Called Part 1 Series

CALLED

CALLED TO CARE

OPEN: Good Morning! We are so glad you’re here! Don’t you love this Christmas weather we are having???

If you’re a first-time GUEST, your timing is perfect because I am starting a brand new series today.

The title of the series is “Called”

TEXT: To this you were called, because Chris suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” 1 Peter 2:21

Question: As a Christian, You are Called, but Called to do WHAT?

We are going to talk about that over the next few weeks.

The first part of our being CALLED is we are:

CALLED TO CARE.

I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. Phil 2:20-21 NLT

STORY: Lady on plane “pushing Jesus”.

We need to GENUINELY care for people!

• TO SAY YOU CARE BUT NOT ACT IS TO NOT CARE AT ALL.

TRUE COMPASSION DEMANDS ACTION

Compassion: splagchnizomai (splangkh-nid'-zom-ahee); to feel deep sympathy, to be moved to action.

Every time the Bible says Jesus had compassion, he followed it up with action.

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick. Matt 14:14

Jesus had compassion on them and touched their eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him. Matt 20:34

When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. Mark 6:33-34

STORY: One time I was driving down 259 and I saw a lady stranded on the side of the road. I knew I should have stopped, but all of the excuses started running through my head:

 What if it’s a set up?

 What if one of the church members sees me?

 I’m really in a hurry

 It’s a busy road, someone else will come along

 And a hundred other excuses…..

We find a story a little like mine in the Bible, in the book of Luke.

THE STORY OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN

But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, "And who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:29

In reply Jesus said: "A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he fell into the hands of robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. 31 A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. 32 So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. Luke 10:30-32

• YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE AN EXCUSE TO JUSTIFY NOT GETTING INVOLVED.

COMPASSION

1) INCONVENIENCES.

But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. 34 He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, took him to an inn and took care of him. Luke 10:33-34

2) COSTS.

The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper. 'Look after him,' he said, 'and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.' Luke 10:35

3) CHANGES LIVES.

"Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" 37 The expert in the law replied, "The one who had mercy on him." Jesus told him, "Go and do likewise."

Luke 10:36-37

CLOSE: Set up Movie Clip “Patch Adams”

PLAY CLIP