Unity and Compassion: Seeing Others Through God's Eyes

Devotional

Day 1: Unity in the Body of Christ

We are all parts of the body of Christ, and each part should be treated with equal concern. When one part suffers, every part suffers; when one part is honored, every part rejoices. This unity calls us to see and treat each other with dignity and respect, reflecting God's love in our actions. The Apostle Paul emphasizes this in 1 Corinthians 12, reminding us that our interconnectedness means that our actions and attitudes towards one another have profound implications. When we honor and uplift each other, we reflect the unity and love that God desires for His church. Conversely, when we neglect or harm one another, we disrupt the harmony and witness of the body of Christ.

Reflecting on this, consider how you can contribute to the unity and well-being of your church community. Are there individuals or groups within your church who may feel overlooked or undervalued? How can you extend God's love and concern to them in practical ways? Remember, our unity is a testament to the world of God's transformative power and love. [29:20]

1 Corinthians 12:25-26 (ESV): "That there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together."

Reflection: Think of someone in your church community who may feel overlooked or undervalued. How can you show them that they are an important and valued part of the body of Christ today?

Day 2: Overcoming Anxiety Through Service

Abigail's journey from anxiety to confidence in serving others illustrates the transformative power of compassion. By stepping out of her comfort zone and focusing on the needs of others, she grew in her faith and understanding of what it means to honor those who are often overlooked. This story reminds us that service is not just about meeting physical needs but also about personal growth and spiritual development. When we serve others, we often find that our own fears and anxieties diminish as we focus on the well-being of those around us.

Consider how you can step out of your comfort zone to serve others. Are there areas in your life where fear or anxiety is holding you back from fully engaging in acts of compassion? Trust that God will equip you with the strength and courage needed to serve others, and in doing so, you will experience personal growth and a deeper understanding of God's love. [32:27]

1 Peter 4:10 (ESV): "As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God's varied grace."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where fear or anxiety is holding you back from serving others. How can you take a step of faith to overcome this and serve someone in need today?

Day 3: Vision Leading to Division

The divisions in the Corinthian church were a result of their self-centered vision. When we focus too much on ourselves, we overlook the needs of others. God calls us to open our eyes and see the world as He does, fostering unity and compassion rather than division. This requires a shift in perspective, from self-centeredness to God-centeredness, where we prioritize the well-being of others and seek to build up the body of Christ.

Reflect on how your own vision and focus might be contributing to division rather than unity. Are there areas in your life where you are more focused on your own needs and desires than on the needs of others? Ask God to help you see the world through His eyes, and to cultivate a heart of compassion and unity. [38:33]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV): "Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."

Reflection: Think about a recent conflict or division you have experienced. How might a shift in perspective from self-centeredness to God-centeredness help to resolve this conflict and foster unity?

Day 4: Practical Acts of Compassion

The mission trip provided numerous opportunities for our youth to practice compassion and generosity. From serving meals to building mobility carts, these acts were about more than meeting physical needs; they were about honoring the dignity of every person they encountered. Practical acts of compassion are powerful expressions of God's love and can have a profound impact on both the giver and the receiver.

Consider how you can engage in practical acts of compassion in your daily life. Are there specific needs in your community that you can help meet? Remember that even small acts of kindness can make a significant difference in someone's life and can be a powerful testimony of God's love. [33:21]

James 2:15-16 (ESV): "If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, 'Go in peace, be warmed and filled,' without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?"

Reflection: Identify a specific need in your community that you can help meet this week. How can you take action to show God's love through practical acts of compassion?

Day 5: Seeing Others as God Sees Them

The story of Antonio reminds us that our initial reactions can often be self-centered. By taking a moment to see others as God sees them, we can transform our actions from mere charity to genuine acts of love and respect, fostering true community and unity. This requires us to look beyond outward appearances and circumstances and to recognize the inherent worth and dignity of every person as a beloved child of God.

Reflect on how you view and treat others in your daily interactions. Are there individuals or groups that you tend to overlook or judge based on outward appearances? Ask God to help you see others through His eyes and to respond with love and respect, fostering true community and unity. [51:31]

1 Samuel 16:7b (ESV): "For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart."

Reflection: Think of someone you encounter regularly whom you may have overlooked or judged based on outward appearances. How can you take a step to see them as God sees them and show them love and respect today?

