1 00:00:00,120 --> 00:00:03,880 Welcome to the River City Church podcast and a message by our 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:07,960 lead pastor, Jason Powers. Our prayer is that this message 3 00:00:07,960 --> 00:00:12,240 would inspire and encourage you, build your faith and point you 4 00:00:12,280 --> 00:00:14,720 to the life changing love of Jesus. 5 00:00:15,400 --> 00:00:18,600 May you enjoy the goodness of God as you follow him today. 6 00:00:18,600 --> 00:00:21,280 Good morning River City, how are you all? 7 00:00:21,280 --> 00:00:23,320 Oh, that was awesome. That's the best reaction I've 8 00:00:23,320 --> 00:00:26,200 ever gotten. Calling out so fantastic jobs. 9 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:29,680 For those of you that don't know me, my name is Sean Bowers and 10 00:00:29,680 --> 00:00:30,920 I'm an elder here with the church. 11 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,680 And every once while they ask me to teach. 12 00:00:32,680 --> 00:00:33,440 They just feel. Crazy. 13 00:00:33,440 --> 00:00:35,360 And they're like. We'll give this guy's shot and 14 00:00:35,360 --> 00:00:37,760 today's the day. So I I'm. 15 00:00:37,760 --> 00:00:39,720 Deeply honored when I get a. Chance to do this I look forward 16 00:00:39,720 --> 00:00:42,240 to sharing a message with you all that's that's a very. 17 00:00:42,240 --> 00:00:44,760 Close to my heart, and I think it's really important to kind of 18 00:00:44,760 --> 00:00:48,080 the heart of Christianity. And just to tell you a little 19 00:00:48,080 --> 00:00:50,760 bit more about myself, I've been attending this. 20 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:55,480 Church for I don't know. 15 ish years time's not a real thing in 21 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:57,280 my brain all the time, but it's been a long time. 22 00:00:57,360 --> 00:00:59,200 Long enough to be old enough to be an elder. 23 00:00:59,560 --> 00:01:01,720 I know that because I think that was the only requirement when 24 00:01:01,720 --> 00:01:03,520 Jason. Appointed me an elder who was 25 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:08,600 just you're old let's go. My wife also attends church here 26 00:01:08,600 --> 00:01:09,160 with me her. Name is. 27 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:10,320 Shaney. And she is. 28 00:01:10,320 --> 00:01:14,000 Amazing Shaney keeps me on track all of the time, which I promise 29 00:01:14,000 --> 00:01:15,160 you. Is a full time. 30 00:01:15,160 --> 00:01:18,240 Ministry in and of itself, if you know anything about me. 31 00:01:18,680 --> 00:01:20,080 And then I have. Two kiddos who were. 32 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:23,080 Raised in this church. Baptized in this church and are 33 00:01:23,080 --> 00:01:26,800 now college students which is beyond my like I can't even 34 00:01:26,800 --> 00:01:31,160 understand that that my kids are off in college and old wow so 35 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,080 but this church has been very important to us. 36 00:01:33,600 --> 00:01:37,240 It's a very important place, deeply matters to me, this. 37 00:01:37,240 --> 00:01:40,360 Church community and I've always wanted to to. 38 00:01:40,800 --> 00:01:42,560 Contribute in a positive way and help us. 39 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:45,160 Grow towards. God all of the time and I hope 40 00:01:45,160 --> 00:01:46,640 that today's message. Helps with that as I'll be 41 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:49,600 preaching about. Christian empathy, Christian 42 00:01:49,600 --> 00:01:52,360 compassion, those two concepts which I think it twisted a lot 43 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,120 of times. And I'll give you a chance. 44 00:01:54,120 --> 00:01:56,040 Right away to put this into practice, this empathy and 45 00:01:56,040 --> 00:02:00,960 compassion thing, I am 72 hours out almost exactly from sitting 46 00:02:00,960 --> 00:02:03,320 in Miami at the Orange Bowl watching the Texas Tech Red 47 00:02:03,320 --> 00:02:06,120 Raiders, my beloved. Texas Tech Red Raiders get 48 00:02:06,120 --> 00:02:10,240 dismantled by the Oregon Ducks. So if you could just feel. 49 00:02:10,240 --> 00:02:13,960 Some of my pain empathetically and extend compassion to me in 50 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:15,760 my suffering. Today I would. 51 00:02:15,760 --> 00:02:18,080 Be deeply grateful. Because I'm powering through 52 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:20,560 through that. To be able to preach today, but 53 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:21,800 what? What I want to talk about is 54 00:02:21,800 --> 00:02:24,640 this idea of compassion and empathy in the church I. 55 00:02:24,640 --> 00:02:25,520 Fear that? What? 56 00:02:25,520 --> 00:02:29,120 I see happening in the church, and I'm not just talking about 57 00:02:29,120 --> 00:02:30,640 our church community, I'm talking about kind. 58 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:32,920 Of the church community kind of throughout. 59 00:02:32,920 --> 00:02:36,520 The world, throughout the nation, I see kind of two camps 60 00:02:37,080 --> 00:02:39,880 forming with relation to empathy and compassion. 61 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,000 And I think that one of those camps that's beginning to form 62 00:02:44,000 --> 00:02:47,160 is this is to me, this is a camp I've fallen a lot. 63 00:02:47,520 --> 00:02:49,440 Is the world is. Just kind of overwhelming. 