:28 – “There is neither Jew nor Greek… for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
1 John 4:20 – “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar…” 

C. Loving with Action, Not Just Words

• The Samaritan doesn’t just feel compassion—he acts: bandages, lifts, pays. How might the Samaritan also be seen as a picture of Christ Jesus?
• Love is not a feeling, but a decision expressed in tangible action.
• Reflection Question: What are some practical ways we can “bandage the wounds” of our community?
• Quote: “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can… as long as ever you can.” — John Wesley
• Related Scripture:

 

Micah 6:8 – “Act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with your God.”
Matthew 25:40 – “Whatever you did for one of the least of these… you did for me.”

4. A Word to the Church: Becoming a “Good Samaritan Church”
This parable isn’t just about individuals—it’s a call for the whole church to embody this radical love – just as Jesus did and still does through His Spirit.
Challenge:

• Are we as a church known more for our compassion or our comfort?
• Do people in pain know they can find healing in our midst?
• Are we willing to be “interrupted” by the brokenness around us?

Group Discussion:

• What barriers do we as a church need to overcome to be more like the Samaritan and less like the religious ‘Levite’ or ‘Priest’?
• What needs in our neighbourhood are we overlooking?
• How can we create a culture where mercy is our default?
• How might we embody Jesus more effectively? 

5. A Call to Action: Go and Do Likewise
Jesus ends with a command: “Go and do likewise.” This isn’t a suggestion. It’s a commission.

Personal Application:

• Who is someone in need that God may be placing on your heart this week?
• What step will you take to show mercy?

Church-Wide Application:

• Brainstorm one initiative or outreach effort the church could begin or enhance or revive to embody ‘Good Samaritan’ love.

Closing Scripture Meditation

Isaiah 58:10–11 –
"If you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness..."

Final Prayer
“Lord, break our hearts for what breaks Yours. Help us to love without limits, to serve without seeking reward, and to reflect Your mercy in all we do. Empower our church to be known by the love we give, not just the sermons we preach or studies we go through. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

For a printable version of this, and previous editions, please click here.