Sermon Summary

### Summary

Good morning, everyone. Today, we explored the profound message of unity and compassion as described in 1 Corinthians 12. We began by reflecting on the various activities our youth engaged in over the summer, including Vacation Bible School, youth group meetings, and a mission trip to Columbia, Missouri. These experiences were not just about service but about seeing and treating people with dignity and respect, especially those who are often overlooked.

We delved into the scripture from 1 Corinthians 12, which emphasizes that we are all parts of the body of Christ, and each part should be treated with equal concern. If one part suffers, every part suffers; if one part is honored, every part rejoices. This was vividly illustrated through the story of Abigail, a young girl who initially felt anxious about serving at a community meal site but grew in confidence and compassion over the weekend.

The mission trip was filled with opportunities for our youth to practice compassion and generosity. They served meals, built mobility carts for people in other countries, and even worked at a second-chance store like Goodwill. These acts of service were not just about meeting physical needs but about honoring the dignity of every person they encountered.

We also discussed the divisions within the church in Corinth, which Paul addressed by pointing out their "vision problem." Their focus on themselves led to division, much like how our own self-centeredness can lead to overlooking others. We are called to open our eyes and see the world as God does, treating each person as a valuable part of the body of Christ.

One poignant story from the mission trip involved a man named Antonio, a recent immigrant struggling to get by. Initially, I offered him our leftovers, but with the help of our group, we invited him to sit and eat with us, treating him with the respect and dignity he deserved. This story serves as a reminder that our vision should lead to unity, not division.

In conclusion, we are challenged to live differently, to see the world through God's eyes, and to treat every person with the honor and love they deserve. Let us reflect on this as we move into a time of offering and prayer.

###

Key Takeaways

1. centered vision. When we focus too much on ourselves, we overlook the needs of others. God calls us to open our eyes and see the world as He does, fostering unity and compassion rather than division. [38:33]
4. Practical Acts of Compassion: The mission trip provided numerous opportunities for our youth to practice compassion and generosity. From serving meals to building mobility carts, these acts were about more than meeting physical needs; they were about honoring the dignity of every person they encountered.

5. Seeing Others as God Sees Them: The story of Antonio reminds us that our initial reactions can often be self-centered. By taking a moment to see others as God sees them, we can transform our actions from mere charity to genuine acts of love and respect, fostering true community and unity.

### [38:33]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[27:11] - Opening Prayer and Introduction
[28:19] - Summer Activities Recap
[29:20] - Reading from 1 Corinthians 12
[30:30] - Mission Trip to Columbia, Missouri
[31:32] - Abigail's Story: Overcoming Anxiety
[33:21] - Acts of Service and Compassion
[35:20] - Serving at Wilkes Boulevard United Methodist Church
[37:04] - Divisions in the Corinthian Church
[38:33] - Vision Leading to Division
[40:04] - Armor of God and Unity
[41:25] - VBS and Judy's Compassion
[43:42] - Bad Vision Leading to Division
[44:56] - Communion and Community Meals
[46:27] - Final Mission Trip Story: Antonio
[51:31] - Treating Others with Dignity and Respect
[53:18] - Conclusion and Reflection

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What activities did the youth group participate in over the summer, and how did these activities help them practice compassion and generosity? ([28:19])
How did Abigail's experience at the community meal site illustrate the message of 1 Corinthians 12 about treating each part of the body with equal concern? ([31:32])
What was the "vision problem" in the Corinthian church that Paul addressed, and how did it lead to division? ([37:04])
How did the story of Antonio at Shakespeare's Pizza highlight the importance of seeing and treating others with dignity and respect? ([51:31])

Interpretation Questions

How does the concept of the body of Christ in 1 Corinthians 12 challenge us to view and treat others within our church community? ([29:20])
In what ways did Abigail's journey from anxiety to confidence demonstrate the transformative power of compassion and service? ([32:27])
How can focusing too much on ourselves lead to division within the church, according to the sermon? ([38:33])
What does the story of Antonio teach us about the difference between charity and genuine acts of love and respect? ([51:31])

