I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE WORD COMPASSION. CAN YOU ...

[Pages:2]I WANT YOU TO THINK ABOUT THE WORD COMPASSION. ? CAN YOU THINK OF ANYONE IN PARTICULAR WHO IS KNOWN FOR THIS CHARACTERISTIC?

Q: EVER HEARD OF GLADYS ALYWARD? ? ONE OF THE MOST WELL KNOWN MISSIONARIES TO CHINA IN THE 20TH CENTURY.

CERTAINLY, THERE ARE FEW PEOPLE TODAY WHO ARE KNOWN FOR THEIR COMPASSION, BUT NOT BECAUSE THEY DO NOT EXIST; BUT BECAUSE THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO GENERALLY DO NOT SEEK CREDIT FOR USING THIS SEEMINGLY SPECIAL GIFT.

THESE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE USUALLY WORKING IN THE SHADOWS. IN PLACES WHERE THE SPOTLIGHT DOESN'T OFTEN SHINE.

? THE UNSUNG HEROES.

WIKIPEDIA: The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier refers to a monument dedicated to the services of an unknown soldier and to the common memories of all soldiers killed in war. Such tombs can be found in many nations and are usually high-profile national monuments. Throughout history, many soldiers have died in war with their remains being unidentified. Following World War I, a movement arose to commemorate these soldiers with a single tomb, containing the body of one such unidentified soldier.

IF YOU WERE TO ASK A GROUP OF CHRISTIANS AS TO WHICH WORD MOST LIKELY DESCRIBES THE LIFE OF JESUS, I IMAGINE THE WORD COMPASSION WOULD COME UP AS OFTEN AS ANY.

COMPASSION: A FEELING OF DEEP SYMPATHY AND SORROW FOR ANOTHER WHO IS STRICKEN BY MISFORTUNE, ACCOMPANIED BY A STRONG DESIRE TO ALLEVIATE THE SUFFERING.

? THEY SEE THE NEED, AND THEY INTENTIONALLY GET INVOLVED TO HELP OUT.

THIS IS A WORD WHICH NEEDS TO DESCRIBE OUR LIVES AS CHRISTIANS.

? DALAI LAMA ? `IF YOU WANT OTHERS TO BE HAPPY, PRACTICE COMPASSION. IF YOU WANT TO BE HAPPY, PRACTICE COMPASSION.'

? YASMIN MOGAHED ? `COMPASSION IS TO LOOK BEYOND YOUR OWN PAIN, TO SEE THE PAIN OF OTHERS.'

? JESUS ? `YOU MUST BE COMPASSIONATE, JUST AS YOUR FATHER IS COMPASSIONATE.'

Q: SO, WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE FOR OUR HEAVENLY FATHER TO SHOW COMPASSION?

TODAY'S TEXT: JOHN CH. 5

VS.17 JESUS SAYS, "MY FATHER IS ALWAYS WORKING, AND SO AM I." VS.19 JESUS ALSO SAID "...THE SON CAN DO NOTHING BY HIMSELF. HE DOES ONLY WHAT HE SEES THE FATHER DOING. WHATEVER THE FATHER DOES, THE SON ALSO DOES.

LET'S LOOK CLOSER AT HOW JESUS DEMONSTRATES COMPASSION. READ JOHN 5:1-9

? INSIDE THE CITY GATE ? THERE IS MORE THAN ENOUGH NEED. - YOU SAY, WHAT CAN I DO?

THIS IS WHAT JESUS WAS ASKING THE SICK MAN.

? JESUS TOOK NOTICE OF THE SITUATION ? CROWDS OF SICK PEOPLE

? HE TOOK NOTICE OF THE MAN ? SAW HIM AS A PERSON IN NEED

? JESUS RECOGNIZED THE SEVERITY OF HIS CONDITION ? SICK FOR 38 YEARS

JESUS SHOWED COMPASSION THAT DAY.

? HE INVITED THE MAN TO SHARE HIS STORY.

- TELL ME YOUR STORY

? HE HEARD HIM EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM HE WAS HAVING. - LISTEN AND LEARN

? HE HELPED HIM OVERCOME HIS IMMEDIATE CHALLENGE. - HE STOOD BY HIM (HE SAID

I'LL BE YOUR FRIEND, I'LL HELP YOU ? LEAN ON ME).

READ JOHN 5:10-15 ? WE SEE THAT THIS MAN DID NOT IMMEDIATELY KNOW THE NAME OF JESUS. ? WHAT I BELIEVE WE LEARN FROM THIS TODAY IS THAT WE ARE MEANT TO STAND WITH PEOPLE - AS FRIENDS - UNTIL THEY COME TO REALIZE THE SAVING GRACE OF OUR GOD.

THIS IS WHY GOD SENT HIS SON. SO THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ETERNAL LIFE. MATTHEW 9:13NIV BUT GO AND LEARN WHAT THIS MEANS: `I DESIRE MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE.' FOR I HAVE NOT COME TO CALL THE RIGHTEOUS, BUT SINNERS. TITUS 2:11-12NIV FOR THE GRACE OF GOD HAS APPEARED THAT OFFERS SALVATION TO ALL PEOPLE. IT TEACHES US TO SAY `NO' TO UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY PASSIONS, AND TO LIVE SELF-CONTROLLED, UPRIGHT AND GODLY LIVES IN THIS PRESENT AGE. GALATIANS 6:9NIV `LET US NOT BECOME WEARY IN DOING GOOD, FOR AT THE PROPER TIME WE WILL REAP A HARVEST IF WE DO NOT GIVE UP.' MATTHEW 5:6NIV BLESSED ARE THOSE WHO HUNGER AND THIRST FOR RIGHTEOUSNESS, FOR THEY WILL BE FILLED. MICAH 6:8NIV HE HAS SHOWN YOU, O MORTAL, WHAT IS GOOD. AND WHAT DOES THE LORD REQUIRE OF YOU? TO ACT JUSTLY AND TO LOVE MERCY AND TO WALK HUMBLY WITH YOUR GOD.

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