1. God has always been especially concerned about the poor

2. God’s compassion and mercy is based on who He is, not on the object of His kindness

3. God delights to show mercy and calls us to love mercy too

Billy Graham:“It’s the Holy Spirit’s job to convict,God’s job to judge,and my job to love...”

Application Questions
How do you respond to John Piper’s statement: Mercy is “one of the weightier matters of life, always in danger of being neglected...” “Mercy comes from a heart that has first felt its spiritual bankruptcy [and knows it owes] everything you are and have to sheer divine mercy...”

Mother Theresa said “Help one person at a time and start with the person nearest you...” Who is the person nearest you? How could you help them?

How would you respond to a person sipping a can of lager whilst asking you for money?

What specific challenges do you have with regards to helping the poor? Is it ability, time, knowing where to start? What could you do practically in the coming year?

Key verses
Exodus 22:25 and 23:10-11
Leviticus 19:9-10, 19:33-34, chapter 25
Deuteronomy 14:28-15:1, 24:14-15
2 Samuel 9
Psalms 10:16-18, 12:5, 68:5-6
Proverbs 14:31, 19:17, 31:8-9
Isaiah 1:17, 11:4, chapters 58 and 61
Hosea 6:6
Micah 6:8
Amos 2:6-7
Matthew 5:1-16, 11:4-6, 25:31-46
Luke 4:14-21, 6:20-26, 10:25-37
Acts 2:42-45
Galatians 2:10, 6:9-10
James 2:5, 2:13-16, 5:1-5
1 John 11:16-18

Sermon Topics: Culture,Love