Embracing Compassion: Welcoming Strangers with Love
Summary
In his sermon, Pastor Chris Clemens continues the series "Shine," focusing on the theme of compassion and welcoming strangers. Drawing from Matthew 25:31-35, he emphasizes the spiritual significance of our attitudes towards those who are different from us. He underscores Jesus' compassion for the marginalized and encourages the congregation to extend the same kindness to strangers. He acknowledges that it may not be instinctive to treat strangers kindly, but stresses the importance of going beyond mere politeness to truly welcome and accept those who are different.
The pastor uses a real-life example from social media to illustrate the negative consequences of discriminatory behavior. He describes a young woman on a bus in New York City who, while under the influence, berates people she believes are talking about her and tells them to go back to where they came from. The pastor uses this example to encourage the congregation to understand the impact of their actions and to treat others with respect and equality.
Pastor Clemens also emphasizes the importance of engaging with people who are different from us. He challenges the congregation to consider how they interact with those who are different from them, whether it be in terms of race, ethnicity, language, or lifestyle. He references the Old Testament concept of strangers, who were foreigners and had different beliefs, and notes that God instructs His people to care for and protect them. He emphasizes that God loves all people, regardless of whether they worship Him, and expects His people to do the same.
The pastor shares a personal story about traveling to a small community in Ohio for work and feeling unique due to the lack of diversity. However, he was pleasantly surprised when he met someone who was excited to see him and went out of their way to make him feel welcome. He uses this story to illustrate the power of welcoming and making others feel at home. He also discusses the mission and work of an organization that aims to help refugees in their resettlement process, sharing two impactful stories, including a Congolese family of nine who arrived in America with only one duffel bag and had never experienced electricity or beds before.
Finally, the pastor addresses the concept of xenophobia, which is the fear of strangers or people who are different. He explains that this fear is ingrained in our culture, evident in the vocabulary we use, such as "estranged" and "alienate," which imply distance and treating someone like a stranger. However, he highlights that God calls for spiritual separation, not mistreatment of different people. He encourages the congregation to challenge their biases and treat others with love and respect.
Key Takeaways:
- Pastor Clemens emphasizes the importance of extending compassion and kindness to strangers, drawing from Jesus' teachings in Matthew 25:31-35. He encourages the congregation to go beyond mere politeness to truly welcome and accept those who are different ([12:45]).
- The pastor uses a real-life example from social media to illustrate the negative consequences of discriminatory behavior. He encourages the congregation to understand the impact of their actions and to treat others with respect and equality ([22:30]).
- The pastor challenges the congregation to consider how they interact with those who are different from them, whether it be in terms of race, ethnicity, language, or lifestyle. He emphasizes that God loves all people, regardless of whether they worship Him, and expects His people to do the same ([32:15]).
- Sharing a personal story about feeling out of place in a small community in Ohio, the pastor illustrates the power of welcoming and making others feel at home. He also discusses the mission and work of an organization that aims to help refugees in their resettlement process, sharing impactful stories of their work ([42:50]).
- Addressing the concept of xenophobia, the pastor encourages the congregation to challenge their biases and treat others with love and respect. He emphasizes that God calls for spiritual separation, not mistreatment of different people ([52:30]).
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Matthew 5:14-16 [07:40]
2. Matthew 25:31-35 [38:39]
Observation Questions:
1. What does Matthew 5:14-16 tell us about our role as Christians in the world?
2. In Matthew 25:31-35, what are the actions that Jesus commends?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Matthew 5:14-16 define "good works" and how does it relate to glorifying God?
2. What does Matthew 25:31-35 suggest about the importance of compassion and service in the Christian life?
Application Questions:
1. How can you "shine your light" in your community this week in a way that others may see your good works and glorify God?
2. Can you think of a specific person or group in your life that you can serve or show compassion to this week, as suggested in Matthew 25:31-35?
3. How can you move from being a hearer of the word to a doer of the word in your daily life?
4. What is one way you can demonstrate compassion to those who are different from you, reflecting the teachings in Matthew 25:31-35?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Way of Christ
The sermon emphasizes the importance of knowing and showing the way of Christ to the world. This involves not just understanding His teachings, but also living them out in our daily lives, reflecting His love and compassion to those around us ([33:27]).
Bible Passage: James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Reflection: How can you better embody the teachings of Christ in your interactions with others this week?
Day 2: Connecting with God
The sermon encourages us to actively seek connection with God, not just through prayer and worship, but also through our interactions with others. This connection is not just about acknowledging His presence, but also about seeking His guidance and wisdom in our lives ([34:11]).
Bible Passage: Jeremiah 29:13 - "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
Reflection: What steps can you take this week to deepen your connection with God?
Day 3: Expressing Compassion
The sermon highlights the importance of expressing compassion to those in need. This is not just about providing material assistance, but also about showing empathy, understanding, and love ([38:39]).
Bible Passage: Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
Reflection: Who in your life is in need of compassion, and how can you show it to them this week?
Day 4: Treating Others with Respect
The sermon reminds us of the importance of treating all people with respect, regardless of their background or circumstances. This is a reflection of God's love for all His children, and our call to love our neighbors as ourselves ([41:58]).
Bible Passage: Leviticus 19:34 - "The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt. I am the LORD your God."
Reflection: How can you show respect and love to someone who is different from you this week?
Day 5: Being Doers of the Word
The sermon calls us to be not just hearers of the Word, but doers as well. This involves actively living out the teachings of the Bible in our daily lives, and seeking to reflect Christ's love and compassion in all we do ([01:05:24]).
Bible Passage: 1 John 3:18 - "Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth."
Reflection: What specific action can you take this week to live out the teachings of the Bible?
Quotes
1. "I was a stranger and you welcomed me." This statement from Jesus emphasizes the importance of showing compassion and hospitality towards those who are different or unfamiliar to us. It challenges us to go beyond mere cordiality and truly embrace and welcome strangers into our lives. [43:11]
2. "All of the descriptions that the king or the shepherd gives of those who are on his right side are expressions of compassion." This quote highlights the significance of showing compassion not only towards physical needs such as food and water but also towards emotional needs, particularly in welcoming and accepting those who are different from us. [43:49]
3. "We aren't naturally in that place and socially that's not kind of where we reside... you still tend to treat strangers differently." This quote acknowledges the natural tendency to treat strangers differently and challenges us to examine our own biases and prejudices. It reminds us that true compassion and acceptance require intentional effort and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones. [44:34]
4. "God says when you treat people who are different differently, you won't find yourself on the right side of Jesus. People who are on the right side of Jesus are welcoming people, that's what he's showing his disciples." ([50:15])
5. "Xenophobia, the fear of strangers, is deeply ingrained in our culture. We use words like 'estranged' and 'alienate' to describe the feeling of being distant or treated like a stranger. Even in raising our children, we emphasize 'stranger danger,' despite the fact that over 90% of violence against kids is committed by someone they know."
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