Wesleyan Perspectives - Wesleyans & Compassion

Scripture Focus: Luke 18:35—19:10The Words to live by: Luke 6:36

Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

Oct 4, 2014 Prayer RequestsUnspoken – three requestsPeggy & Danny -- HealthRuth Gawith – HealthLiz Greene -- RecoveryAnabelle – Praise & Continued SafetyEileen Phillips – recovery from accidentGinnie Jellison – HealthKeith McNew – SalvationJames Alexander -- Salvation

SundayTeacher.comLesson Password: Perseverance

Illustrated Bible Life Password: Fleece

Sandra Great Britain

David Mexico

Saurabh Bangladesh, Angola, Namibia

Ruth India, Israel, Australia, New Zealand

Keith & Ruth Switzerland

Sarah Swaziland

Wayne Africa

Zanner Institute provides education for orphans, street children in DRC - Democratic Republic of CongoA secondary school was founded in 1992 for orphans, street children, and other vulnerable students, continues to grow in size and reputation. It is becoming one of the best schools in Goma, and we have the best result in the state exam. About 70 % of the school's 731 students are considered vulnerable. "The headmaster, Mr. Anaclet Malangulo Muloba, has said that he is proud to be director of the school because he can see how God is working in the lives of our students.

http://globalmission.nazarene.org/

The Nazarene Evangelical School in Beirut, Lebanon, provides education for Syrian refugee children.

US & Canada Nazarene Compassionate MinistriesNazarene Compassionate Ministries seeks to live and act compassionately in the world following Christ’s own life and ministry. We seek to be incarnations of the same gospel that Christ lived and preached and to be witnesses to the same love and compassion God has for our world. In the United States and Canada, NCM works closely with Compassionate Ministry Centers (CMCs) to bring compassion and healing to communities that need the love and presence of Christ. There are over 180 Nazarene Compassionate Ministry Centers in the United States and Canada. You can access our CMC database here to find one in your area. If you would like to find volunteering opportunities at CMCs or in your area, you can visit NazServe to see what volunteer opportunities are available to you.

Chris Gilmore, an associate pastor at First Church of the Nazarene, is Men's Ministry coordinator at Open Door Pregnancy Care Center. (Hutch News photo)

Luke 18: 35 - 43 (NIV) A cry for Mercy35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside

begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was

happening. 37 They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”

38 He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

39 Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he

shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!”

40 Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he

came near, Jesus asked him, 41 “What do you want me to do for you?”

“Lord, I want to see,” he replied.

42 Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” 43 Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God.

When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

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A Cry for Mercy Luke 18:35-43.

What place did the blind man have in society?Why was the man a beggar?What is the significance of the label for Jesus, “Son of David”?Why wouldn’t the blind man be quiet when asked?In what way did the man have faith?Why do you think Jesus responded the way He did?EXAMINE LifeIs Church Only for the Healthy?This blind man was an outcast from society because of a

disability.What disabilities do we see today?Are the disabled still rejected by society today? Explain your

answer.How is the Church doing in providing accommodations for the

disabled?What could it do better?What could this church do better?

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Luke 19: 1- 7 (NIV) The Guest of a sinner1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through.

2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax

collector and was wealthy.

3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but because he was short he

could not see over the crowd.

4 So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since

Jesus was coming that way.

5 When Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him,

“Zacchaeus, come down immediately. I must stay at your house

today.”

6 So he came down at once and welcomed him gladly.

7 All the people saw this and began to mutter, “He has gone to be

the guest of a sinner.” 8

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The Guest of a Sinner --- Luke 19:1-7.

Why was Zacchaeus rejected by his own people?

What do you think Zacchaeus thought and felt when Jesus spoke to him directly?

What does Jesus’ speech to Zacchaeus tell us about Him?

What does the people’s reaction tell us about them?

EXAMINE Life

What is Christ calling you to do right now?

Valuing PeopleWhat kinds of people are despised in our society?What kinds of people are commonly considered to

be unreachable or off-limits in churches today?To objectify someone is to forget that he or she is a

real person. How can we safeguard ourselves from this?

Unlike the blind man and more like Zacchaeus, most of us are very good at taking care of ourselves. How do we guard against the notion that “we get what we deserve” when it comes to money and material possessions?

What is our true value based on?EXPLORE the Word

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Luke 19: 1- 7 (NIV) Being Found8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the

Lord, “Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the amount.”

9 Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham.

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.”

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Being Found Luke 19:8-10.When Zacchaeus felt compassion for others, what was his immediate

response?What was Zacchaeus’s motivation for giving to the poor and those whom he

cheated?What did salvation mean to Zacchaeus?What did Jesus mean when saying that He came to seek the lost?EXAMINE Life “Both-And,” Not “Either-Or”James says this: “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless

is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). Many times people keep the second half of this verse, keeping oneself from the world’s spiritual pollution, but neglect the first—having compassion for those who are dependent on others for their physical, emotional, or spiritual well-being.

What keeps us from taking care of “orphans and widows”—those who are alone in the world?

How do you develop a culture of compassion in a church?What could your class do together as a new project for reaching

out to others? EXERCISE Faith 12

Isaiah 61The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,

    because the LORD has anointed me    to proclaim good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,    to proclaim freedom for the captives    and release from darkness for the prisoners,[a]

2 to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor    and the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn,3     and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty    instead of ashes,the oil of joy    instead of mourning,and a garment of praise    instead of a spirit of despair.They will be called oaks of righteousness,    a planting of the LORD    for the display of his splendor.

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God BreathedWhy is the Bible important in Christian life?

Doctrine & Nourishment are two elements of Bible study; how is each important?

Why did John the Baptist struggle with doubt about Jesus?

How did Jesus’ response help him? 14

Advice from WesleySet aside a little time every morning and

evening for Bible studeyEach time read a chapter each out of the Old

and New TestamentsRead with the intent to know the whole will

of GodRead toward understanding the analogy of

faithBegin with serious and earnest prayer for

understandingExamine yourself in light of what you read

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Unit 2: Wesleyan PerspectiveNext Week – Oct 26

Lesson 3: Wesleyans & Compassion

Luke 18:35 – 19:10Lesson 4: Wesleyans & Wisdom

2 Chronicles 34: 8, 14 - 33Lesson 5: Wesleyans & Hope

Hebrews 6: 9 - 20 16