Thursday, May 14, 2015

Community of Compassion - Better Together Devotion by Stacy A. Davis




Family Fun Icebreaker: Who is an easy person for you to talk to? Why?

Topic Question: How are we Better Together?

Today’s Big Idea: Community of Compassion
God wants a community that shows compassion to the world around them. God wants His compassionate community to reflect His heart, sending the message that this compassion is due to God’s amazing grace! Your compassion for the right lifestyle should point others to Jesus and give them a desire to have that kind of heart. God has placed you in schools, in jobs, in friendships, and in a family. He wants your heart to reflect His moral values when you are around others. As the body of Christ that lives life around a world of immoral people, God wants you to stand out and be different, making moral or right choices. There is power in numbers, and by being part of a large group that shares God’s compassion with others; it gives glory to our amazing God! As a part of God’s community living out God’s moral values, you can be part of the group that influences others around you to do the right thing by your words and actions.

Talk with God: Read the scripture aloud.
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle,
open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and
sincere. James 3:17 (ESV)

Walk with God: Read aloud and discuss.
God wants you to be part of the group that shines brightly. God wants you to “Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven” (Matthew 5:16 [NASB]). He wants His community to stand out in their words and behavior. He desires others to notice His group and wonder why they are different. One of the ways that you can stand out is in your conversations. You can listen well and look for the good in other people. You can compliment others, and you will stand out if you do. Some people look for the negative and make fun of others. God wants a community of people who show wisdom from above and are pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, merciful, good, impartial and sincere.

Discuss with your family: If you participate in a church service, project, or mission trip, how does that glorify God? How does donating or handing out food at a food pantry show sincere faith and compassion to others? What are other ways to show God’s compassion to the world?

Prayer suggestion: Pray for God to help your family reflect His good character in the community around you. 

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