Compassion and Growth: Embracing God's Kingdom Together
Summary
In today's reflection, we explored the profound connection between compassion, relationships, and the kingdom of God. Compassion is not just a feeling but a call to action, a response to the needs around us. Jesus exemplified this by responding to the needs of the people with compassion, urging us to do the same. Relationships are central to the kingdom, and as we grow in our relationship with God, we become extensions of His love and grace to others. This growth is akin to a seed that, when nurtured, becomes a tree providing shelter and nourishment to birds. The birds symbolize those who seek refuge and sustenance in the kingdom, and as we grow, we become a safe harbor for them.
The metaphor of birds and trees illustrates the dynamic of ministry and growth. As we deepen our relationship with God, we become more attuned to His desires and more willing to act on His behalf. This growth allows us to see the world differently, to notice the needs around us, and to respond with love and compassion. The birds come not because we chase them but because they are drawn to the safety and nourishment we offer through our relationship with God.
We are reminded that God is the one who draws people to Himself, and our role is to be open and willing vessels for His work. Our lives, when intertwined with His, become a testament to His love and power, inviting others to experience the kingdom. The challenge is to embrace this role, to be willing to let God work through us, and to be ready for the birds to come, even when it means dealing with the messiness of relationships.
Key Takeaways:
1. Compassion as a Call to Action: Compassion is more than a feeling; it is a divine call to respond to the needs around us. Jesus demonstrated this by acting on His compassion, urging us to do the same. When we feel compassion, it is an invitation to participate in God's work, to be His hands and feet in the world. [52:06]
2. Growth Through Relationship: Our relationship with God is the foundation for ministry. As we grow in Him, we become extensions of His love, providing refuge and nourishment to those seeking the kingdom. This growth transforms our perspective, allowing us to see and respond to the needs around us. [53:30]
3. The Role of the Birds: The birds represent those who seek refuge in the kingdom. They come not because we chase them but because they are drawn to the safety and nourishment we offer through our relationship with God. Our role is to be open and willing vessels for His work. [58:44]
4. Seeing Through God's Eyes: As our relationship with God deepens, we begin to see the world through His eyes. This new perspective compels us to act with love and compassion, noticing and responding to the needs around us. It is a call to be present and engaged in the lives of others. [04:18]
5. Embracing the Messiness of Relationships: Relationships are messy, but they are central to the kingdom. God calls us to love others as He loves them, even when it is difficult. This love is a direct expression of our love for God and a testament to His work in our lives. [09:06]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [52:06] - Compassion and Response
- [52:40] - Growth in Relationship
- [53:30] - Ministry Through Growth
- [54:21] - Embracing Relationships
- [55:12] - The Challenge of Birds
- [56:26] - The Return of Brownie
- [57:10] - Counting the Birds
- [58:14] - Birds and Trees
- [59:14] - God Draws Us
- [01:00:28] - Extension of Jesus
- [01:01:03] - Love God, Love Others
- [01:02:32] - Commandments of Love
- [01:03:05] - Access to Restoration
- [01:04:18] - Seeing Through God's Eyes
- [01:06:38] - The Harvest is Plentiful
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 22:37-39 - "Jesus replied: ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’"
2. Matthew 16:24-25 - "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.'"
3. Matthew 9:36 - "When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
Observation Questions:
1. What does the sermon suggest is the relationship between compassion and action? How did Jesus exemplify this in His ministry? [52:06]
2. How does the metaphor of birds and trees illustrate the dynamic of ministry and growth in the sermon? [58:14]
3. According to the sermon, what role do relationships play in the kingdom of God? [54:21]
4. How does the sermon describe the process of seeing the world through God's eyes as our relationship with Him deepens? [01:04:18]
Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does the sermon suggest that compassion is more than just a feeling? How does this align with the biblical call to love our neighbors? [52:06]
2. How does the sermon interpret the role of the birds in the metaphor, and what does this suggest about our role in God's kingdom? [58:44]
3. What does the sermon imply about the challenges and rewards of embracing the messiness of relationships in the context of ministry? [09:06]
4. How does the sermon connect the idea of growth in our relationship with God to the concept of being an extension of Jesus? [01:00:28]
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you felt compassion. How did you respond, and how might you respond differently in the future to align with the sermon’s call to action? [52:06]
2. Consider your current relationships. How can you nurture them to become a source of refuge and nourishment for others, as described in the sermon? [54:21]
3. The sermon talks about seeing the world through God's eyes. What practical steps can you take this week to notice and respond to the needs around you? [01:04:18]
4. Think about a relationship in your life that feels messy. How can you approach it with the love and grace that God extends to us, as discussed in the sermon? [09:06]
5. The sermon challenges us to be open and willing vessels for God's work. What is one area of your life where you can be more open to God's leading? [58:44]
6. How can you create a safe and welcoming environment for those seeking refuge in the kingdom, similar to the birds finding shelter in the trees? [58:14]
7. Reflect on the idea of being an extension of Jesus. What specific actions can you take this week to demonstrate His love and compassion to others? [01:00:28]
Devotional
Day 1: Compassion as a Divine Call to Action
Compassion is more than a fleeting emotion; it is a divine summons to engage with the world around us. When we feel compassion, it is an invitation to participate in God's work, to be His hands and feet in the world. Jesus exemplified this by responding to the needs of the people with compassion, urging us to do the same. This call to action is not passive but active, requiring us to step out of our comfort zones and address the needs we encounter. Compassion is a bridge that connects us to others, allowing us to share in their burdens and joys. It is through this shared experience that we become more like Christ, who was moved by compassion to heal, teach, and serve. [52:06]
"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ." (Galatians 6:2, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a situation where you felt compassion but did not act. What held you back, and how can you prepare yourself to respond differently next time?