Application Questions

Reflect on a time when you felt overlooked or undervalued. How did that experience affect you, and how can it help you empathize with others who might feel the same way? ([30:30])
Abigail overcame her anxiety by serving others. Is there an area in your life where stepping out of your comfort zone could help you grow in compassion and faith? ([32:27])
The sermon mentioned that the Corinthian church had a "vision problem" that led to division. Are there areas in your life where self-centeredness might be causing division or conflict? How can you shift your focus to see others as God does? ([38:33])
Think about a recent interaction where you may have treated someone with less dignity than they deserved. How can you approach similar situations differently in the future to honor their worth as part of the body of Christ? ([51:31])
The youth group practiced compassion through various acts of service. Identify a specific way you can serve your community this week that goes beyond meeting physical needs and honors the dignity of those you serve. ([33:21])
The story of Antonio reminds us to see others as God sees them. Is there someone in your life who you have overlooked or judged unfairly? What steps can you take to build a more respectful and loving relationship with them? ([51:31])
How can you cultivate a habit of seeing and treating every person with the honor and love they deserve, especially those who are often overlooked or marginalized? ([53:18])

Sermon Clips

### Quotes for Outreach

1. "The enemy can trick you into thinking that the person next to you is your enemy, but we are not the enemy. It's such a good phrase. I need to say it again. Sometimes we are fooled into thinking that the person next to you is the enemy, but we are not the enemy. The one who you got in an argument with, the one who you judged, the one that you don't necessarily like, that annoying kid, is a child of God, holy and dearly loved. Jesus loves them and we should too." [40:04] (43 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "At the end of the day, God needs us to take the love that we want to focus on ourselves and share it with other people. Now, here's a good way to think about the vision problem that causes division. One way to describe sin is when our heart is curved in on itself. Rather than open to God and to our neighbors, sin curves us in. It distorts us. So that we are really focused on ourselves." [39:21] (34 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We can't be fooled into thinking that the person next to us is the enemy. We can't be curved in on ourselves with sin, but God wants us to open our eyes and see the world the way that God does. Instead of seeing them as an enemy, we have to see each other as part of the same. One that suffers together, one that rejoices together." [41:25] (25 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "When you wake up in the morning, primed to help, when you know your job is just to, you know, serve outside of yourself and do whatever it takes. It's easy because we're from St. Louis and we're not from there. We didn't have to build long-term relationships with people. We just had to meet them and be nice about this long. That's all we had to do. Easy. Easy to be primed for that." [48:52] (23 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "God is a God of truth and love, and God wants our body to look like the whole body of Christ with different gifts and abilities, languages, emotions, beliefs, life stories. It is God who brings us together. It's God who unites us and loves us. It's up to us to see the world the way that God sees the world." [53:18] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

### Quotes for Members

1. "So the missing trip, it was really filled with all these kind of situations, right? Where our kids were put in positions to learn about and to treat people with honor. They were practicing compassion, generosity, and love because greater honor should be given to the parts of the body who lack honor. So students like Abigail, she grew in her confidence over the weekend, right? That first interaction on Friday night, serving with Lowe's and Fish's, it was uncomfortable. New environment, new sights. New smells. Different background. Friday night, she wasn't sure what to expect. But she got more chances over the weekend to serve and think differently about people." [35:20] (46 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Their vision was leading to division. See, they're overlooking people. That's bad vision. They're leaving people out. That's bad vision. They're focusing on themselves. That's bad vision. At the end of the day, God needs us to take the love that we want to focus on ourselves and share it with other people." [38:33] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "We know better. We know that people in life deserve better than our leftovers. That the body of Christ includes those who have plenty and those who don't. That those who feel worthy and have worked hard all week long, and those who haven't. The body of Christ includes families who are grieving. And it includes ones who are celebrating. The whole body of Christ, that's who God wants us to become. One where there is no division, but instead there's unity." [44:56] (41 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "Judy probably doesn't even realize how her faithful actions changed him that week. She just saw that one part of the body of Christ was suffering so she sat down to suffer alongside it. Practicing. We can use this story from first Corinthians 11, just that chapter before that, as an example of what it looks like when we don't do that. When we don't suffer with each other. It's a good example of bad vision that leads to division." [43:42] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "So Dot Ritz, bless her heart, she pulls out her wallet and hands me an Antoine and says, just go buy him food. And Julie, who happens to speak Spanish as a middle school Spanish teacher, her eyes light up. So she goes with me back to Antonio. We took the man up to the counter and Julie made small talk in this beautiful language, which I could not understand. I had no idea what they were talking about. But we ordered food, for Antonio. And then we treated him with respect and honor. We brought him food and he sat at our table." [51:31] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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