Community of Jesus
June 30|Encounters with Jesus Series
June 30|Encounters with Jesus Series
TODAY’S SCRIPTURE
We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people. Colossians 1:3-4
Read: Colossians 1:1-14
Listen: Colossians 1
TODAY’S MESSAGE
Jesus was a living example of compassion that moves toward a situation. The widow of Nain exits town with her dead son on a bier, and Jesus is asked nothing but sees everything—her suffering with no husband, the loss of her only son, and a destroyed future. Jesus doesn’t wait to be asked but moves toward her with love and compassion.
Authors of the New Testament see Jesus’s character as the foundation of the church community. The Apostle Paul affirms the church in Colossae for their love of God’s community. He encourages them to continue to grow and bear fruit in every good work they do. Jesus is their model of compassion.
Godly compassion sees a situation and moves toward it without being asked. Because we often feel inadequate under challenging conditions, we often say, “If you need something, let me know.” We mean it, but it puts on them a double burden of figuring out what they need and then asking. We have offered everything but done nothing. Jesus models to observe and act. This might mean we text encouragement, mail a note, take a meal, or schedule a coffee or lunch date. Moving towards means giving something specific without worrying if it’s perfect.
IN YOUR CHAIR TIME TODAY
Someone needs your compassion. Pray about who it is, identify a need and then take action.
2023 SPIRITUAL PRACTICES
Join us all of 2023 developing a different spiritual practice each month. SPIRITUAL PRACTICES are intentional regular activities to deepen our relationship with God and mold us to be more like Jesus.
June is WORSHIP. Keep track of our spiritual practices at beyondtheweekend.org/spiritualpractices.
Download a printable PDF of the BTW week here.