God Is Compassionate

I had the opportunity to preach for the first time this past Sunday morning, in my new pastoral role at Living Hope Neighborhood Church. I really enjoyed this opportunity to share this message. I am excited to see what God is going to continue to do in and through His Church here! Although Sunday's message wasn't recorded (because it was an outdoor service), we do upload our sermons to our web site each week, and you can listen to them here.

God Is Compassionate

Luke 10:25-37 “The Parable Of The Good Samaritan”

What is compassion?
Compassion = splagchnizomai (splock-knee-zho-my) is to be moved as to one's bowels, hence to be moved with compassion, have compassion (for the bowels were thought to be the seat of love and pity)

Compassion is derived from the Latin words “pati” and “cum,” which together mean “to suffer with.”
Compassion asks us to go where it hurts, to enter into places of pain, to share in brokenness, fear, confusion, and anguish.
Compassion challenges us to cry out with those in misery, to mourn with those who are lonely, to weep with those in tears.
-the above were taken from Henri Nouwen

“Compassion is to feel someone else’s pain in your heart.” – Pastor Ford

Compassion starts in our eyes --- we see someone in need
It then moves into our hearts --- we feel the pain of others
It then compels us to move our feet ---we act on what we have seen and felt

Compassion is risky, messy, and requires sacrifice!


(1) A Compassionate God

a) The Compassion of His Character
-Exodus 3:7-8; Jonah 4:11; Matthew 9:36; Matthew 14:14/Mark 6:34

b) The Compassion of the Cross
“Jesus is the Great Samaritan” – Tim Keller
-John 1:14; 2 Corinthians 5:21; Ephesians 2:4-5; Romans 5:8


(2) A Compassionate Church
In order for us to move with compassion we first must be moved by the compassion of Christ. The compassion he showed on the Cross for us, should compel us to show compassion to others.

May we be a Church that is known in the city of Richmond for our Christ-like Compassion!