03-13-2022
03-13-2022
Rev. Trevor Johnston, (LOX & Online), Rev. Jose Marrero (WPB), Rev. Efrain Silva (COH Español)
Sermon Series: Who Cares? Growing a Heart Like Christ
Week 2: Least and Last
English PDF file for printing.
Para imprimir el archivo PDF en Español
1. Read our theme verse for this series 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 - Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
2. Empathy is feeling what someone else feels, which is so important. Share about a time when you made an attempt to feel what someone else was feeling.
3. Compassion goes one step beyond empathy. Paul writes in our theme verse above that God is the Father of compassion. How would you define compassion?
4. We’ve included “compassion” in Community of Hope’s Statement of Faith because it’s one of the most mentioned ideas in Scripture; in fact it comes up over 3,000 times in the Bible! Article 6 of our church’s Statement of Faith says, “God calls all Christians to show compassion to those in need and to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves.”
What does this statement mean to you, and what are some ways a person could live this out?
5. Read Matthew 25:31-40 – “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.
34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, 36 I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
37 “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
40 “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
When you read this passage, what questions or thoughts come to your mind?
The Test
6. Share about a very challenging test you had to take in any area of life. What was this experience like for you? How did you prepare for the test?
7. Read 2 Corinthians 5:10 - For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each of us may receive what is due us for the things done while in the body, whether good or bad.
Jesus says there will be a test at the end of time; and because he loves us, he tells us exactly what will be required on the test. What will this test be about?
8. Read Ephesians 2:8-10 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Ephesians 2:8-9 is a well-known Scripture that clearly teaches no one can earn salvation by doing good works. This is a core teaching of the Christian faith. What does verse 10 add to your understanding of salvation and good works? What is Paul saying here?
The Least
9. Jesus said that God’s test at the end of time will be about how we treated “the least.” Who are the least?
10. Bono, the lead singer of U2, once said... “Because whatever thoughts we have about God, who he is, or even if God exists, most would agree that God has a special place for the poor. The poor are where God lives, God is in the slums, in the cardboard boxes where the poor play house. God is where the opportunity is lost and lives are shattered. God is with the mother who has infected her child with a virus that will take both their lives. God is under the rubble in the cries we hear during wartime. God, my friends, is with the poor, and he is with us, if we are with them.”
What do you think of what Bono said?
The Disguise
11. Jesus said when we help “the least,” we are actually helping Jesus himself. Read Hebrews 13:2 – “Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
If you’ve ever sensed Jesus was present in someone you helped, share about that experience.
12. Try doing World Vision’s Matthew 25 Challenge this week or sometime during lent. It’s a practical, tangible way to grow your compassion for the least and connect with those living in poverty. Every day, you’ll get a text with a daily challenge, a story of children from around the world, and a devotional for you and your family to read and discuss together. To sign up – text COHM25 to 56170. The deadline to sign up is this Tuesday, even if you plan to do it at a later date.
Ready for your next step? – If you would like to take a next step in your faith journey, such as trusting your life to Christ or getting baptized, text the word “Next” to 561-264-6079 and follow the steps there, and we’ll contact you to help you do that.
News and Announcements:
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Easter Egg Hunt: We are excited about our Egg Hunt, which will be held at all three of our campuses! This is our biggest outreach to our communities as we invite families to enjoy games, activities, inflatables, crafts, egg hunts and more – all at no cost. Please help us by volunteering and by bringing lots of filled eggs. More information at https://communityofhope.church/egghunt
Prayer Walk: Throughout Lent, we invite you to make use of our beautiful Prayer Walk on our Loxahatchee Campus. You can use it alone, with your family, or with your small group. Find the entrance at the edge of the woods on the west side of our parking lot, then follow the 14 crosses along the pathway through the woods. Each cross has a Scripture reminding you of Jesus’s sacrifice on your behalf. At the end of the pathway, there’s a pavilion with picnic tables where you can meditate and pray alone, or enjoy a picnic with your family or small group as you discuss what you experienced. This is a wonderful activity for small groups and families to do together during Lent. Get more information at http://www.communityofhope.church/lent.
Good Friday Experience: Friday, April 15 | 4:30pm - 7:30pm | At all our campuses - Loxahatchee, West Palm Beach and Lake Worth – we invite you to an indoor walk-through experience designed to creatively help you reflect on what Jesus did for us on the cross! Come by yourself or with your family anytime between 4:30pm & 7:30pm. Available in both English and Spanish with versions for adults or for families with small children.
Connections - Connections is a 4-week class on how to live the Christian life, and it’s also the best way to get more connected at Community of Hope. You’ll learn about our church’s mission, values, and statement of faith. After the four weeks, you’ll have the opportunity to become a Community of Hope partner, if you wish, which opens more opportunities for leadership and service. Our next class will be held at our Loxahatchee Campus in-person and also simultaneously on Zoom on Wednesdays, 7-8:15pm starting March 23rd. Register at https://communityofhope.church/connections
Thank you for your regular financial support, which makes it possible for us to minister to you and to our community! If you haven’t already, consider setting up automated giving to help you be consistent even when you’re traveling. To give to Community of Hope go to https://communityofhope.church/give.