Recap the experience from Sunday. What stood out to you? How did God speak to you?
- Do you sponsor a child (with any agency)? What has your experience been like?
- What questions, if any, do you have about the ministry of Compassion Canada?
Our guest, Mike Schuster, shared a number of passages of Scripture with us on Sunday. Spend some time reading and reflecting on them together:
What jumped at you as you these passages? What encouraged you and/or made you feel a bit uncomfortable as you read them?
- In the Matthew 25 passage, who are the ‘least of these’ and why is it so important that we care for them?
- Why do you think Jesus connected the concept of ‘eternal judgment’ with how we cared for the least of these? What does this reveal to us about Jesus’ heart for the poor and what he expects of us as we follow him?
- In Micah 6, we read about how God is not interested in our offerings and sacrifices if we aren’t also caring for the poor. What are some ‘sacrifices’ that we sometimes offer to God that he might not be interested in, if we aren’t also caring for the poor?
- How is ‘justice’ and caring for the poor connected to ‘worship’ and bringing our sacrifices to God?
- Is it possible that God isn’t interested in our worship if we aren’t also caring for the poor? What do you think?
- In Isaiah 58 we read about some of the benefits we can experience when we care for the poor and feed the hungry. What are those benefits?
- How have you experienced God’s blessing (or spiritual growth) in your life when you gave of yourself or cared for the poor? Share about it with the group.
- If you feel ‘stuck’ and like you aren’t growing, how do you think you might grow if you stepped out in faith and began to serve the poor in some way?
How is our theme of being “Deeply Rooted” in Christ connected to the call of God to care for the poor. Can you actually be deeply rooted in Christ without caring for the poor? Why or why not?
Do you feel like you are doing what God has called you to do when in comes to caring for the poor? What more can (or, is God calling you) to do? Explain.