64 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,280 There's a lot going on in the world. 65 00:02:52,280 --> 00:02:53,680 There's a lot of suffering. There's a. 66 00:02:53,680 --> 00:02:55,280 Lot of difficulty. There's a lot of pain in our own 67 00:02:55,280 --> 00:02:58,920 lives and our communities and our families globally. 68 00:02:58,920 --> 00:03:02,280 When we look around, we can just become overwhelmed by the things 69 00:03:02,280 --> 00:03:05,000 that we see and that we come in contact with, and it's kind of 70 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,400 human nature on some levels to begin to shut down. 71 00:03:09,000 --> 00:03:11,120 Because we just. Can't carry all that weight. 72 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:12,680 We weren't designed to carry all that weight. 73 00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:16,440 It's too much for us. So when we get there, it's not 74 00:03:16,440 --> 00:03:19,400 that we stop loving people or that we stop. 75 00:03:19,560 --> 00:03:22,480 Showing up for people, we just kind of run out of margin. 76 00:03:22,480 --> 00:03:25,600 We don't have any more room. To be able to extend the. 77 00:03:25,600 --> 00:03:28,760 Compassion and grace to people sometimes, and that can be 78 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:29,680 dangerous. To our. 79 00:03:29,680 --> 00:03:30,760 To our. Christianity and to our 80 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:33,600 Christian lives. And then on the other side, I 81 00:03:33,600 --> 00:03:36,960 see in this, this kind of the schism that's developing in the 82 00:03:36,960 --> 00:03:38,920 church, I see. Folks who have decided. 83 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:43,800 That empathy and compassion are kind of like signs of weakness, 84 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:46,960 almost. They've they've learned to. 85 00:03:46,960 --> 00:03:50,600 Protect themselves by shutting down and not engaging with these 86 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:51,920 things. Not because they're overwhelmed, 87 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:55,160 but because it's just something that they fear that if they 88 00:03:55,160 --> 00:03:56,480 engage. With folks who are. 89 00:03:56,880 --> 00:04:00,600 Maybe broken or different or somehow they just don't agree 90 00:04:00,600 --> 00:04:02,920 with that they'll be condoning the way. 91 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:04,880 Those people are. Living that they're just not 92 00:04:04,880 --> 00:04:07,160 going to engage with them. And then what happens with that 93 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:11,120 is distance from people who need help becomes considered 94 00:04:11,120 --> 00:04:14,440 discernment and hardness of heart. 95 00:04:14,720 --> 00:04:17,640 Gets. Baptized is kind of a wisdom and 96 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:21,800 withdrawal from people starts to sound like spiritual maturity. 97 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:24,360 And both of these groups are really. 98 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:26,400 Responding to the same pressure, they're responding to the weight 99 00:04:26,400 --> 00:04:29,520 of a broken world. The question is not whether 100 00:04:29,520 --> 00:04:36,160 compassion is costly, because it is the real question. 101 00:04:36,160 --> 00:04:38,000 We have to. Face is is. 102 00:04:38,440 --> 00:04:42,760 Withdrawing from compassion. Ever Christ like is it OK to? 103 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:46,360 Withdraw from compassion and the way we're going to look at that 104 00:04:46,360 --> 00:04:47,240 is we're. Going to explore. 105 00:04:47,240 --> 00:04:51,040 God's nature in situations where He ran into us and to others. 106 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,320 And how did he respond? What was his response to these 107 00:04:55,320 --> 00:04:59,520 moments even when he was at the end and spent and worn out? 108 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:03,360 And I want to start as we talk about compassion with our 109 00:05:03,360 --> 00:05:05,240 confession. Each week. 110 00:05:05,240 --> 00:05:07,320 Here at the church, if you're new or you're visiting, we do a 111 00:05:07,320 --> 00:05:09,960 confession and it's a simple coral response. 112 00:05:09,960 --> 00:05:11,920 I'm simply going to say we are badly broken and you will. 113 00:05:11,920 --> 00:05:16,160 Reply We are deeply loved. And this is a fundamental part 114 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:17,920 of kind of. What we do here each week? 115 00:05:18,280 --> 00:05:20,320 That gives us a chance to come before God and. 116 00:05:20,600 --> 00:05:22,880 Admit that we are. In fact, broken and. 117 00:05:22,880 --> 00:05:24,680 Receive the grace that is so freely. 118 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:26,840 Given through us through. Through Jesus Christ. 119 00:05:27,280 --> 00:05:29,880 So let's do our confession. We are badly broken. 120 00:05:31,480 --> 00:05:34,080 Yeah, for me, I know this has become a fundamental. 121 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,320 Part of my faith. When when Jason started doing 122 00:05:37,320 --> 00:05:40,600 this as a church. Body it was so powerful because. 