Small Group Guide for Families with Young Children
“Are You a Good Neighbor?”
Luke 10:25-37
Big Idea
A good neighbor is someone who shows mercy and helps others because God has shown mercy to us.
Key Takeaways for Kids
- We cannot earn eternal life by doing good things. Eternal life is a gift from God through Jesus.
- Jesus knows what is in our hearts, and He helps us see when we need Him.
- In Jesus’ story, two men saw someone who needed help, but they walked away.
- The Samaritan stopped, cared, helped, and gave what he had.
- A neighbor is not just someone who lives next door. A neighbor is anyone God puts in front of us who needs help.
- The greatest help anyone needs is Jesus.
- Because Jesus loves us and shows mercy to us, we should show mercy to others.
Opening Questions
1. Have you ever helped someone when nobody told you to? What happened?
2. Have you ever seen someone who needed help but felt nervous or too busy to stop? What did you do?
3. Who are some “neighbors” in your life?
Examples: family, friends, classmates, teachers, people at church, people who live near you.
4. What do you think it means to be a good neighbor?
Read the Bible Story
Read Luke 10:25-37.
Digging Into the Story
1. The expert in the law asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Can we earn heaven by being good enough?
Answer: No. Eternal life is a gift from God through Jesus.
2. Jesus asked the man what God’s law said. The man answered:
“Love God” and “love your neighbor.”
Why do you think loving God and loving others is so important?
3. In the story, the priest and the Levite saw the hurt man. What did they do?
Answer: They passed by and did not help.
4. Why do you think they might have walked away?
Possible answers: They were busy, scared, didn’t want to get messy, didn’t want to spend time or money.
5. The Samaritan stopped to help. What are some things he did for the hurt man?
6. Did helping the hurt man cost the Samaritan something?
Answer: Yes. It cost him time, supplies, money, and comfort.
7. Jesus asked, “Which man was a neighbor?”
What was the answer?
Answer: The one who showed mercy.
8. What does mercy mean?
Mercy means showing kindness and help to someone who needs it.
Practical Questions
1. Who is someone you know who might need help, kindness, or a friend?
2. Have you ever ignored someone because you were too busy or didn’t want to get involved?
3. Are there kids at school, church, or in your neighborhood who are sometimes left out?
4. How can you show mercy to someone this week?
5. Why should followers of Jesus help others?
6. What is the greatest gift we can tell someone about?
Answer: Jesus.
Practical Applications for Kids
Choose one or two to do this week:
1. Learn Someone’s Name
Talk to someone you do not know very well. Ask their name and be kind to them.
2. Help Without Being Asked
Look for one way to help at home, school, church, or with a friend.
3. Include Someone
If you see someone left out, invite them to play, sit with you, or join your group.
4. Pray for Someone
Choose two people to pray for this week. Ask God to help them know Jesus and feel loved.
5. Stop and Notice
Instead of rushing past someone who looks sad, lonely, or hurt, stop and ask, “Are you okay?”
6. Share God’s Love
Tell someone, “Jesus loves you,” or invite them to church.
Memory Verse
Luke 10:37
“Are You a Good Neighbor?”
Luke 10:25-37
Big Idea
A good neighbor is someone who shows mercy and helps others because God has shown mercy to us.
Key Takeaways for Kids
- We cannot earn eternal life by doing good things. Eternal life is a gift from God through Jesus.
- Jesus knows what is in our hearts, and He helps us see when we need Him.
- In Jesus’ story, two men saw someone who needed help, but they walked away.
- The Samaritan stopped, cared, helped, and gave what he had.
- A neighbor is not just someone who lives next door. A neighbor is anyone God puts in front of us who needs help.
- The greatest help anyone needs is Jesus.
- Because Jesus loves us and shows mercy to us, we should show mercy to others.
Opening Questions
1. Have you ever helped someone when nobody told you to? What happened?
2. Have you ever seen someone who needed help but felt nervous or too busy to stop? What did you do?
3. Who are some “neighbors” in your life?
Examples: family, friends, classmates, teachers, people at church, people who live near you.
4. What do you think it means to be a good neighbor?
Read the Bible Story
Read Luke 10:25-37.
Digging Into the Story
1. The expert in the law asked Jesus, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Can we earn heaven by being good enough?
Answer: No. Eternal life is a gift from God through Jesus.
2. Jesus asked the man what God’s law said. The man answered:
“Love God” and “love your neighbor.”
Why do you think loving God and loving others is so important?
3. In the story, the priest and the Levite saw the hurt man. What did they do?
Answer: They passed by and did not help.
4. Why do you think they might have walked away?
Possible answers: They were busy, scared, didn’t want to get messy, didn’t want to spend time or money.
5. The Samaritan stopped to help. What are some things he did for the hurt man?
6. Did helping the hurt man cost the Samaritan something?
Answer: Yes. It cost him time, supplies, money, and comfort.
7. Jesus asked, “Which man was a neighbor?”
What was the answer?
Answer: The one who showed mercy.
8. What does mercy mean?
Mercy means showing kindness and help to someone who needs it.
Practical Questions
1. Who is someone you know who might need help, kindness, or a friend?
2. Have you ever ignored someone because you were too busy or didn’t want to get involved?
3. Are there kids at school, church, or in your neighborhood who are sometimes left out?
4. How can you show mercy to someone this week?
5. Why should followers of Jesus help others?
6. What is the greatest gift we can tell someone about?
Answer: Jesus.
Practical Applications for Kids
Choose one or two to do this week:
1. Learn Someone’s Name
Talk to someone you do not know very well. Ask their name and be kind to them.
2. Help Without Being Asked
Look for one way to help at home, school, church, or with a friend.
3. Include Someone
If you see someone left out, invite them to play, sit with you, or join your group.
4. Pray for Someone
Choose two people to pray for this week. Ask God to help them know Jesus and feel loved.
5. Stop and Notice
Instead of rushing past someone who looks sad, lonely, or hurt, stop and ask, “Are you okay?”
6. Share God’s Love
Tell someone, “Jesus loves you,” or invite them to church.
Memory Verse
Luke 10:37