Select Page

Compassionate – What God is Like

Apr 24, 2023 | 0 comments

SERMON SERIES RESOURCES:

To listen to this post read for you click here:

We are in a sermon series called “What God is Like”. It is based off of Exodus 34:6 where God gives a description of God’s character:

6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.”

You can listen to the first sermon here: What God Is Like Sermon 1

These 5 descriptions of God’s character reveal to us who God has been, is and will be!

  • Compassionate
  • Gracious
  • Slow to Anger
  • Abounding in Love
  • Faithful

We see throughout the metanarrative (story of the Bible) these aspects of God’s character in the stories told, and we see all of these character attributes in Jesus – God in the flesh.

Last Sunday we started with the first characteristic on the list – Compassionate: You can listen to that sermon here

First we receive from God and then we are able to reflect God’s character to the world around us.

We have resources below in this email to go deeper and to engage with a group or conversation partner. However, we also know that this topic brings up the need for some to have prayer support or referrals for counselors and/or spiritual directors. See our care resources: Mill City Church Care Resources

PRAXIS GATHERINGS – We are also going to have a gathering time for all ages every Wednesday from 6:30-8pm at the church  4/19   4/26   5/3   5/10   5/17    5/24   

This is a time to put into practice what we are learning from scripture each week. There will be a discussion and then a spiritual practice to do together. You can join any week you are able – no need to sign up, just come to door 3 at the church by 6:30pm any Wednesday.

All ages are invited to come! Mill City Youth group will be engaging the same topic and there will be space for Elementary kids to participate and a childcare option for little kids.
*no dinner provided but feel free to bring your own

GOING DEEPER IN STUDY:

GOING DEEPER IN A GROUP OR WITH A PARTNER:

  • Opening “Community Time” Question: How would you answer the question, “Who raised you?”
  • Get paper and a pen for this next time of reflection
  • Watch 5 Minute Bible Project Video
  • Discussion Questions (pick which ever resonate with you and you have time for)
    • In the Bible, God’s compassion is consistently shown as both an emotional and active reality. What does God do when he feels compassionate? How does he respond when his people return to him in order to follow him? See: Deuteronomy 4:29-31, Micah 7:19, Isaiah 14:1, Isaiah 49:10, Jeremiah 30:18
    • God’s ancient people fail to return to his ways and end up in exile. Read Isaiah 49:15-16
    • God’s compassion compels him to rescue his people from their self-destructive ways. Learn how God does this by entering into humanity and all of its suffering see Isaiah 53. Discuss your observations.
    • Jesus entered into the suffering of humanity to bring restoration Matthew 9:35-36, Luke 13:34 What are some of the ways Jesus embodies the compassion of God?
    • Describe the ways followers of Jesus are called to live out the same self-giving compassion of God see Luke 6:35-36, 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, Colossians 3:12-13
    • What is one specific example of how this could be practiced in the life of the Church today?
  • Spiritual Practices
    • Dwelling in Worship – Listen to this song and write down the lyrics that are highlighted to you and share with the group after listening.
    • Imaginative Prayer – Start with prayer, ask for spiritual protection for you mind and for God to give you an open heart. (For imaginative prayer with Jesus stories, click here)
      • Part 1:
        • Imagine a time in the last year or two when you were experiencing pain, suffering, loss or heartache.
        • Now picture the setting(s) of that painful experience.
        • Imagine yourself there, go back and think through a few scenes that were a part of that season/experience. Go back over the scenes in your mind. What was said, what was heard, what was seen, smelled, touched? How did you feel?
        • Now rewind the scenes in your mind and enter the scene again. This time, imagine that you see yourself as a character in the narrative – you are watching the character from above or beside, 3rd person.
        • Look around the scene, and ask, Jesus, where were you during this experience.
        • Where in the room do you see Jesus, do you hear him saying anything? What is his posture? What are his non verbals?
        • Pause and pray – “Jesus, show me only what you want me to see, bind the enemy from my mind.”
        • Look around again – where in the room do you see Jesus, do you hear him saying anything? What is his posture? What are his non verbals?
        • Take to write down in your journal what you saw and sensed.
      • Part 2:
        • Imagine a time in the last year or two when you were experiencing frustration, anger, hurt or conflict with someone else.
        • Now picture the setting(s) of that experience.
        • Imagine yourself there, go back and think through a few scenes that were a part of that season/experience. Go back over the scenes in your mind. What was said, what was heard, what was seen, smelled, touched? How did you feel?
        • Now rewind the scenes in your mind and enter the scene again. This time, imagine that you see yourself as a character in the narrative – you are watching the character from above or beside, 3rd person. You also see the other person in the scene.
        • Look around the scene, and ask, Jesus, where were you with the other person during this experience.
        • Where in the room do you see Jesus, do you hear him saying anything? What is his posture? What are his non verbals?
        • Pause and pray – Jesus, show me only what you want me to see, bind the enemy from my mind.
        • Look around again – where in the room do you see Jesus, do you hear him saying anything? What is his posture? What are his non verbals?
        • Take to write down in your journal what you saw and sensed.
      • Part 3:
        • Share with your group or conversation partner – what was that experience like for you.
        • Share whatever you feel comfortable sharing
        • Wonder with each other if there is a step God is inviting you to take to receive his compassion or offer his compassion resulting from this practice.
      • Part 4:
        • Take time to pray for each other
        • Pray for spiritual protection as you go.