Embodying Compassion: The Heart of Christ's Followers
Summary
### Summary
Today, we reflected on the importance of compassion in our lives as followers of Christ. We began by acknowledging that our track record isn't about earning extra credit with Jesus but about aligning our lives with God's design. The Apostle Paul, in Colossians 3:12-13, calls us to put on compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving as the Lord has forgiven us. This call to compassion should shape every relationship and aspect of our lives.
We acknowledged that practicing compassion can be challenging, especially when we are influenced by the pressures of the world, our suffering, or our own sinfulness. Yet, God's response to us, even at our worst, is one of perfect love, grace, and compassion. This divine compassion is central to the mission of the church and should be reflected in our actions and attitudes towards others.
We explored the concept of Jesus as the Good Shepherd, who is moved with deep compassion for the harassed and helpless. This compassion isn't just empathy but a profound, active desire to alleviate suffering. Jesus' heart breaks for those who are lost, and He calls us to share in this divine compassion.
We also discussed the importance of suffering in cultivating compassion. Suffering can transform us, making us more empathetic and compassionate towards others. This transformation is part of our spiritual growth and mission as the church.
Finally, we were reminded that compassion should lead us to action. We are called to be conduits of God's mercy, meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of those around us. This mission requires us to draw near to those who are suffering, just as Jesus did, and to share the gospel through both word and deed.
### Key Takeaways
1. Divine Compassion as Our Model: God's compassion towards us, even at our worst, is a model for how we should treat others. His perfect love and grace should inspire us to show the same compassion to those around us, regardless of their circumstances. This divine compassion is central to the mission of the church and should be reflected in our daily interactions. [26:02]
2. The Good Shepherd's Heart: Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, is deeply moved by the suffering of humanity. His compassion goes beyond empathy; it is an active desire to alleviate suffering. This profound compassion should motivate us to see others through Jesus' eyes and respond with the same tender mercy. [39:23]
3. Suffering Cultivates Compassion: Suffering can be a powerful tool for spiritual growth, cultivating a deeper sense of compassion in us. Through our own experiences of suffering, we can develop a greater empathy for others and a stronger desire to alleviate their pain, reflecting God's character in our actions. [55:22]
4. Compassion Leads to Action: True compassion compels us to act. We are called to be conduits of God's mercy, meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of those around us. This requires us to draw near to those who are suffering, just as Jesus did, and to share the gospel through both word and deed. [57:19]
5. Prayer and Compassion: We are called to pray for God's heart for the lost and to be filled with His compassion. This prayer should lead us to action, as we seek to embody God's love and mercy in our interactions with others. Compassion is the fuel for our mission, driving us to meet the needs of those around us and share the hope of the gospel. [01:04:08]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[20:27] - Introduction to Compassion
[21:56] - Prayer and Reflection
[23:47] - Confession and God's Response
[26:02] - God's Perfect Compassion
[31:03] - Church Announcements
[35:12] - The Kingdom of God and Church Diversity
[37:13] - The Compassion of God
[39:23] - Jesus as the Good Shepherd
[41:26] - The Parable of the Prodigal Son
[42:33] - Jesus' Heart for the Suffering
[45:50] - The Condition of the World
[48:03] - Our View of the Suffering
[50:16] - God's Compassion in Action
[51:15] - The Story of Moses and God's Compassion
[53:07] - The Transformative Power of Compassion
[55:22] - Suffering and Spiritual Growth
[57:19] - Compassion Leading to Action
[59:01] - The Mission of the Church
[01:00:24] - Drawing Near to the Suffering
[01:03:32] - The Lord of the Harvest
[01:04:08] - Prayer and Compassion
[01:05:19] - Meeting Spiritual and Physical Needs
[01:06:32] - The Privilege of Sharing the Gospel
[01:07:55] - God's Tender Mercy
[01:10:07] - The Lord's Supper
[01:14:14] - Participation in the Body and Blood of Christ
[01:18:59] - Final Prayer and Song
[01:23:30] - Benediction and Sending Out
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Colossians 3:12-13 (ESV): "Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive."
