mercy
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BIBLE PASSAGE - Matthew 5.7
Showing mercy to others? What's all that about? I'll use a story to explain...
There was a traveling preacher in the States who was caught speeding for the 3rd time and faced the possibility of losing his license which would stop his preaching ministry. He said to the sheriff, 'I deserve to lose my license and receive justice but I just ask you for mercy.' The sheriff told him he'd never heard anyone say this before and let him off. That's mercy - someone treating you with a kindness that you don't deserve. That's why we say God is 'merciful'.
Can you think of a time when you should have been punished but you were let off? Can you think how you felt, how grateful you (should) have been?
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Showing mercy - list ways you and I can show mercy to others:
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Take a look at Romans 12.13-21 and write down ways you can show mercy:
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Now take a look at Romans 12.8 (the last sentence). This is about spiritual gifts and it gives one other qualification when talking about mercy. What is it?
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Q. How would you react if someone different came to your group - would you ignore them or would you treat them as one of the group? Can you think of examples?
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What would Jesus do? (Go to Luke 7.36-50). Write down what happened (in summary), what Jesus said and the points that Jesus makes:
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THINK: How can you change to be more like Jesus? Are you willing to change? Write a prayer or statement of commitment to God. Be careful, if you promise something to God he will expect you to see it through...
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