123 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:43,800 You know, we all know that in our own lives, we, we have 124 00:05:43,800 --> 00:05:45,960 things, we have stuff. We're all. 125 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:47,120 Broken. We all have. 126 00:05:47,120 --> 00:05:49,320 Difficulties we all carry. Pressures we all make bad. 127 00:05:49,320 --> 00:05:51,840 Choices and each. Week we get a chance to come in 128 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:55,200 and just in a simple. Phrase say that we are badly. 129 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:56,640 Broken and receive the. Grace. 130 00:05:57,240 --> 00:05:59,240 Of God and it. Feels good. 131 00:05:59,760 --> 00:06:03,080 It feels good. To know that and that that 132 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:05,160 confession is intentionally held an attention. 133 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,120 Because badly. Broken without the deeply. 134 00:06:08,120 --> 00:06:13,160 Loved just produces shame. And if we have the the. 135 00:06:13,720 --> 00:06:17,480 Just the deeply loved. Without the badly broken, that's 136 00:06:17,480 --> 00:06:18,840 not effective. It won't work. 137 00:06:18,840 --> 00:06:21,440 And if we just say? That we're deeply loved. 138 00:06:21,440 --> 00:06:23,440 Then we're and not acknowledge our brokenness. 139 00:06:23,440 --> 00:06:25,720 Then we're we're kind of being dishonest with God. 140 00:06:26,200 --> 00:06:28,800 We're just taking the grace without admitting that there are 141 00:06:28,800 --> 00:06:30,680 things about us that are in fact broken. 142 00:06:30,680 --> 00:06:34,440 But when we put them together, it tells us a lot about who we 143 00:06:34,440 --> 00:06:38,240 are and a lot about who God is. And here's why that matters when 144 00:06:38,240 --> 00:06:41,320 we're talking about compassion and empathy, This confession 145 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:43,600 resonates with us not just because we want compassion. 146 00:06:44,160 --> 00:06:46,280 For ourselves, but because we. Should also want that same 147 00:06:46,280 --> 00:06:49,640 compassion for others. Right, that feel. 148 00:06:49,640 --> 00:06:51,960 Good that we feel when we do that confession. 149 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,560 We should want that for everyone, not just for 150 00:06:54,560 --> 00:06:57,080 ourselves. But if we just begin to 151 00:06:57,080 --> 00:06:59,840 complain, cling to that compassion just for ourselves, 152 00:07:00,400 --> 00:07:04,320 we haven't become holy, but we become inconsistent, only 153 00:07:04,320 --> 00:07:05,720 wanting that. For us. 154 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:08,240 And grace was never meant to be. Hoarded. 155 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,800 And I get it. The world is heavy. 156 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:17,200 Like pain is real. Many of us are tired. 157 00:07:17,200 --> 00:07:18,920 Not because we didn't care, but because. 158 00:07:18,920 --> 00:07:20,920 We do care. We. 159 00:07:20,920 --> 00:07:26,040 Listen, we show up, we absorb pain that isn't even ours, and 160 00:07:26,040 --> 00:07:28,360 that exhaustion isn't a. Spiritual failure. 161 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:31,600 It's what? Happens when finite people 162 00:07:32,040 --> 00:07:37,080 encounter infinite need. We aren't designed to fix 163 00:07:37,080 --> 00:07:39,840 everything. We are not the Savior, and in 164 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:46,800 Matthew 11, Jesus encounters people just like us, broken and 165 00:07:46,800 --> 00:07:49,400 overwhelmed. The pressures of their lives, 166 00:07:49,400 --> 00:07:50,480 the. Pressures of their families 167 00:07:50,840 --> 00:07:54,440 finances. Food, jobs, shelter. 168 00:07:54,440 --> 00:07:56,640 What are we going to? Do what's next, All those 169 00:07:56,640 --> 00:08:00,600 pressures on them, and when Jesus meets them, hear his 170 00:08:00,600 --> 00:08:02,720 words, listen to what he says to them. 171 00:08:04,320 --> 00:08:07,720 He says Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and 172 00:08:07,720 --> 00:08:08,840 I will. Give you rest. 173 00:08:09,760 --> 00:08:14,080 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and 174 00:08:14,080 --> 00:08:19,320 humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls, for my 175 00:08:19,320 --> 00:08:21,600 yoke is easy and my burden is light. 176 00:08:21,600 --> 00:08:24,760 See, if we're going to understand Christian compassion, 177 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,760 we have to understand the character and nature. 178 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:29,360 Of God and hear when. Jesus meets people. 179 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:31,920 Just like us. Broken and overwhelmed and maybe 180 00:08:31,920 --> 00:08:34,320 even having difficulty listening or concentrating to what he's 181 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:36,159 saying. He doesn't meet them with 182 00:08:36,159 --> 00:08:38,919 judgement. He meets them with comfort, he 183 00:08:38,919 --> 00:08:42,600 says. I can carry this for you, right? 184 00:08:42,679 --> 00:08:44,480 We're just finite. We need to be putting some of 185 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:47,480 these things on Jesus when we encounter difficult situations 186 00:08:47,480 --> 00:08:48,560 in different people. We've got to bring. 187 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:52,800 Jesus into the equation. He doesn't shame that 188 00:08:52,800 --> 00:08:58,000 exhaustion, He names it, and he invites it honestly into the 189 00:08:58,000 --> 00:09:02,040 room, recognizing the that being limited is sometimes. 