Mercy

CAPTURE

When I was 18 I was living with my brother. I had just dropped out of college and working at Sonic and running from the Lord.

After a long night, my buddy asked if he could stay the night. I felt kind enough to tell him yes. He crashed on the couch and I crashed in my bed. Mind you my brother was in west Texas working and his pregnant wife was there. She had never met the guy so when she woke up a few hours later, she was instantly scared and worried that there was a random man in the house. She tried to wake me up but I was no help. She called my dad and my dad told her to get him out and he was on his way, but by the time she went back to the living room, my friend had darted out of there.

When my dad got to the house and tried to wake me up but I, ignorantly, snapped at him and squared up. He then proceded to grab a back pack and tossed it at me, telling me to hit the road.

After walking about 3 miles down the road, he pulled up next to me and picked me up to take me to lunch.

My dad showed me mercy in that moment. Even though I had to grab my bags and hit the road, he didn’t have to come and get me, he could’ve just let me go. But he didn’t give me what I deserved.

I should have been kicked out and let to my own and live on my own, but he knew I wouldn’t make it at all. He showed mercy to me.

Connect

The bible talks about God showing mercy to man by sending Jesus to die in their place.

We don’t deserve it but He shows it to us anyway.

Over the past 5 weeks we have been going through the Beatitudes. These 8 attitudes that disciples should possess, and how much of a blessing they are to our lives. They give us great rewards. But these attitudes are not ones that the world would consider a blessing nor would one think that they would get a reward.

It is needed to say that each one flows into the next. So lets read starting in verse 2.

Matthew 5:2–12 ESV

2 And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. 5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. 6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. 7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. 8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. 9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. 10 “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12 Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Lets focus in on Matthew 5:7 : “7 “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.”

The happy show mercy because they have recieved mercy.

Remember, Jesus is talking to the disciples here, the ones who recognized their spiritual poverty, mourn over their sin, know that they are not better than anyone else, and want so bad to see righteousness in their lives. They reap the reward that they will inherit the kingdom of heaven, be comforted by the love of Jesus, understand that their inheritance is to come, and be satisfied.

They have been shown mercy by the God who they have sinned against and will want to show mercy to those who don’t deserve it.

WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TODAY?

The world would say to wrong the people who have wronged you and

Illustration

COLLIDE

WHERE GOD'S WORD MEETS OUR EVERYDAY LIFE

In this section, give specific examples to your students on how they can apply this message to their life.

APPLICATION

CALL

RESPOND TO THE HOLY SPIRIT

What in-service response do you want the students to take? Altar call? Communion? Something else? Place that here.