To Love Mercy

Key Thought: Evil exists in many forms : poverty, violence, oppression, selfishness, and greed. We need to stand up against these evils and act justly, love mercy, and walk humbly before God and man.

September 21, 2019

1. Have a volunteer read Matthew 6:31-34.

Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
What is Jesus really saying here? Is He saying we should have priorities in what we worry about and focus on?
Personal Application: What things have you focused on this week? What concerns have you had? Does this show where our priorities lie and a need to reprioritize? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your relatives states: “Are we to live like hippies and bums, being leeches on society and others? That doesn’t seem to be a good model for the Christian life. We are supposed to help others, not have them to help us be lazy and undisciplined.” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read James 2:15,16.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
How can we contribute to God answering our prayers for others?
Personal Application: Have you ever seen a situation in which someone needed help and people told them they would pray for them, but didn’t do anything to help them? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your friends states, “Why don’t the church members always help people who need something? Is it because we may be enabling them in dependency? That they may have made bad choices? That they wasted their money? That they have done criminal acts? What reasons does the church have for not helping people?.” How would you respond to your friend?

3. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 58:5-10.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
How can we resist compassion fatigue by resisting the temptation to do nothing because we can’t do everything?
Personal Application: Are there programs the church is involved in or can be that helps with food and clothing in your community? Could it be expanded or improved? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “What is the difference between being obedient to authorities and standing up for the victims of an oppressive authority? Didn’t Jesus rebuke political activism in His day?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

4. Have a volunteer read Isaiah 52:7.

Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
What issue of evil or opportunity have prayed for lately?
Personal Application: How are we being peacemakers in today’s society and in our communities? Share your thoughts.
Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.”Ministry of Healing, p. 148).

Amen!