190 00:09:02,040 --> 00:09:04,560 Faithful you aren't. Supposed to stop being faithful. 191 00:09:04,560 --> 00:09:07,680 To Jesus, just because you're. Limited in your own capacity? 192 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:13,720 See, empathy is not the problem. The mistake comes when 193 00:09:13,960 --> 00:09:16,840 exhaustion convinces us. That empathy. 194 00:09:16,840 --> 00:09:21,560 Itself is dangerous that caring. Deeply is the issue. 195 00:09:22,440 --> 00:09:25,440 So the solution is. We should feel less. 196 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:29,880 That protecting ourselves. Is the right thing to do the? 197 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:32,440 Danger in protecting ourselves is that requires us. 198 00:09:32,440 --> 00:09:38,360 To close our hearts. See, empathy isn't what burns us 199 00:09:38,360 --> 00:09:39,120 out. It's when we. 200 00:09:39,120 --> 00:09:41,960 Try to be the savior. That's what burns us out. 201 00:09:43,560 --> 00:09:46,200 Compassion should move us towards a person in front of us. 202 00:09:46,920 --> 00:09:48,400 And empathy. Should allow us to. 203 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,240 See them and what they're going through. 204 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:52,880 Neither of those things requires us to carry. 205 00:09:52,880 --> 00:09:57,120 The weight of the world. Christianity without these. 206 00:09:57,120 --> 00:09:58,560 Things without empathy and compassion. 207 00:09:58,560 --> 00:10:01,640 It may still function. It may still organize. 208 00:10:01,680 --> 00:10:04,480 And it may speak. Confidently, but it stops 209 00:10:04,480 --> 00:10:09,760 looking and feeling like Jesus. So before we decide empathy is 210 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:13,880 the problem, let's keep looking at what Jesus's nature shows us 211 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:20,240 and what God's nature shows us. If we take a look at Exodus 34 212 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:22,200 at the very. Beginning of our journey, 213 00:10:25,200 --> 00:10:28,760 there's a moment in Exodus where Moses has gone up Mount Sinai 214 00:10:29,440 --> 00:10:31,880 and he's there to convene with God and receive the covenant of 215 00:10:31,880 --> 00:10:34,840 the Lord for the Israelites. And he's been up there for a 216 00:10:34,840 --> 00:10:38,120 while, and the Israelites are kind of starting to freak out 217 00:10:38,120 --> 00:10:39,360 down at the base of the mountain. 218 00:10:39,960 --> 00:10:41,400 They are starting to feel all the things. 219 00:10:41,400 --> 00:10:44,120 That we as humans. Feel they're starting. 220 00:10:44,120 --> 00:10:47,840 To feel, you know, distant and scared and not sure and 221 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,000 questioning it is this. Is this thing even real? 222 00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:53,840 And as a result of that, they they construct a golden calf. 223 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:57,320 Like a statue, a. Calf made of gold, and they 224 00:10:57,320 --> 00:10:59,200 begin to. Worship that calf. 225 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:03,720 Because it's something visible and something manageable and 226 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:07,080 something controllable. And they even credit their 227 00:11:07,080 --> 00:11:09,520 rescue from Egypt to the golden calf. 228 00:11:10,520 --> 00:11:13,000 And Moses finally comes down from the mountain, and he sees 229 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:14,480 them worshiping this golden calf. 230 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:19,000 And he's devastated. He breaks the tablets, throws. 231 00:11:19,000 --> 00:11:22,000 Them down and breaks them not in a moment of rage. 232 00:11:22,800 --> 00:11:26,320 But in a moment of grief. The covenant that he had made 233 00:11:26,320 --> 00:11:29,160 with the Lord was broken before it could ever even be. 234 00:11:29,160 --> 00:11:34,120 Delivered to the people. The later Moses goes back up 235 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:35,840 that mountain and he intercedes on behalf. 236 00:11:35,840 --> 00:11:38,760 Of. Israelites and he goes before 237 00:11:38,760 --> 00:11:42,560 the Lord, and he asked this deeply human question of God. 238 00:11:44,000 --> 00:11:45,440 He says who? Are you now? 239 00:11:46,680 --> 00:11:49,000 Who are you when your? People fail you like. 240 00:11:49,000 --> 00:11:54,240 This and in Exodus. 34 Six God. Replies to that question. 241 00:11:55,960 --> 00:12:02,160 God says the Lord. The Lord is compassionate and 242 00:12:02,160 --> 00:12:06,800 gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in. 243 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,680 Love and faithful. Love and truth. 244 00:12:11,320 --> 00:12:12,760 So when asked who? He was he simply. 245 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:15,840 Responds, I am the Lord and I am compassionate. 246 00:12:17,400 --> 00:12:20,760 God's first description of himself is not power, it's not 247 00:12:20,760 --> 00:12:24,960 judgement, it's not distance, it's compassion. 248 00:12:26,120 --> 00:12:27,480 If our faith. Makes us. 249 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,360 Harder instead of gentler. We have drifted away from. 250 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,640 God's heart. If we look. 251 00:12:34,640 --> 00:12:37,200 Further, when God is here on earth and his ministry. 