Series Resources

sermon-based study guide

This guide is designed to guide a group discussion around the weekend sermon. You can also use this as an individual, but we highly recommend finding a friend and inviting them to discuss with you. Menlo Church has Life Groups meeting in-person and online using these guides. We’d love to help you find a group.
What you will find in this guide: A discussion guide for groups and individuals. If you are using this as an individual be sure to engage with each question in a journal or simply in your mind as you prayerfully consider what you heard in the sermon and seek to discover what God is inviting you to know and do.

For The Bay |Choosing Neighbors over Naysayers

SERIES TITLE: For The Bay November 3, 204
SERMON TITLE: Choosing Neighbors over Naysayers

Connect

  • Think of a popular jingle or tagline from a commercial that stuck with you. What makes it so memorable?
  • How has this series about being “For the Bay” changed how you view your community and your role within it?

Engage

Read: Luke 10:25-37

The Parable of the Good Samaritan

  • What stands out to you in this story, and why?
  • How does Jesus’ definition of a “neighbor” challenge the cultural and personal boundaries we often set?
  • What do you think motivated the priest and Levite to pass by the injured man? How do you relate to their hesitation?
  • Why do you think Jesus chose a Samaritan—a cultural outsider—to be the hero in this story?

Apply

  • Can you recall a time when someone showed you unexpected kindness? How did it affect you?
  • What’s one way we can overcome biases and show grace to those different from us?
  • Has your faith ever created barriers between you and others? How might you work toward building connections instead?
  • What’s one intentional way you can show God’s love in your community this week?

Prayer

  • Spend time sharing your prayer needs with one another.
  • Thank God for breaking down the barriers between Him and us through Jesus.
  • Pray for the courage and willingness to reach beyond your fences to love and serve your neighbors.

Going Deeper

Menlo Midweek Podcast: Tune in every Wednesday for a deeper dive into the sermon, where the speaker shares insights, stories, and practical applications. It’s a time to learn, reflect, and grow.

Listen here

Connect Through Outreach: Jesus invites us to step outside our comfort zones and break down barriers to extend love. Visit our Outreach and Missions page to see how you can be part of serving our neighbors across the Bay Area and beyond, becoming an agent of God’s love in action.

Find out here