### Observation Questions
1. What qualities does Paul encourage believers to "put on" in Colossians 3:12-13?
2. According to the sermon, how does Jesus' compassion differ from mere empathy? [43:32]
3. What does the term "Good Shepherd" signify about Jesus' relationship with humanity? [39:23]
4. How does suffering contribute to the development of compassion according to the sermon? [55:22]
### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of "putting on" compassionate hearts, as described in Colossians 3:12-13, challenge our daily interactions with others?
2. In what ways does Jesus' role as the Good Shepherd provide a model for how we should respond to the suffering around us? [39:23]
3. How can personal experiences of suffering transform our ability to empathize and act compassionately towards others? [55:22]
4. What does it mean to be a conduit of God's mercy, and how can this be practically lived out in our communities? [57:19]
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you struggled to show compassion. What were the barriers, and how can you overcome them in the future? [21:56]
2. Jesus' compassion led Him to action. Identify a specific need in your community. How can you take a tangible step to meet that need this week? [57:19]
3. Think about someone in your life who is suffering. How can you draw near to them and offer both spiritual and physical support, as Jesus did? [01:05:19]
4. How can you cultivate a heart of compassion in your daily prayer life? What specific prayers can you incorporate to align your heart with God's compassion for the lost? [01:04:08]
5. Reflect on your own experiences of suffering. How have they shaped your ability to empathize with others? How can you use these experiences to minister to those who are currently suffering? [55:22]
6. Consider the ways in which you might view others as burdens or annoyances. How can you shift your perspective to see them through Jesus' compassionate eyes? [48:03]
7. How can you balance meeting the physical needs of others with sharing the gospel? What practical steps can you take to ensure you are doing both effectively? [01:05:19]
Devotional
Day 1: Divine Compassion as Our Model
God's compassion towards us, even at our worst, is a model for how we should treat others. His perfect love and grace should inspire us to show the same compassion to those around us, regardless of their circumstances. This divine compassion is central to the mission of the church and should be reflected in our daily interactions. [26:02]
"Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive." (Colossians 3:12-13, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who is difficult to love. How can you show them the same compassion and grace that God has shown you?
Day 2: The Good Shepherd's Heart
Jesus, as the Good Shepherd, is deeply moved by the suffering of humanity. His compassion goes beyond empathy; it is an active desire to alleviate suffering. This profound compassion should motivate us to see others through Jesus' eyes and respond with the same tender mercy. [39:23]
"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36, ESV)
Reflection: Who in your community is "harassed and helpless"? How can you actively show them the compassion of Jesus today?
Day 3: Suffering Cultivates Compassion
Suffering can be a powerful tool for spiritual growth, cultivating a deeper sense of compassion in us. Through our own experiences of suffering, we can develop a greater empathy for others and a stronger desire to alleviate their pain, reflecting God's character in our actions. [55:22]
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." (2 Corinthians 1:3-4, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced suffering. How did it change your perspective on others' pain? How can you use that experience to comfort someone else today?
Day 4: Compassion Leads to Action
True compassion compels us to act. We are called to be conduits of God's mercy, meeting both the spiritual and physical needs of those around us. This requires us to draw near to those who are suffering, just as Jesus did, and to share the gospel through both word and deed. [57:19]
"But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him? Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:17-18, ESV)
Reflection: Identify a specific need in your community. What practical steps can you take this week to meet that need and show God's love in action?
