Part 2

Seeing & Responding to People like Jesus Two foci for 2009 –Bringing people to spiritual maturity –Seeing & Responding to people like Jesus

Fear Ignorance Lonliness & Isolation Self Absorbed Pride Desensitized Disinterest Priorities Life is good T h e A n c h o r s

Vulnerability True Biblical Understanding Lonliness & Isolation God’s Heart No difference Own problems No Conviction Priorities No Time The Anchors

The Love of God Compels Us “Each person is Jesus in disguise” Mother Teresa “We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop.” Mother Teresa …love those who need love the most

Actioning matters of Compassion, Mercy & Justice in Jesus’ Name brings hope and love to those who need it most

The Old Testament Preface Micah 6:8 “He has showed you what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.”

Micah 6:6-7 With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old? Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, with ten thousand rivers of oil? The Old Testament Preface

Amos 5:21-24 I hate all your show and pretense — the hypocrisy of your religious festivals and solemn assemblies. I will not accept your burnt offerings and grain offerings. I won’t even notice all your choice peace offerings. Away with your noisy hymns of praise! I will not listen to the music of your harps. Instead, I want to see a mighty flood of justice, an endless river of righteous living. (NLT)

 MT 9:13 But this is what I need you to do: go and learn what this means ‘I desire mercy not sacrifice’ Injustice that is brought about by human beings always has the potential to see God’s justice ushered in.

Actioning matters of Compassion, Mercy & Justice in Jesus’ Name brings hope and love to those who need it most

The New Testament Call to Action Gal 2:10 “All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do” Eager… Make every effort, Do one’s best Do what is in your power to do

“In this life, we cannot do great things. We can only do small things with great love” Mother Teresa Aim to do the small things in great love The New Testament Call to Action

James 1:27 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. (NIV) Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world. (MSG) The New Testament Call to Action

I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me a drink, I was homeless and you gave me a room, I was shivering and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you stopped to visit, I was in prison and you came to me… Gifts to those in need = Gift to God Matthew 25:31ff "Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what's coming to you in this kingdom. It's been ready for you since the world's foundation. And here's why:

Actioning matters of Compassion, Mercy & Justice in Jesus’ Name brings hope and love to those who need it most