Embracing Compassion: Trusting God's Provision and Generosity
Summary
The sermon explores the theme of compassion, generosity, and trust in God's provision, drawing from various biblical narratives and personal anecdotes. The speaker begins by discussing Jesus' compassion for the crowd that followed him, even when he sought solitude. This compassion is presented as a characteristic of God's image, and the congregation is encouraged to act on the compassion they feel for the needs they see in the world, exemplified by the story of Norman Borlog, who significantly impacted global agriculture and food security.
The Christmas season is highlighted as an opportunity to spread hope, and the congregation is reminded of the upcoming world changer offering, an occasion to give generously. The speaker acknowledges the tension between the desire to be generous and financial constraints but encourages prayerful consideration of participation.
The sermon also addresses the fear of scarcity, using the story of Jesus feeding the thousands with five loaves and two fish, and the Old Testament story of a widow's oil multiplying. The speaker shares personal experiences of worrying about not having enough and emphasizes the importance of focusing on what one has rather than what they lack.
The internal struggle with giving is identified as rooted in fear, with the speaker reassuring the audience that they are not alone in this fear. The disciples of Jesus are cited as examples who also experienced this fear. The speaker encourages gratitude for what one has and to view oneself as a conduit for God's blessings, using the example of Jesus giving thanks before feeding the crowd.
The story of Elisha and the widow is revisited, emphasizing the need to trust God and step out in faith, even when feeling insufficient. The speaker shares their personal journey of trusting God with finances and encourages the congregation to adopt Jesus' pattern for provision: looking up to the source, giving thanks, breaking what we have, and giving it to God.
The speaker concludes by inviting the congregation to surrender their worries and struggles to God, leading a prayer for faith to replace fear. They encourage anyone with fear or worry to symbolically lift their hands as an act of letting go and giving it to God, creating a worshipful atmosphere for the congregation to find peace and freedom from fear.
Key Takeaways:
- Compassion is an essential attribute of God's character, and as followers of Christ, we are called to not only feel compassion but to act on it. The story of Jesus' compassion towards the crowd, despite seeking solitude, teaches us that true compassion moves us to action, even when it's inconvenient. Norman Borlog's life exemplifies the impact one can have when they allow compassion to drive their actions, leading to transformative change in the world.
- The fear of scarcity can paralyze believers, causing them to focus on what they lack rather than what they have. The biblical accounts of Jesus feeding the multitude and the widow's oil multiplying serve as reminders that God's provision often begins with what we already possess. By shifting our focus from scarcity to gratitude, we open ourselves up to God's miraculous provision.
- Generosity is a struggle that involves an internal battle with fear. The fear that giving to others might leave us lacking is common, but the example of Jesus and his disciples shows that even in moments of personal need, we can choose to trust in God's provision. This trust allows us to be generous and to participate in God's work of caring for others.
- Recognizing God as the source of all provision is crucial for a life of generosity. Jesus' act of giving thanks for the bread and fish before their multiplication is a model for believers to express gratitude for what they have, no matter how small it may seem. This perspective shift is necessary to understand the fullness of our blessings and to become conduits of God's generosity to others.
- Surrendering our fears and worries to God is a powerful act of faith. The speaker's invitation to lift hands in prayer symbolizes the release of our burdens to God. This act of surrender is not just a momentary gesture but a step towards living a life characterized by trust in God's care and provision, freeing us from the bondage of fear and allowing us to experience peace and freedom.
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Matthew 14:13-21 - Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand
2. 2 Kings 4:1-7 - The Widow’s Oil
3. John 6:1-14 - Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand (Parallel Account)
#### Observation Questions
1. In Matthew 14:13-21, what was Jesus' initial reaction when he saw the large crowd? How did he respond to their needs? ([49:22])
2. What did Jesus do with the five loaves and two fish before distributing them to the crowd? ([01:09:39])
3. In 2 Kings 4:1-7, what did Elisha ask the widow to do with the little oil she had? What was the result?
4. How did the disciples react when Jesus told them to feed the crowd in John 6:1-14? What was their concern?
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to perform the miracle of feeding the five thousand in a moment of personal grief and exhaustion? ([49:22])
2. How does the story of the widow’s oil in 2 Kings 4:1-7 illustrate the principle of God’s provision starting with what we already have?
