STUDY 3: COMPASSION & COMMUNITY: IT MATTERS WHAT YOU DO

What Is Covered

Texts: Matt 25:31-46; 1 Cor 13:1-3; 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11-13

Key Verse: Matthew 25:40

“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’ (NIV)

Focus
If you want to see Jesus or do something for Him, reach out to those in need. In Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells us that whatever we’ve done—or failed to do—for “the least of these,” we’ve done for Him.

The Bible is unmistakably clear about the fact that we cannot be saved by good works. We enter a right relationship with God by accepting in faith what Jesus did for us.

But as you helped your students see in Study 2 of this Unit, we will be judged based on our conduct in life. It all comes down to how we reflect Jesus to those around us.

A large part of that reflection is demonstrating God’s love for people, not just a feeling of concern, but active compassion that meets real needs in tangible ways.

This week’s study will help you challenge your students to reach out to others. Those who know Jesus and are taking time to serve Him in this way are doing something that truly matters. It matters to others in this life, but most importantly to God, both now and in the end.

The Basic Message: Explain to students…

• WHAT’S THE BIG IDEA?
Although good works do not save us, we will be judged in part by how we respond to people in need.
• WHY DOES IT MATTER?
By serving those in need, we can serve Christ; by neglecting those in need, we neglect Christ.
• HOW DO I LIVE IT?
Put godly compassion into action by meeting real needs.

Activity Option: JUDGED BY WORKS

Read or ask a volunteer to read 2 Cor 5:10; Rev 20:11-13. According to these passages, what is the basis of final judgment?

Hint: All will be judged according to what they have done.

Guide: Explain that although we are not saved by our own efforts and actions, the Bible is clear that all people — those who accept Jesus and those who reject Him — will one day be judged.

The bottom line is this: It matters to God what you do in life. We should do good works out of deep gratitude for what He has done for us.

Teacher Hint: SAVED BY FAITH. Remind students throughout this unit that our own works and actions are not what save or condemn us.

We are justified or condemned according to our faith in, or rejection of, Jesus and His sacrificial work for us. We should do good works out of deep gratitude for what He has done for us.

Study Overview: Explain that today’s study considers…
• How people often respond to or reject Christ depending on how they react to people in need.
• How meeting or neglecting people’s needs become a way of Iife.
• We must become more active in meeting people’s needs through active compassion and community service.

Inform and Discuss
a). Recognising Needs: A Different Way.
1. Read or ask volunteers to read Matt 25:31-36. What do you think Jesus is asking of us by listing these specific types of needs in verses 35 and 36?

Hint: He expects us to be aware of the needs around us and prepared to reach out to help hurting people.

Guide: Explain that we usually don’t notice what is going on with people around us. Often, it takes a conscious effort to become aware of people’s needs. It helps when we pool our ideas and efforts to help people.

2. In what ways do we see the needs described in Matthew 25 in our society today?

Guide: Encourage students to think of specific issues and instances close to home — in your own city or community.

Then discuss with them some of the ways they could meet these kinds of needs. List some specific Opportunities on the board.

b). Responding to Needs: A Way of Life

1. Read or ask volunteers to read Matt 25:37-44. Why do you think that those who met the needs had to ask Jesus when those occasions happened? What does that tell us about those who acted compassionately?

2. Why do you think that those who didn’t meet the needs were unaware that they neglected Jesus?

Guide: Explain that it’s interesting how both groups — those who met people’s needs and those who neglected them — had the same response to Jesus:

When did we do that? These occasions didn’t stand out to individuals in either group.

Those who missed Christ thought for sure they would have recognized and responded to the King if they saw Him.

But, serving Christ often takes place in the more subtle aspects of life that people tend to overlook or take for granted. The compassion of those who met needs didn’t stand out to them as extraordinary.

They didn’t consider their service to be an inconvenience. Rewards in heaven are given out to those who serve out of compassion, and not to those who merely serve to gain a reward.

3. Selflessness and compassion don’t come easily in most cases. How would a Christian get to the point where he or she acts this way without thinking, so it becomes second nature?

