Finding God in Loving Your Neighbour
Sunday, Sept 20, 2026
Scriptures: Luke 10
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In the first sermon of our new series Learning to Listen, Bobbi explores Luke 10 and shows how learning to listen to our neighbour's story can lead to life-changing, "expanded" conversations. She begins by examining with an expert in the Mosaic law asking Jesus how to inherit eternal life, prompting Jesus to direct him back to loving God and loving one's neighbour. Seeking to justify himself, the lawyer asks, "And who is my neighbour?", exposing a historical and cultural boundary line where "neighbour" was restricted to one's own tribal or ethnic identity. Jesus subverts this limited worldview by telling the Parable of the Good Samaritan, illustrating that true neighbourliness crosses rigid, self-protective boundaries through active, costly mercy. Ultimately, the sermon reveals that God meets us in our vulnerability, inviting us to see divine nearness when we allow ourselves to be moved with compassion and care for others.
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Community is shaped by the conversations we share.
These questions are just a tool to help you meaningfully engage with the themes of this week's teaching.
Connect: Can you think of a late-night or unexpected conversation in your life that made you feel significantly less alone or changed your perspective on a relationship?Share: In the sermon, it's noted that the original understanding of "neighbour" in the Hebrew tradition was tightly bound to ethnic identity and shared tribal obligations, but over time people tend to shrink their definition of "neighbour" to fit their own comfort zones. Where in your own life, family, or faith journey have you caught yourself shrinking your definition of who "belongs" or who deserves your effort and care?
Reflect: When you look at our modern church culture or your own daily habits, what are the "purity customs," rules, or self-protective boundaries you tend to prioritize that end up preventing yourself from stepping out to help someone who is hurting?
Engage: Consider Bobbi’s words regarding the Samaritan’s disruptive compassion:
"He pours on oil and wine—which don't come cheap... He puts the guy on his own donkey, brings him to an inn, and cares for him... This is a substantial financial commitment... He wields his privilege to squeeze the guy into a small room so he'll be treated, promising to return tomorrow... Divine nearness happens when we bend down to do the messy, costly work of healing together.”
Why is it so much easier to offer polite, distant well-wishes or safe "prophylactic" sympathy than it is to engage in the messy, costly, and inconvenient work of true hospitality? What makes this level of involvement feel scary or overwhelming to you today?
Take away: What is one thing that you're taking with you into your week, either from the sermon or from our conversation today?
Benediction based on the sermon
God, we are grateful to be here together today.
Mobilize us by your Spirit into a hope that moves us to care for one another, to see our neighbours, and to embody your love in the world.
Amen. -
Worship Songs
Curated by Kevin Borst
Mission House - Good God
Commons Worship - Face to Face
Bethel Music - Heaven Come
Brooke Ligertwood - Looking
Liturgy
Today we come to the Lord’s table and participate in Eucharist together. This ancient ritual, like other ancient rituals in the Church, can help us draw near to one another and to God. It helps us centralize our varied journeys on Christ.
Whether we’ve attended church our whole life, or if we’ve been apart of this community for only a short while, or whether we’ve never set foot in church before, and for whatever reason, our steps have brought us here today, we are, all of us, invited toward unity, toward Christ, and toward each other.
Let us pray,
Loving God,
The Apostle Paul reminds us that we are brought together in unity by Christ, like a structure or dwelling place constructed for your presence.
Help us lay the bricks of this structure as we practice this sacred spiritual ritual.
Help us to see you more clearly, see ourselves more fully, and see our neighbour more honestly as we participate.
May we find community when we practice and come to your table.
We pray in Jesus’ name,
Amen.
