Main Thought

Jesus gave us a mission to make disciples! If we’re going to succeed, then we need to reach people who seem different from us. It can be intimidating to approach people with whom we share no observable commonalities. But we need to look beyond the surface, into the deepest needs of their souls. Everyone shares deep needs for things like love and fulfillment that only Jesus can meet completely. If we remember this, then compassion can overcome our needs for comfort or convenience. Building bridges with people who seem different from us begins when we relate to them. These relationships provide a context for us to discover peoples’ needs. We can be effective witnesses when we share ways Jesus can meet their needs.

Main Passages

7 A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” 8 (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) 9 The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)
- John 4:7-9

29 But he, desiring to justify himself, said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” 30 Jesus replied, “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he fell among robbers, who stripped him and beat him and departed, leaving him half dead. 31 Now by chance a priest was going down that road, and when he saw him he passed by on the other side. 32 So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. 33 But a Samaritan, as he journeyed, came to where he was, and when he saw him, he had compassion.
- Luke 10:29-33

“…I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”
- 1 Corinthians 9:22

Discussion

1. Have you ever befriended someone who you consider to be, or thought would be, different from you? How did become friends? 
2. Legitimate needs often get in the way of our ability to help meet other peoples’ need for Jesus. What gets in your way when trying to live as a witness?
3. It can be awkward to introduce a spiritual idea into a conversation. We can do so by being direct (typically by asking a question or making a statement), being indirect (use the topic of conversation as a bridge to a spiritual topic), or by using an invitation (by inviting someone to a Christian event related to the topic of your conversation). Which do you feel would be most helpful for you? Give it a try this week!