(Hint: Spending time getting to know Jesus better helps a person understand what is important to Him.

It also brings a greater sense of gratitude and a deeper desire to share His love with others. In addition, a person must practice compassion, taking advantage of every opportunity to serve.

4. Read or ask a volunteer to read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3. Can a person do great work of ministry and service without real love?

Explain. (Hint: Yes, anyone can go through the motions of compassion out of a sense of duty, insincere motives, trying to get personal recognition, or even trying to merit God’s favour.

5. How can we ensure that we serve God and others with proper motives? [Hint: A person’s action must be the result of a close, personal relationship with Jesus.

A person who genuinely knows Christ will be in tune with God’s desires and able to serve with His love and pure motives.

Note: Those who have responded to God’s grace and received eternal life must demonstrate gratitude by extending grace and compassion toward others. Believers have no excuse for neglecting people in need.

c) Reaching Jesus: Active Compassion

Read or ask a volunteer to read Matt 25:45-46. Who do you think Jesus means by the “least of these?”.

Hint: Perhaps it means the desperate people who are easily overlooked, who may not have the influence or ability to repay acts of kindness.

Can we truly reach people for Jesus without meeting their practical needs?

Hint: Ultimately, the Holy Spirit is the One who prepares people’s hearts to respond to Christ. But God often chooses to use believers in that preparation.

Most people will not be able to see their deeper spiritual needs until their more obvious needs are met.

In plain terms, we must sometimes help feed and clothe the body before we can help feed and clothe the spirit.

In Jesus’ reply to both the faithful and the unfaithful, He used the terms “whatever you did.” What is significant about the word “whatever’?

Hint: The word is very broad and inclusive. It encompasses many things, particularly the little, less notable things we can do every day.

It isn’t just big, noticeable efforts. It’s ordinary people doing ordinary things through the power of an extraordinary God.

Guide: Emphasise that it is one thing simply to feel concern, but we must act with compassion, literally doing something to meet needs.

Involve Them: Point out that Christians today must embrace the fact that social action and true evangelism are inseparable.

Ask the class to name specific issues in your community reflecting needs that could be met with some form of material, physical, or person-to-person assistance.

List these issues on the board and briefly discuss why students should be concerned about them. Help students brainstorm and begin to plan at least one community service project (e.g., picking up trash in a park, visiting or ministering at an orphanage, etc.).

Emphasise the need to become an asset to your community, available to serve with no hidden agenda other than to be an agent of God’s grace.

Inspire Them: Remind students THE BASIC MESSAGE of this study (pg 64), even as you explain WHAT the Big Idea behind the study is; WHY it matters, and HOW we can live the lesson captured in this study.

Ministry Activity: Ask students to consider if serving seems to come naturally to them. A good indicator might be how they treat their own families.

Challenge them to serve cheerfully and humbly, not grudgingly or pridefully. Allow students to pray and ask God to help them recognise specific opportunities to serve Him by serving their families or friends this week.

Conclude by emphasising that compassion and good works will mean little if not done out of love for God.

Invite students who don’t have a personal relationship with Jesus to accept His forgiveness and give Him the leadership of their lives. That’s what matters in the end.

Teacher Hint: Ask Yourself…

1. Have the students gained awareness of the need in their immediate community?
2. Do they understand that meeting needs should become a way of life?
3. Do they understand that they are serving Jesus with acts of compassion done out of gratitude toward Him?

Daily Dew Drops

Mon: Clothe Yourself with Compassion – Col 3:12-13
Tue: He Will Show You Compassion — Isa 30:18
Wed: He Will Guide You — Isa 49:10
Thu: Make My Joy Complete — Phil 2:1-3
Fri: God Is Ever Mindful of You — Isa 49:15-16
Sat: Fresh Mercies for You – Lam 3:22-23

Action Point

PS: I know you might agree with some of the points raised in this article or disagree with some of the issues raised. Let me know your views about the topic discussed. We would appreciate it if you could drop your comment. Thanks in anticipation.

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