252 00:12:37,200 --> 00:12:40,600 With Jesus, there's a. Moment where he encounters a 253 00:12:40,600 --> 00:12:46,600 leper in Mark chapter 1 and to kind of set the stage, this man 254 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,440 has been isolated. From Society for. 255 00:12:49,440 --> 00:12:51,240 Quite some time because of his condition. 256 00:12:51,880 --> 00:12:54,640 He's isolated. Physically, he's isolated. 257 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:58,520 Socially, he's isolated. Religiously, he's isolated 258 00:12:58,520 --> 00:13:02,720 emotionally, he has not been physically touched in years 259 00:13:02,720 --> 00:13:06,760 because of his condition, and he comes to Jesus and. 260 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:08,760 You have to listen carefully to the. 261 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:10,320 Question that. He asked Jesus. 262 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:14,960 Before I read from the scripture, the man says to him, 263 00:13:17,480 --> 00:13:20,280 essentially, are you willing to to heal me? 264 00:13:20,400 --> 00:13:23,240 Are you willing to heal me? So let's read the scripture. 265 00:13:25,040 --> 00:13:30,600 The man with leprosy came to him and on his knees begged him, If 266 00:13:30,600 --> 00:13:33,880 you are willing, you can make me clean. 267 00:13:35,240 --> 00:13:38,040 Moved with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched 268 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:41,440 him. I am willing, he told him, be 269 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:46,040 made clean. The man's question was not Can 270 00:13:46,040 --> 00:13:50,120 you help me? It's are you willing to heal me? 271 00:13:51,200 --> 00:13:52,840 The man's question was about. Worth. 272 00:13:53,680 --> 00:13:57,560 It's about value. When people are broken and 273 00:13:57,560 --> 00:14:01,160 separated and left out of community and told they don't 274 00:14:01,160 --> 00:14:05,440 belong in a space, they begin to lose their own value and their 275 00:14:05,440 --> 00:14:08,080 own worth and even to step into a space like. 276 00:14:08,080 --> 00:14:13,000 This with loving people becomes difficult because they. 277 00:14:13,000 --> 00:14:15,120 Question their own value and their own worth. 278 00:14:16,120 --> 00:14:19,360 Jesus's response was to move towards the man. 279 00:14:20,400 --> 00:14:23,040 To say that. He was willing because 280 00:14:23,040 --> 00:14:26,000 compassion doesn't stay distant, right? 281 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:31,280 That miracle began with a man's question and ended with Jesus 282 00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:33,880 healing him and touching him, the first human touch he had. 283 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:36,320 Felt. In so long. 284 00:14:37,720 --> 00:14:41,120 People who walk in these. Doors, they come here seeking 285 00:14:41,120 --> 00:14:42,920 that same thing. It may not be. 286 00:14:42,920 --> 00:14:46,360 The physical touch. It may just be. 287 00:14:46,360 --> 00:14:47,920 Feel. Just to feel. 288 00:14:47,920 --> 00:14:51,000 Part of something, again, just to feel a community, just to 289 00:14:51,000 --> 00:14:55,280 know that people care about them and our place is to meet them 290 00:14:55,280 --> 00:14:57,680 the same way. That Jesus did with. 291 00:14:57,680 --> 00:15:02,440 Compassion and a willingness to heal them, not with judgement or 292 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:05,480 scorn. We are not the Savior. 293 00:15:05,800 --> 00:15:07,720 It is our place. To meet them with the compassion 294 00:15:07,720 --> 00:15:11,280 that Jesus shows. Because compassion restores 295 00:15:11,280 --> 00:15:14,040 belonging and it restores. Health. 296 00:15:15,360 --> 00:15:17,680 It restores spiritual. Health and physical health. 297 00:15:20,080 --> 00:15:21,840 Jesus. Is really great at seeing a 298 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:25,520 human being rather than the person's problems. 299 00:15:26,280 --> 00:15:29,480 If we continue looking at his ministry, there's a moment where 300 00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:30,680 he's invited. To a dinner. 301 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,040 In a a Pharisee's home, it's the Pharisee's name is Simon. 302 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,520 The Pharisees were religious. Leaders of the time. 303 00:15:36,520 --> 00:15:37,960 Very, very important people. They knew. 304 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:40,080 They knew the. Word of God better than anyone 305 00:15:40,440 --> 00:15:42,440 and he was invited into this dinner and you kind of have to 306 00:15:42,440 --> 00:15:44,400 picture the scene. There are these people. 