A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

(Luke 10:25-37)

This is a Key Question!

We live in a world ripe with opportunities for Compassion: • pain and suffering • Difficulty, problems, and sadness • shortcomings and addictions • Disabilities, disasters, and discouragement

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Compassion…“A feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another person suffering misfortune that is also accompanied by action to lighten their

load.

Compassion can never be just a feeling alone- absent action!

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

1 John 2:23-25No one who denies the Son has the Father;

whoever acknowledges the Son has the Father also. 24 See that what you have heard from the

beginning remains in you. If it does, you also will remain in the Son and in the Father. 25 And this is

what he promised us--even eternal life.

So eternal life is not gained through doing… it is gained by being-

in love with Jesus and others!

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

The Story has four parts:Part 1: A Journey, V. 30aPart 2: A Mugging, V 30b

Part 3: The responses, VV 31-35Part 4: The Lesson, VV. 36-37

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Part 1: The Journey V 30a

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Part 2: The MuggingV 30b

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Part 3: The ResponsesV 31-35

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Part 4: The LessonV 36-37

Luke 8:19-21Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see

him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone told him,

"Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you." 21 He replied, "My mother and brothers are those who hear God's word

and put it into practice."

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

1.See People as family- Luke 15:20 (ESV) And he (Prodigal son) arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt

compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

5 Steps to Becoming More Compassionate People

2. Closely observe the actual condition of people who are destitute and in genuine need

Deuteronomy 32:36 (NIV) The LORD will judge his people and have

compassion on his servants when he sees their strength is gone and no one is left, slave or free.  

Matthew 9:36 (ESV) When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

5 Steps to Becoming More Compassionate People

 3. Put Aside grudges and preconceptionsPsalm 79:8 Do not remember the iniquities of our forefathers

against us; Let Thy compassion come quickly to meet us; For we are brought very low.

Ephesians 4:31-32 (NIV) Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and

slander, along with every form of malice. 32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.  

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

5 Steps to Becoming More Compassionate People

 4. Imitate God Psalm 116:5 (NIV) The LORD is gracious and righteous; our God is full of compassion.

Luke 6:35-36 (TLB) "Love your enemies! Do good to them! Lend to them! And don’t be

concerned about the fact that they won’t repay. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as sons of God: for he is kind to the unthankful and to those who are very wicked. 36 "Try to show as much compassion as your Father

does.  

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

5 Steps to Becoming More Compassionate People

 4. Imitate God 1 John 3:17-19 (TLB)

But if someone who is supposed to be a Christian has money enough to live well, and sees a brother in need, and won’t help him —how can God’s love be within him? 18 Little children, let us stop just saying we love people; let us really love them, and show it by our actions. 19 Then we will know for sure, by our actions, that we are on God’s side, and our consciences will be clear, even when we stand before the Lord.

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

5 Steps to Becoming More Compassionate People

5. Allow Jesus to Empower YouPhilippians 2:1-5 (NIV) If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, 2 then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. 4 Each of you

should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

5 Steps to Becoming More Compassionate People

5. Allow Jesus to Empower YouColossians 3:12-15 (NIV)

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave

you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.  

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

5 Steps to Becoming More Compassionate People