3. What does Jesus’ act of giving thanks before breaking the bread and fish teach us about gratitude and trust in God’s provision? ([01:13:47])
4. How does the fear of scarcity affect our ability to be generous, according to the sermon? ([45:36])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you felt moved by compassion but hesitated to act. What held you back, and how can you overcome that barrier in the future? ([53:43])
2. The sermon mentioned the internal struggle with generosity due to fear of not having enough. How can you shift your focus from scarcity to gratitude in your daily life? ([45:36])
3. Jesus looked up, gave thanks, broke the bread, and gave it. How can you apply this pattern of provision in your own life, especially in areas where you feel you lack? ([01:13:47])
4. The speaker shared personal experiences of worrying about not having enough. Identify a specific area in your life where you struggle with this fear. What steps can you take to trust God more in this area? ([01:07:24])
5. The story of Norman Borlog was used to illustrate the impact of acting on compassion. What is one specific action you can take this week to address a need that moves your heart? ([57:05])
6. The sermon concluded with an invitation to surrender worries and struggles to God. What is one practical way you can symbolically "lift your hands" and let go of a specific fear or worry this week? ([01:20:55])
7. How can you participate in the upcoming world changer offering or another act of generosity, even if you feel financially constrained? What steps can you take to prepare your heart and mind for this act of giving? ([43:24])
Devotional
Day 1: Compassion Ignites Transformative Action
True compassion compels one to take meaningful action in response to the needs of others. It is not enough to feel pity or concern; one must allow their compassion to move them beyond convenience and into the realm of impactful change. This is the kind of compassion that reflects God's heart and has the power to transform lives and communities. [07:40]
James 2:15-17 - "Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."
Reflection: Who in your community is in need, and how can you move beyond mere sentiment to provide practical help today?
Day 2: Gratitude Overcomes Scarcity
The fear of scarcity often blinds one to the resources already at hand. By focusing on what is lacking, one can miss the opportunity to be part of God's miraculous provision. Gratitude shifts the perspective from scarcity to abundance, allowing one to recognize and utilize what they have to meet the needs of others and themselves. [14:25]
2 Kings 4:2-4 - "Elisha replied to her, 'How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?' 'Your servant has nothing there at all,' she said, 'except a small jar of olive oil.' Elisha said, 'Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few.'"
Reflection: What are the 'small jars of oil' you possess that you might be overlooking? How can you use them to serve others?
Day 3: Generosity Triumphs Over Fear
The internal battle with fear can hinder one's generosity, but choosing to trust in God's provision enables one to give freely, even in times of personal need. This trust is not naive; it is rooted in the belief that God cares for us and will provide for our needs as we care for others. [21:10]
Matthew 6:31-33 - "So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well."
Reflection: What is one way you can practice generosity this week, trusting that God will provide for your own needs?
Day 4: Gratitude as a Gateway to Generosity
Acknowledging God as the source of all blessings is the first step toward a generous life. By giving thanks for what we have, no matter how small, we align ourselves with Jesus' example and become conduits for God's blessings to flow through us to others. [28:35]
1 Chronicles 29:14 - "But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand."
Reflection: Reflect on the blessings in your life, even the smallest ones. How can you express your gratitude through acts of generosity?
Day 5: Surrendering Fear for Faith
Surrendering our fears and worries to God is an act of faith that frees us from the bondage of fear. It allows us to live in peace and experience the freedom that comes from trusting in God's care and provision. This surrender is a daily practice of releasing our burdens and embracing God's promises. [35:50]
Psalm 55:22 - "Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken."
Reflection: What specific worry or fear can you surrender to God today, and what practical steps can you take to reinforce this act of faith?
Quotes
"You can't hold it and give it to God at the same time. I think there's a power that comes when we begin to let go of it." [01:20:55] (Download)
"Do you know one of the things that I believe really is a characteristic of every human being is that we feel compassion when we see hurting people, when we see brokenness, when we see suffering... There's a capacity for compassion inside of us that when we see something wrong, we say that's not fair." [53:43] (Download)
"World changers, what separates a world changer from every other person in this world is not just somebody who feels bad when you see something, but it's someone who does something about it. That's what makes a world changer." [57:05] (Download)
"It is a big miss when the church of Jesus does not use this opportunity to spread the message of hope to the world around us because statistics show that over 80% of people have said that if someone would invite them to church they would probably go." [40:05] (Download)
"As long as we focus on what we don't have, we will always have the perspective of not having enough. I think that's why Jesus, when he says, 'you give him something to eat'... 'well, what do you have?'" [01:07:24] (Download)
"Fear causes us to see what we don't have. Fear will always cause you to know, we don't have enough. But faith is trusting God for what we can't see." [01:09:39] (Download)
"Faith is putting what you have in God's hands. Faith is saying, in my hands, it's not enough, but God in your hands, I know it's more than enough." [01:11:59] (Download)
"He was looking at the source, not the resource. See most of us have our eyes fixed on a resource and go, it's not very much. You want me to change the world? You don't know it's in my bank account. That doesn't matter." [01:13:47] (Download)
"If we knew the source, we would not fear and fret and worry about the resource. There's something about gratitude that can completely shift your perspective." [01:15:43] (Download)
"What if we began to understand that the blessing and provision that God has given to us isn't just for us? I'm not just going to build bigger barns, but I'm going to recognize that God actually wants to use me as a conduit, that God has blessed me so I can be a blessing to others." [01:17:31] (Download)
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