307 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,000 In this room, lounging kind of on like low couches and a. 308 00:15:48,000 --> 00:15:50,880 Doorways open and. Other very important men, you 309 00:15:50,880 --> 00:15:54,080 know, talking and listening and I'm sure discussing religious 310 00:15:54,080 --> 00:15:57,560 philosophy and the most important things of the time and 311 00:15:57,560 --> 00:16:00,000 the politics of the day. And Jesus has been invited into 312 00:16:00,000 --> 00:16:04,360 the space. And as he's there, a woman comes 313 00:16:04,360 --> 00:16:08,640 into that room. That woman is known as the Town 314 00:16:08,640 --> 00:16:11,360 Center. I mean, everyone knows who she 315 00:16:11,360 --> 00:16:17,000 is and everyone knows why she doesn't belong in that room. 316 00:16:18,600 --> 00:16:21,480 She stands behind Jesus, and she. 317 00:16:21,480 --> 00:16:25,800 Weeps her tears. Fall on his feet and she begins 318 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:27,760 to use her hair to clean his feet. 319 00:16:29,440 --> 00:16:31,080 And the room goes completely silent. 320 00:16:33,400 --> 00:16:36,720 No one speaks, but everyone is thinking and Simon kind of 321 00:16:36,760 --> 00:16:38,360 silently judges. Jesus. 322 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:41,840 I mean, he's thinking, I'm sure. Just like I would if if he's 323 00:16:41,840 --> 00:16:45,800 truly God. I mean, what is he doing near 324 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:48,400 her? Shouldn't he pull away from the 325 00:16:48,400 --> 00:16:52,320 sinful person? And as he's thinking these 326 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:55,320 thoughts, Jesus answers that question, that unspoken 327 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:01,520 question, out loud in Luke 7. Jesus says. 328 00:17:02,400 --> 00:17:04,920 Turning to the woman, he said Simon. 329 00:17:05,680 --> 00:17:08,880 Do you see this? Woman, therefore I tell you her 330 00:17:08,880 --> 00:17:12,640 many sins have been forgiven. That's why she loved much. 331 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:16,160 But the one who is forgiven little loves little. 332 00:17:17,599 --> 00:17:20,720 See, in that moment, Simon could only see her sin. 333 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:26,359 Jesus saw her humanity. Compassion. 334 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:30,400 And empathy allow us to have restored sight. 335 00:17:31,360 --> 00:17:33,120 We're able to see people. The same way that. 336 00:17:33,120 --> 00:17:35,960 Jesus sees people as the beautiful. 337 00:17:35,960 --> 00:17:37,720 Creation that he made them to be. 338 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:40,240 As a. Fully restored human already on 339 00:17:40,240 --> 00:17:43,520 the other side of salvation. When we look at people through 340 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:45,480 those. Eyes rather than the. 341 00:17:45,480 --> 00:17:48,840 Eyes of judgement, it creates a place. 342 00:17:49,080 --> 00:17:51,120 Where they can find that full restoration? 343 00:17:51,120 --> 00:17:56,520 Through Jesus. Our hearts don't close 344 00:17:56,520 --> 00:17:58,560 overnight. They. 345 00:17:58,560 --> 00:18:04,360 Close due to fatigue, due to fear through disappointment. 346 00:18:05,000 --> 00:18:07,280 We've all had people. In our lives that we've tried to 347 00:18:07,520 --> 00:18:09,600 bring in to meet. Jesus, that it just. 348 00:18:09,600 --> 00:18:12,200 Hasn't happened for whatever reason. 349 00:18:13,080 --> 00:18:15,160 Then we become discouraged by that. 350 00:18:15,160 --> 00:18:18,360 We become disappointed by that the scripture. 351 00:18:18,360 --> 00:18:21,320 Points to the same remedy again. And again and again, when we 352 00:18:21,320 --> 00:18:25,680 feel discouraged, it encourages us to turn back to compassion. 353 00:18:26,800 --> 00:18:29,400 In Psalm One O 313 it says. As a. 354 00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:31,400 Father has compassion on his children. 355 00:18:31,720 --> 00:18:34,480 So the Lord. Has compassion on those who fear 356 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:39,200 him and Colossians 312. We have an. 357 00:18:39,200 --> 00:18:42,720 Exhortation to us, therefore, is God's chosen ones, wholly and 358 00:18:42,720 --> 00:18:43,600 dearly. Loved. 359 00:18:44,160 --> 00:18:49,160 Put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and 360 00:18:49,160 --> 00:18:53,200 patience. Compassion is not just. 361 00:18:53,240 --> 00:18:56,840 Manufactured by us it. Exists already within us God has 362 00:18:56,840 --> 00:18:59,120 made it a. Part of our spirit, a part of 363 00:18:59,120 --> 00:19:03,960 the good fruits for us if we are truly spiritually saved. 364 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:09,360 When we seek compassion, we don't have to invent it. 365 00:19:09,640 --> 00:19:11,600 It's just restored. Already from within US. 366 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,880 If we allow God. To do that within us when we 367 00:19:15,880 --> 00:19:19,720 seek compassion, we're better able to model what Jesus models 368 00:19:19,720 --> 00:19:24,440 while he was here in his ministry and I can remember back 369 00:19:24,440 --> 00:19:27,760 in the day I'm this old some of you may remember this we used to 370 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:30,240 wear around these what would. Jesus do bracelets. 371 00:19:30,240 --> 00:19:33,960 Do you all remember those? Yeah, WWJD and you're. 372 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,640 Supposed to be like, I'm going to go to a party and do bad 373 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:37,720 things. What would Jesus do? 374 00:19:37,720 --> 00:19:39,960 I'm not going to that. Party right that's that was the 375 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:41,920 effective. Message I was taught as a child. 