Ministries of Mercy – Week 1: Introduction/Chapter 1: The Call to Mercy

MERCY MINISTRY MOMENT

1. Operation Christmas Child - November 18th
2. Helping Up Mission
• October 28th - meals (3:30 PM - 7 PM)
• Ongoing Support
• Men's Ministry @ COG
• Tutor in the learning center
• Serve in the Kitchen
• Donate your services as a skilled tradesman, medical, dental, mental health or legal professional
• Provide administrative support
• Sort and stock donations in the Mission Thrift Store

INTRO

• Luke 10: 25-37

• ?Who is my neighbor?

• Keller

• Homeless: "average homeless person is an unemployed parent in his or her mid thirties looking for work, battling personal challenges..."

• Working Poor: 1996 survey revealed that 1 in 5 homeless are working full or part-time

• Children of Poverty: a Columbia study revealed that 62% live in working families and 17% live in suburban areas

• Youthful Poor: 35% of all families in poverty are run by young single mothers

• New Ethnics: 19% of the poor are hispanic and growing

• Blue-Collar Poor: the former working who could once make $25,000+ a year with a high school diploma is disappearing

• Gray America: By 2050 4.6% of the population will be over 85 compared to 1.4% in 1995 with 20% over 65 in 2050

• Sick: "while medical costs and insurance rates keep sky-rocketing. Hospitals are having to rely more and more on marketing research and "bottom-line" (profitability) decision making."

• Prisoners: "prisons are often not part of the solution for crime and poverty, but part of the problem"

CHAPTER 1

• The Essence of Love

• ? In what ways does our mercy to the needy reflect the love of Christ?

• "The ministry of mercy is expensive, and our willingness to carry it out is a critical sign of our submission to the lordship of Christ." (Luke 10: 35)

• "Jesus is seeking to humble us with the love God requires, so we will be willing to receive the love God offers." (Luke 10: 33)

• "Real love is expressed in deed as well as in word." (Luke 10: 37)

• ? Before we are able to give mercy, what needs to happen in our lives? Describe how change in your own life is needed.

• Mercy is not optional

• Isaiah 58: 5-8

• ? Why is it that we tend to think of mercy as an option?

• "The striking truth is that the work of mercy is fundamental to being a Christian"

• "a gardener does not destroy nature, nor leave it as it is. He cultivates and develops it..." (Gen 1:28, 2:15)

• Christ, Our Model

• ? In what ways is Christ our model for mercy?

• True Adam

• Christ - subduing all creation to God

• Christian - bringing all creation into subjection to the Lord

• True High Priest

• Christ - giving mercy to all in need

• Christian - sacrifices to God include deeds of Mercy

• Great Deacon

• Christ - identifying with the poor and pouring himself out in costly service

• Christian - washing the feed of others in humble service

• "Most of us have not come to grips with the clear directive of Scripture that all Christians must have their own ministry of mercy. We must each be actively engaged in it ourselves." (Luke 10: 36-37)