DIFFERENT

LEADER’S GUIDE

– The Relationship Series –
DIFFERENT . FORGIVE . GUARD . THE RENTS

The BIG IDEA

God calls us to love everyone and enter into relationships with those who are different and show Christ’s love even if it is sometimes uncomfortable.

The IMAGE
Just like the white shoes, we often spend the majority of our time with people just like us. But God loves variety and has made a variety of different kinds of people. He calls us to step into relationships with people different than us and love them well.

The PROBLEM
Our fear, insecurities, and pride cause us to avoid people who are not like us and, instead, we stay in familiar relationships. As we hide in our comfort zones we miss opportunities to share Christ’s love with others and we miss out on the joy of these new relationships.

Our RESPONSE
By faith, we can ask God to change our fears, insecurities, and pride into love for everyone. We can step out of our comfort zones and enter into relationships with people who are different than ourselves and who we otherwise would have avoided.

Why THIS MATTERS
There are many different kinds of people in our world. We often allow our differences to separate us while we seek out people who are like us. Jesus calls us to see past our differences and love everyone as he does.

I WANT MY STUDENTS TO:

KNOW: God calls us to understand and accept people who are different, and to show Christ’s love even if it’s uncomfortable.
EXPERIENCE: The freedom to view others as Christ does.
DO: Show love and compassion to all people, just like the Good Samaritan.

The idea box is a place where you can find some creative ideas for leading this study. You might find videos, activities, or great illustrations that really bring the main point home. The ideas come from small group leaders like you, so if you have an idea that isn’t in there, click below to share it with the community!

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*WHAT DO YOU THINK?

Why is it easier for us to get along with people who are like us rather than people who are different from us? Today we are going to talk about how to treat people who are different than you.

WHAT DOES GOD SAY ABOUT THIS?

*Read Luke 10:25–37.

*1. What is happening in this story? Who are the main characters?
Neighbor, Priest, Levite/Temple Assistant, Samaritan

2. Which two characters passed by the Jewish “neighbor” who was beaten and robbed?
Priest and Levite/Temple assistant.

3. What do you know about Jewish Priests and Jewish Levites/Temple assistants?
A priest would be kind of like a priest or pastor today. They are leaders who have a lot of responsibilities. A Levite/Temple Assistant would have been like someone today who is a big-time church attender that serves a lot at church. They would be considered a “church person”.

4. The Samaritan stopped to help the neighbor. What is a Samaritan?

Jesus and his followers were Jews. Samaritans were half Jewish and lived in an area very close to the Jews. The Jews looked down on Samaritans. A “Samaritan” in your life might be someone who is different from you whom you tend to look down on or avoid. (Today the word “Samaritan” or “Good Samaritan” has a positive connotation because of this story, but in those days “Good Samaritan” would have felt like an oxymoron to Jewish people.)

HOW DO WE APPLY THIS TO OUR LIVES?

5. Why do you think the two Jews passed him by?
Allow the group to discuss. The passage itself doesn’t really tell us, so all answers will just be guesses. It’s cool. Let them imagine.

*6. Why did the Samaritan stop and help him? (v. 33)
Verse 33 says “he had compassion on him.” We could say that he saw him as a person in need while the other two only saw him as a “problem” or “inconvenience” for them. The passage isn’t extremely clear about the motives of the Jews or the Samaritan.

*7. What is the main point of Jesus’ story? (v. 37)
Jesus says to “go and do likewise.” That means we should do what the Samaritan did. He is calling us to love others, regardless of how different they are from us.

8. What would this story look like if it took place in your neighborhood? Go through the story as a group or in pairs phrase by phrase and come up with a “your town” version of this parable.

If Jesus were to tell this story in your neighborhood today, who would the characters be?
What would the setting be? If you break into pairs, share your stories with each other afterwards.

This activity will help your students relate to this story more. Encourage them to have fun with it and then have them share their story with the group.

9. What are some different types of people in the world today?
People are different in a lot of ways. They may be a different ethnicity or religion than us or might come from a different culture. They may have special needs that we don’t understand. They may sin in a way that we are uncomfortable with or be involved in activities that cause us to look down on them. They might be stronger or weaker than us, get higher or lower grades, or be on a totally different level on the social ladder. Maybe they like different music, movies, or clothes. These are just a few of the things that could cause us to move toward people who are more like us and away from people who are different.

10. People who are similar often feel more comfortable together. Think about the lunchroom at your school. Together, make a list of the different types of people that are represented at those tables at lunch time.

This exercise is not intended to alienate any particular group, but to help our students put into words which people they may be avoiding or keeping at a distance without even realizing it. Many of our students will say, “I get along with everybody” without realizing ways that they are like the Priest and Levite in the story. As the group lists out people groups that are different, they will begin to see that they have room to grow in this area.

*11. Look through the groups on the list. Why is it sometimes easier to care about and trust people who are similar to you rather than people who are different from you?
Allow the group to discuss. There are many reasons. Most of them involve a lack of understanding because there isn’t much of a relationship. They might have a lack of common ground. They might be fearful of something that is different and new and prefer to stay in their comfort zone. They may even simply fear that they will lose social standing with their friends if they are seen with someone who is different. Help your students dig into these questions.

12. Read Revelation 5:9, which is a song of praise to Jesus.

What does this say about why it is important for us to show love to people who are different?
What is the value of it?

Allow the group to discuss. Some ideas might be: 1) All people have worth because God sent his Son to die for them. Every person has value in God’s eyes. They may have been raised differently than you or they may have challenges you don’t have. They may look different or act differently, but they are created in the image of God, and that gives them great value. 2) Knowing people who are different can enhance your life and help you see the world more clearly. The walls that divide us are often ignorance, discomfort, fear, and sometimes even hate and we become free from these things as we break down these “walls of difference.”

13. How did God show his love for you, even though you are different from him?

Romans 5:8 says “God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Maybe ask the question, “How is God different from us?”

14. Does knowing how God loves you make it easier for you to love people who are different?

If so, why?

Allow the group to discuss. It is easier for us to love others because we are so loved ourselves.

*15. What is the Holy Spirit’s role in helping you show love to people who are different?

It’s not natural to love people who are different. However, the Holy Spirit can give us the power to do what we can’t do naturally. If you are finding it difficult to love others well, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you and give you power to do what you can’t do (and maybe don’t want to do).

*16. What are some things you can do this week to show love to someone who is different than you?

Allow the group to discuss. Mention how to rely on the Holy Spirit for this.

Our review cards are an excellent way to review your past lessons with your students before each study. Not every lesson has one yet but if we have them, you can find them on the PRINT page. Check them out and use them each week to help your students grab hold of the truths in these studies.

What ideas do you have that could improve this study? Are there creative things you do to bring this topic home to your students? Please share with the community clicking the FEEDBACK button or leaving a comment below.

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