376 00:19:42,560 --> 00:19:44,160 But I do wonder sometimes if we shouldn't. 377 00:19:44,160 --> 00:19:47,200 Kind of. Revisit that concept of What 378 00:19:47,200 --> 00:19:48,960 would Jesus do? Because when we look at the 379 00:19:48,960 --> 00:19:51,520 model of compassion and empathy, we've already seen some of the 380 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,080 things that he's done. And I know that we get tired, 381 00:19:55,880 --> 00:19:58,040 but. Jesus never seemed to to really 382 00:19:58,040 --> 00:20:00,280 run out. I mean the story in the book of 383 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:03,840 Mark where he encounters a woman. 384 00:20:04,920 --> 00:20:07,040 And he's just kind of moving his way through a town. 385 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,040 And this woman is, has been bleeding. 386 00:20:11,040 --> 00:20:12,880 I, I can't remember the term. I'd have to look at the 387 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:14,280 scripture again. I think like 12 years. 388 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,840 She's just been bleeding and suffering and she's spent her 389 00:20:17,840 --> 00:20:20,600 entire fortune trying to get doctors to help her. 390 00:20:20,800 --> 00:20:22,880 With. That problem, and as Jesus makes 391 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:23,760 his. Way through that crowd. 392 00:20:23,880 --> 00:20:26,400 It's one of my favorite stories because this woman just wants to 393 00:20:26,400 --> 00:20:29,320 be close to God, just wants to feel something, wants to be. 394 00:20:29,320 --> 00:20:32,680 Healed and she simply. Reaches out and touches his. 395 00:20:32,680 --> 00:20:35,160 Cloak as he goes by. And it's it. 396 00:20:35,160 --> 00:20:37,880 Says in scripture that Jesus could feel the power like leave 397 00:20:37,880 --> 00:20:41,920 his body. And he turns and stops and ask, 398 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:44,480 You know who who touched my clothes? 399 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:47,880 And his disciples were like, well. 400 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:48,800 Everybody's here. They're. 401 00:20:48,800 --> 00:20:51,640 All pressing up against you. I mean, everyone's touching you 402 00:20:53,360 --> 00:20:55,720 but the woman. Stepped forward with fear. 403 00:20:55,720 --> 00:20:58,440 And trembling, it says in Scripture, fear and trembling. 404 00:21:00,320 --> 00:21:03,320 And she said I'm I'm the one who touched you. 405 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:07,280 And Jesus's response was not. How dare you? 406 00:21:07,280 --> 00:21:08,840 I was. Going somewhere else? 407 00:21:09,240 --> 00:21:11,240 I was already busy. Working on some other piece of 408 00:21:11,240 --> 00:21:13,760 ministry I had things to get done. 409 00:21:13,760 --> 00:21:16,320 I have A to do list. I'm supposed to be finishing he 410 00:21:16,320 --> 00:21:17,960 simply. Said to her daughter, Your faith 411 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,120 has saved you. Go in peace and be free from 412 00:21:21,120 --> 00:21:21,760 your. Affliction. 413 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:26,560 Jesus does not dismiss her as an interruption. 414 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:33,480 Empathy makes him stop. Compassion makes him turn, and 415 00:21:33,480 --> 00:21:36,960 he restores her fully. She reaches out physically. 416 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:38,600 In that moment, for what? So many. 417 00:21:38,600 --> 00:21:41,000 People are reaching out for spiritually. 418 00:21:41,920 --> 00:21:49,200 To be seen and to be made whole. This is this is the place where 419 00:21:49,200 --> 00:21:50,000 that. Happens. 420 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:56,000 If we look at what Jesus would do, I mean all the way to the. 421 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:59,160 End. He had empathy and compassion 422 00:21:59,160 --> 00:22:01,560 for us as humans. We had taken him. 423 00:22:01,560 --> 00:22:04,720 The humans. We had taken him, arrested him, 424 00:22:05,400 --> 00:22:07,480 beaten him, humiliated. Him. 425 00:22:07,640 --> 00:22:10,200 Scourged him, whipped him, made him. 426 00:22:10,200 --> 00:22:11,760 Carry the instrument of his death. 427 00:22:11,760 --> 00:22:13,920 The top of a mountain and nailed him. 428 00:22:13,920 --> 00:22:18,920 To that to die. At some point in there, I think 429 00:22:18,920 --> 00:22:22,680 it would have been perfectly human to say I've done enough 430 00:22:22,680 --> 00:22:25,120 for these people. This is what? 431 00:22:25,120 --> 00:22:28,560 They've done for me. Their answer to my salvation is 432 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:30,720 my death. I'm done. 433 00:22:31,240 --> 00:22:33,480 I'm about to leave this place and I'll do no more. 434 00:22:34,400 --> 00:22:36,680 But instead what we saw. Him do was turn to one of the 435 00:22:36,680 --> 00:22:41,800 two men being crucified with him that man one of the men mocks 436 00:22:41,800 --> 00:22:45,440 Jesus and the other man says you do not know what you're doing 437 00:22:46,680 --> 00:22:50,880 and ask Jesus simply to remember him that day and again instead 438 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:53,280 of Jesus saying. Nope, y'all are. 439 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:59,280 Killing me, he said. Truly, I tell you today, you 440 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,360 will be. With me in paradise, I mean, 441 00:23:03,360 --> 00:23:07,120 Jesus is suffering and exposed and dying and. 442 00:23:07,680 --> 00:23:11,680 For the people that he loves. And he still responds with 443 00:23:11,680 --> 00:23:14,200 compassion. His compassion. 