Day 2: Growth Through Relationship with God
Our relationship with God is the foundation for all ministry and service. As we grow in Him, we become extensions of His love, providing refuge and nourishment to those seeking the kingdom. This growth is akin to a seed that, when nurtured, becomes a tree providing shelter and nourishment to birds. The birds symbolize those who seek refuge and sustenance in the kingdom, and as we grow, we become a safe harbor for them. This transformation allows us to see the world differently, to notice the needs around us, and to respond with love and compassion. [53:30]
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." (Hebrews 10:24-25, ESV)
Reflection: How can you intentionally nurture your relationship with God this week to become a source of refuge and nourishment for others?
Day 3: The Role of the Birds in the Kingdom
The birds represent those who seek refuge in the kingdom. They come not because we chase them but because they are drawn to the safety and nourishment we offer through our relationship with God. Our role is to be open and willing vessels for His work, allowing God to draw people to Himself through us. This requires a posture of openness and willingness to let God work through us, even when it means dealing with the messiness of relationships. As we become more attuned to God's desires, we become more willing to act on His behalf, creating a welcoming environment for those seeking the kingdom. [58:44]
"Therefore welcome one another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God." (Romans 15:7, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your life might be seeking refuge and nourishment? How can you create a welcoming environment for them this week?
Day 4: Seeing the World Through God's Eyes
As our relationship with God deepens, we begin to see the world through His eyes. This new perspective compels us to act with love and compassion, noticing and responding to the needs around us. It is a call to be present and engaged in the lives of others, to see beyond the surface and recognize the deeper needs that exist. This perspective shift allows us to be more effective in our ministry, as we align our actions with God's desires and purposes. [04:18]
"Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law." (Psalm 119:18, ESV)
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you need to see through God's eyes? How can you ask God to help you see more clearly today?
Day 5: Embracing the Messiness of Relationships
Relationships are messy, but they are central to the kingdom. God calls us to love others as He loves them, even when it is difficult. This love is a direct expression of our love for God and a testament to His work in our lives. Embracing the messiness of relationships means being willing to engage with others, even when it is challenging, and allowing God's love to flow through us. It is through these relationships that we grow and become more like Christ, who loved unconditionally and sacrificially. [09:06]
"Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins." (1 Peter 4:8, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a challenging relationship in your life. How can you show love and grace in that relationship this week, even if it feels messy?
Quotes
Compassion calls us to to to act, to respond, and so when the seed is planted and the seed starts to grow and this relationship is growing within us, there's something in us that God calls and we respond and he calls and we respond and he and he says something and I hear him. [00:52:31]
What if the process of growth in my relationship with God is the very dynamic by which ministry takes place by which the birds come and because I am an extension of him because he is in me and moving through me and when they come in contact they are coming in contact with him. [00:53:28]
There's a reason for the growth, there's a reason for the growing and that's exactly why he says so that here it is you want to experience the kingdom this tree is great this relationship with me is great and wonderful you want to experience the kingdom let me tell you what it looks like. [00:54:21]
The passage is saying we're not the ones that are going out and catching the birds so why do the birds come when they come willingly they're more likely to stay they come for safety a tree is a safe harbor for them from predators it's a place that they can come and be nourished. [00:58:14]
It's God who draws us to himself sometimes I think we think or maybe it's just me that God wants me to save all these people but really he just wants to use me he wants to work through me because he's the one that pursues us he's the one that finds the lost. [00:59:14]
Our branches are an extension of what is within us it's an extension of our relationship with him do you want the birds to come that's a good question to wrestle with what does this extension of Jesus look like through us well it's a willingness to do what God desires. [01:00:28]
God desires that we would love him and that we would love others you've probably heard that before right love God love others even my two-year-old knows that god love me god love chickens that's how we pray i think I mentioned that before that's his prayer every meal. [01:01:03]
Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me for whoever wants to save their life will lose it but whoever loses their life for me will find it and he says if you let me put this this seed in your field and you allow it to grow. [01:02:32]
The birds they need access to an understanding of restoration to an understanding of of healing and hope that they've never seen before and that doesn't come from a life apart from God the extension of Christ through us can be the very access that they need. [01:03:05]
When our relationship with Jesus grows we start to see so much more it's not that the landscape has changed it's just that we're seeing it differently and when we love God so so much and we want what he wants and we love what he loves and we want to do what he wants to do. [01:04:18]
When God is working in your life and you're saying "Okay God how do you want to use me today oh God give me opportunity to be to to be whatever you need me to be for your people today to love your people today to I don't know." And then you walk into the store. [01:06:38]
It's a direct expression of loving God that I love others how he loves them and that can be really hard because relationships are messy and people are people but God still asks us to love uh Pastor Josh is going to come and I'm going to give you a couple next steps. [01:08:52]
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