REACHING OUT TO OTHERS – Helping

Theme: Helping

A man was walking from Jerusalem to Jericho.  Suddenly, robbers attacked him.  They beat him up, took his clothes, and left him there.

A priest came walking down the same road.  The man thought, “Great!  Someone will help me.”  But the priest was in a hurry and didn’t take the time to stop and help the injured man.

A Levite  came walking down the same road.  The man thought, “Great!  I hope this person will help me.”  But this teacher in the temple did not stop and help the injured man either.

A Samaritan came walking down the same road.  The injured man probably thought, “The first two people who came by didn’t help me.  This person probably won’t either.”

But when the Samaritan saw the man lying there all beaten and bloody, he wanted to help him.  He gave him first aid and placed bandages on the wounded man’s body.  Then he carefully helped the injured man get on his donkey, took him to a place to stay for the night and continued to take care of him.

Discussion Questions:

1.  If we are busy doing something else and someone needs help, what should we do and why?

2.  What excuses do we give for not helping others?

3.  What are specific ways we can show our love to others by caring and helping?

4.  Share an experience when you received help from others.  How did their love make you feel inside?

Action Step: Prayerfully think of someone you can show your love to this week.  What specific things can you do to help?

Bible Verse: “Let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:18, NIV).

Suggested Song: “Love with the Love of Jesus” (Miracle Mud album)