444 00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:17,240 Refuses to cap. Out even at the end. 445 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:23,960 So if Jesus doesn't ration his empathy and compassion, how do 446 00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:26,160 we as Christians justify saying that we will? 447 00:23:31,520 --> 00:23:33,440 Friends, I know, I know, many of you are tired. 448 00:23:34,440 --> 00:23:37,320 And this sermon is not asking you to carry more weight. 449 00:23:38,320 --> 00:23:40,880 I'm asking you not to lose what matters most. 450 00:23:42,000 --> 00:23:45,360 Empathy is the root. Of the Christian heart and 451 00:23:45,360 --> 00:23:46,960 compassion is the. Flower. 452 00:23:48,400 --> 00:23:52,080 Once we are in full bloom with that compassion, it provides new 453 00:23:52,080 --> 00:23:55,480 life. If we allow that root to dry up. 454 00:23:55,920 --> 00:24:01,320 Then nothing blooms. When the heart hardens, churches 455 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:05,360 harden. It is important that we not lose 456 00:24:05,360 --> 00:24:10,720 heart. My encouragement to you is as 457 00:24:10,720 --> 00:24:15,520 you go into the week, remember you're not the Savior. 458 00:24:16,520 --> 00:24:18,840 It's your job to point people to the Savior. 459 00:24:19,120 --> 00:24:23,520 It's your job to reflect. His love and his caring. 460 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:26,160 When you feel that you've reached that. 461 00:24:26,160 --> 00:24:29,880 Reached that maxed out point dealing with someone or some 462 00:24:29,880 --> 00:24:32,720 situation in your life? Admit that you were there. 463 00:24:33,200 --> 00:24:34,960 It's just like we. Do with our confession. 464 00:24:35,560 --> 00:24:38,360 I am badly broken, but I am deeply. 465 00:24:38,360 --> 00:24:41,840 Loved and asked that that. Same brokenness that you have 466 00:24:42,080 --> 00:24:44,160 and that same. Grace, that's extended to you. 467 00:24:44,520 --> 00:24:47,400 Be given to that person. That Jesus do. 468 00:24:47,400 --> 00:24:49,440 Work on their hearts. If you doubt that, Jesus. 469 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:53,720 Can do work on people? 'S hearts without you then, I'm 470 00:24:53,720 --> 00:24:55,240 afraid. You've got this equation all 471 00:24:55,240 --> 00:25:00,160 wrong. It's important that we. 472 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,720 Steer people to Jesus and that we reflect his love, but we. 473 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:08,760 Are not the savior. Like, free yourself from that 474 00:25:08,760 --> 00:25:10,760 burden. Allow Jesus to do the. 475 00:25:10,760 --> 00:25:19,000 Saving for you. Let me pray for us, Heavenly 476 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,360 Father, as we go into. This week may our. 477 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:24,880 Hearts stay open, even when openness feels costly. 478 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,280 May we offer the compassion we have so badly needed and the 479 00:25:30,280 --> 00:25:35,280 compassion that we have. Received May we trust that God 480 00:25:35,280 --> 00:25:37,160 is already. Holding everything that we 481 00:25:37,160 --> 00:25:41,520 cannot, we are not asked to be the. 482 00:25:41,520 --> 00:25:44,920 Savior. But only to reflect Him with 483 00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:50,640 honesty, humility and love. May the love of the Father, the 484 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:53,440 compassion of the Son, and the comfort of the Holy. 485 00:25:53,440 --> 00:25:56,800 Spirit go with you. Sustain you and surround you, 486 00:25:57,280 --> 00:25:59,240 now and always. Amen. 487 00:25:59,880 --> 00:26:02,920 Thank you for joining us today. River City Church is all about 488 00:26:02,920 --> 00:26:05,640 experiencing and expressing God's love in our lives and 489 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,320 community, and we hope that you've been able to experience 490 00:26:08,320 --> 00:26:10,960 that today. As grateful as I am that you've 491 00:26:10,960 --> 00:26:14,240 spent this time listening in this morning, this podcast is no 492 00:26:14,240 --> 00:26:17,280 substitute for full participation in a local church. 493 00:26:17,720 --> 00:26:20,880 I love it when River City people listen to other pastors, but it 494 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,920 is those who show up week after week, faithfully giving their 495 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:26,760 support and time and resources that make all of this possible. 496 00:26:27,360 --> 00:26:30,680 If we can help you get connected to a local church, pray for you, 497 00:26:30,880 --> 00:26:33,960 or support you in any way, click the link in the description and 498 00:26:33,960 --> 00:26:36,120 let us know. If you'd like to financially 499 00:26:36,120 --> 00:26:38,960 support the ministry of River City, click the give link on our 500 00:26:38,960 --> 00:26:42,120 website in the description. Don't forget to subscribe and 501 00:26:42,120 --> 00:26:43,840 don't forget to share this with your friends. 502 00:26:44,080 --> 00:26:46,840 Thanks so much for listening. May the Lord bless and keep you 503 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:48,440 in all grace and peace.