1. Preparing Our Hearts to Reach Out: Serving the Marginalized

2. “Do not mistreat an alien or oppress him, for you were aliens in Egypt. “Do not take advantage of a widow or an orphan. If you do and they cry out to me, I will certainly hear their cry. Exodus 22:21-23

3. When you reap the harvest of your land, do not reap to the very edges of your field or gather the gleanings of your harvest. Leave them for the poor and the alien. I am the L ORD your God. Leviticus 23:22

4. If one of your countrymen becomes poor among you and sells himself to you, do not make him work as a slave. He is to be treated as a hired worker or a temporary resident among you; he is to work for you until the Year of Jubilee. Then he and his children are to be released, and he will go back to his own clan and to the property of his forefathers. Because the Israelites are my servants, whom I brought out of Egypt, they must not be sold as slaves. Do not rule over them ruthlessly, but fear your God. Leviticus 25:39-43

5. If there is a poor man among your brothers in any of the towns of the land that the L ORD your God is giving you, do not be hardhearted or tightfisted toward your poor brother. Rather be openhanded and freely lend him whatever he needs. Be careful not to harbor this wicked thought: “The seventh year, the year for canceling debts, is near,” so that you do not show ill will toward your needy brother and give him nothing. He may then appeal to the L ORD against you, and you will be found guilty of sin.

6. Give generously to him and do so without a grudging heart; then because of this the L ORD your God will bless you in all your work and in everything you put your hand to. There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your brothers and toward the poor and needy in your land. Deuteronomy 15:7-11

7. We are called to care for the marginalized.

8. Principles for relating to people on the margins. Don’t misuse your power over the marginalized. Remember God’s grace to you and be gracious. Create opportunities for the marginalized. Find ways to restore people from the margins. Be generous and even vulnerable to the marginalized.

9. Jesus cares about the marginalized. Intentionally become involved with the marginalized. Learn the stories of the marginalized.