Day 5: Prayer and Compassion
We are called to pray for God's heart for the lost and to be filled with His compassion. This prayer should lead us to action, as we seek to embody God's love and mercy in our interactions with others. Compassion is the fuel for our mission, driving us to meet the needs of those around us and share the hope of the gospel. [01:04:08]
"And the Lord said, 'I have surely seen the affliction of my people who are in Egypt and have heard their cry because of their taskmasters. I know their sufferings, and I have come down to deliver them out of the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey.'" (Exodus 3:7-8, ESV)
Reflection: Spend time in prayer asking God to give you His heart for the lost and suffering. How can you let this compassion guide your actions and interactions today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Friends, as we're going to see in this morning's sermon, the astounding fact is that God's response to you isn't that he has to put on a compassionate heart or to change his disposition or attitude towards you. Even at your worst, God's heart towards you is perfectly loving and perfectly loving. He's perfectly gracious and perfectly kind and filled with compassion even when we lack it. And that's because of what Christ has done to bridge the gap between you and I, our sins, and God, our creator." [26:02] (64 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The big idea I want to cover with you is this, that the compassion of God is central to the mission of the church. The compassion of God is central to the mission of the church. It's a short passage, and like I said, it's a bit of a bookend that Matthew, as the editor, writes in at the end of chapter 9. He writes a very similar summary statement in chapter 4 when he says Jesus went all around healing people, saving people, going to the cross." [37:13] (30 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "One of the most compelling aspects of the gospel is the undeserved compassion of God. One of the most compelling examples of that is in the lives who have been transformed by it. That's you. That's you. It's you. You're the A plan. That might be discouraging. You are the A plan for God's church. But that's not just a perspective. It's also a life or a lifestyle. It means that God's compassion motivates us to action." [56:32] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Jesus drew near to you and I when we were at our worst in compassion, and he identified himself with us. And he fills us through the course of our life. He fills us with a well or a reservoir and a desire to practice that compassion with other people. You hear me say this almost every week. And I hope you always hear me say it. We are meant to be conduits of God's mercy and his love and his power for the lost. Compassion is one of the most beautiful ways that we help people experience Jesus." [01:00:24] (89 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Compassion is the fuel that God gives you for the mission that he calls you to. I want you to remember that no matter what God calls you to. Compassion and mercy is the fuel that he gives you to the ministry that he's calling you to. And you can only get that through being somebody. Who practices being close to Jesus. That means that you and I need to practice the discipline of communing with God. Of learning to fall towards him and not away from him when things are difficult for us." [01:05:19] (33 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "If you're like me, when you read that, some days it feels easy to have a compassionate heart towards other sinners. Other days my heart feels pretty salty towards other human beings. My wife can tell you that actually. I'm described that way. It's not uncommon that I'm described that way at certain points. We all struggle with it, and to the extent that we let the pressures of this world, the suffering that we all go through, or the willfulness of our own sin, we all struggle with it. We all struggle with it. We all struggle with it. Sins that still remain influence us. We aren't very compassionate." [20:27] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "When Jesus, as the God of the world, said, God, man, looked at people who were suffering, lost sheep without a shepherd. He saw it with a divine perspective. He knew everything that they were going through. Think about that description. It describes people that are all around you every single day. I want you to think about all the people in your life that you run into every day because that describes them. It wasn't just that Jesus saw this group then. It's the condition of the whole world. Anybody that doesn't know the mercy of God is living like this every moment." [46:57] (55 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "You and I are recipients of that divine compassion. Think about this. I want you to think about one of the worst moments of your life when you're at your worst, you guys. Whatever that is for you. When you were at your worst. And I want you to think about what God's response was to you. Because it had the same heart that Jesus is displaying to these people. God's compassion embodied in Jesus. Was his response to the worst of you and I." [50:16] (42 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "In the Christian life, what you find is that if God allows us to suffer, he redeems it. Meaning he cultivates his character in us. And one of the primary ways that that character is displayed is a growing ability to be compassionate for people who have suffered like us. One of the most compelling aspects of the gospel is the undeserved compassion of God. One of the most compelling examples of that is in the lives who have been transformed by it. That's you." [56:32] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "Jesus' mission was not chiefly to crusade against disease, but rather a ministry to individual people, some of whom were diseased. He wanted those people one by one to feel his love and his warmth and his full identification with them. Jesus didn't generically demonstrate love to random crowds. His love and compassion touched them. He touched individual people. You guys, Jesus drew near to you and I when we were at our worst in compassion, and he identified himself with us." [01:00:24] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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