This week is all about being great neighbours, particularly by showing compassion.  But what does it look like to show compassion for our neighbours?

Start at the beginning of this series.  We started with knowing names, then learning stories as acquaintances.  Those two things help us to know the needs of our neighbours.  Then we can find ways to help – near or far.

When someone near you has a new baby, we know they’ll be hungry and having a hard time cooking – maybe you can feed them for a day.  Or further from home, perhaps you can donate to the food banks at the Salvation Army or St. Paul’s on the Hill in Pickering.

When you walk by a homeless person in a heatwave, they are probably thirsty, perhaps you can offer to buy them a bottle of Gatorade or water.  Sit down with them as they drink it.  Or further from home, perhaps you can support water well drilling abroad.

When we see someone lonely in a room, standing alone, we can at least introduce ourselves, and help them get acquainted.  Or when someone moves to the neighbourhood, welcome them!  Further afield, maybe you can volunteer with a local service to immigrants, or an ESL class.

When we know someone can’t afford new clothes that fit, we can share our own, or go on a Value Village spree with them.  Or if you have clothes but don’t know who needs them, don’t wait for a garage sale, instead donate them to the Goodwill or Salvation Army thrift shop.

When someone is going through cancer treatment, or another illness, perhaps we can shovel or cut grass.  Or if you don’t know someone personally, the Cancer Society always needs volunteers who can drive people to appointments.

Finally, if you know someone in prison, perhaps you can visit them and make it clear you care for them as a human being loved by God.  Or if you don’t know someone in that situation, you could support a prison fellowship or another ministry to those who are incarcerated.

Whatever you start with, it’s a part of our calling as followers of Jesus to recognize his beloved creatures in trouble and show compassion.

It’s not about earning some reward – it’s simply part of kingdomliness, which is a reward in and of itself.

Challenge: In yesterday’s exercise, who of these six people in need did you say was hardest and easiest to show compassion for?  Plan a practical way to help the needs of both this week – either directly to someone near you, or indirectly as we’ve suggested.

Ryan Sim - May 21, 2014

Wednesday - Change It - Pioneer People

We read an important passage yesterday, and today we’ll focus on just the ending. Here it is again: Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?” And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls. (Acts 2:32-41 ESV) The audience were “cut to the heart”. Peter’s words transformed them, not into a state of sadness, but into action. They asked, “What shall we do? How do we make this right?” Peter has three steps: Repent. Be Baptized. Receive the Holy Spirit. Repent means to turn. This is the first step of change and transformation. If you’ve been heading the wrong way in life, away from God, then the moment of regret and decision to turn around and head back to God is the moment of repentence. Being baptized is a sign that God is washing away someone’s sins. By washing that person on the outside, we show the invisible washing on the inside that only God can do. It’s a public act of having sin washed away from your heart, and having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour. Receiving the Holy Spirit speaks of continued transformation, well beyond the moment of repentence and baptism, and into the future. The Holy Spirit enables Christians to keep going that new direction, even when it’s hard. What did the Holy Spirit do for disciples? We saw last week that he enabled them to speak of Jesus in every language. These brand new disciples, too, will be sent by Holy Spirit to proclaim good news to everyone in the world. Their numbers are growing, and this good news is meant for everyone of all ages and around the world. 3000 people took on this challenge in one day. They became pioneer people – some of the first members of the church, the global phenomenon of people following Jesus and being transformed by him. Next week, we’ll see what they did, their practices when they gathered, and how their actions changed. But first, Question: What do you think changed for those 3000 people? Internally, spiritually, but also relationally?

From Series: Pioneer Story | More Messages from Ryan Sim | Download Audio

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