Is Compassionate

INTRO: You ever notice how we have this strange ability to make the simple… complicated?

We do it with all kinds of things — cooking, exercise, even directions. Something that starts out easy can end up with 15 steps, three apps, and a YouTube tutorial before we’re done.

We’re really good at overcomplicating things that were never meant to be hard in the first place.

One thing I think we as the Church has overcomplicated is Evangelism. We often talk about how hard it is to do...but is it? I think in many ways we’ve fallen for the trap that evangelism is only for a few people who are “really good at it”, and I say trap intentionally because if Satan can make you think that you can’t do it or shouldn’t do it, then lost souls won’t be reached out to. The Church is meant to be evangelizing and inviting everyone to “come and see Jesus”. But that doesn’t mean the “Church” marketing does it on social media and flyers and handouts. It means those that make up the Church, you as a Christian are the Church, are meant to be personally giving the invitation.

Evangelism is a directive of compassion.

We’ve made Evangelism too difficult. The hardest part is finding the right motivation. At the end of the day, you’re just meant to share the good news you already believe. To talk about how good the Church is and invite people to it. To sprinkle your conversations with wisdom found in God’s word. We can do that right?

Do you know the original word for evangelist? Philip in Acts 21:8 is titled an evangelist. Timothy is given that title. And Paul in 2 Timothy 4:5 gives him, and all Christians, a solemn charge saying “As for you, always be sober-minded, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.” The word evangelist is euangelistē, which means a bringer of good tidings. But the root of the word is from euangelion which is the word “gospel”. So quite literally a evangelist is a good news messenger, and even more literally a “gospelizer”.

What is it you’re sharing? What kind of news is it? Is it THE good news or just the same news the world already is familiar with? The best way to evangelize is to simply share from your own experience why its good news, why you have hope, why your church family is so good, what you’ve gained from following Jesus.

Not too hard right? But we won’t do it if two things aren’t in place in our life:

An appreciation for what we have in Jesus.

If you don’t love the Church Jesus died for you won’t invite anyone to be a part of it. And if you don’t love what you have in Jesus oh won’t talk about it.

A compassion for those that don’t have what I have.

At the heart of being a good news messenger, of which we all are meant to be, is a heart of compassion. That’s what motivated Jesus, not just that He was sent and had a job, but that He wanted to go! Were sent as well, Matt.28:19-20. For us, commission alone will only get us so far but compassion will really move us forward.

When we see it said that Jesus had compassion in the Gospels, it was ALWAYS coupled with an action. He didn’t just feel bad for them and move on, He did what they needed Him to do!

Compassion is the greek word splanchnizomai, which according to VINE’S greek dictionary means “to be moved as to one’s inwards (splanchna), to be moved with compassion, to yearn with compassion”.

That word splanchnizomai paints a vivid picture. It’s not just “I feel bad for them” in a surface way. It’s a deep, heart-level stirring — the kind of feeling that you can’t just ignore. It starts inside, but it almost forces you to action.

You’ve probably felt it before — when you see someone hurting, struggling, or lost, and something inside of you tightens. It’s like your whole being is saying, “I have to do something.” That’s what Jesus felt when He saw the sick, the broken, and the wandering.

So it’s more than sympathy. Sympathy can say, “I’m sorry you’re hurting,” and walk away. Compassion says, “I can’t stand still. I have to help.” It’s why, every time the Bible says Jesus had compassion, His feet moved, His hands reached out, His words were carefully chosen.

That’s the kind of compassion we’re called to — a stirring so strong that inaction isn’t an option.

Matthew 14:13–14 “Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a desolate place by himself. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them and healed their sick.” (Right after John’s death…but still He acted.)

Mark 8:2 “I have compassion on the crowd, because they have been with me now three days and have nothing to eat.” —— and after saying this Jesus refused to send them away, but instead fed 4,000 of them with 7 loaves and a few fish!

Each time we read that Jesus had compassion, it’s married to movement and action. He wasn’t just talking about it, He acted on it. We see the heart of Jesus, and it’s a compassionate one.

Matthew 9:35-38 — Evangelism is a Directive of Compassion

V.35-36 —- HE SAW THE CROWD

Matthew points out Jesus was going through and searching for people. He wasn’t posted up on the mount waiting for the crowd to come.

He was mindful where to look and he was adaptable - his ministry looked different at different times. At times He healed, other times He fed, other times He taught - and all three won the crowds to Him. Jesus addressed their various hurts and needs out of compassion.

Notice something very important in v.36 —— he didn’t just mention there were people, he said that Jesus SAW them in a real genuine way…and what He saw hurt Him.

He saw people who will die without direction, who will live disappointing lives without knowing their God created purpose — and it moved Him to do something about it!

I LOVE that Jesus sees and Jesus feels empathy and compassion for ME! I pray that we followers of Jesus were more like Him in that regard — bothered so deeply by someone’s sad state that we’re thrust into action with the good news!

They were directionless.

Sheep without direction are in constant danger. They have no natural defenses — no claws, no sharp teeth, not a lot of speed. Without a shepherd, they wander into unsafe places, get stuck, or become easy prey for predators. They’ll even eat poisonous plants or walk right off a cliff because they don’t know better. That’s the picture Jesus uses — people without Him are vulnerable, aimless, and headed for destruction unless someone steps in with guidance, unable to arrive at a healthy habitat!

And maybe we Christians can be directionless in terms of compassion, maybe I need to see His compassion so I can know whether or not I really am following, and then how to do it.

If you realize you’re not compassionate like Jesus, you don’t look like Him in this way or others - ask yourself “Where is your treasure?” Meaning, what is your life’s purpose and goal?

If you’re lacking in that and the fruit of your life doesn’t resemble him, your treasure is off. If you know it’s off and you really evaluate, you can quickly find that your treasure is about much more self-seeking, seeking a name for yourself, wealth for yourself, status, anything like that. Your treasure is you, not others, it’s not a heart that reflects Gods heart.

And we look for life in all these other things, and we end up being like the sheep without a shepherd who end up continually disappointed overtime because we’re not living for the real purpose God has created us for, but instead we tried to make our own purpose and our own choices and our own fulfillments - and they always leave us, drained, anxious, and disappointed.

Thankfully, we have a compassionate savior that’s willing to rescue us and guide us.

V.37 - HE SHARED HIS PESPECTIVE

This is a good statement in most ways - there’s a lot of harvest ready to be harvested! We need more people to make this happen! It’s a good problem.

“The harvest is plentiful.” That means people are ready! There are hearts open, souls searching, lives that can be touched.

Unfortunately it’s used more negatively to say not enough of us are working. I think we’ve heard that sermon or class enough though - at least for the time being. There are many places that try to shame people into action, but those places have no action. Is there a time for rebuking on this matter? Absolutely! BUT…that isn’t what Jesus did, so don’t twist the words Jesus said or how He said it.

Sometimes we only hear the “laborers are few” part and make this verse about guilt. But Jesus frames it as an opportunity: “Look! The fields are ripe!”

This is a statement of compassion and urgency!

A harvest doesn’t wait forever. Crops have a season — if they’re not gathered, they rot.

In the same way, opportunities in people’s lives are often time-sensitive. We can’t assume they’ll “always” be open.

Jesus wanted His disciples to feel the weight of now.

Jesus phrases it this way to stoke the compassion in His followers, the same compassion He has. Jesus is saying “Look, this is the situation through my very eyes - now I need you to have my very heart as well!”

V.38 - HE SENDS

STEP ONE - PRAY!

This is God’s harvest. We are God’s harvesters. We receive, and need, God’s help.

The mission doesn’t rest on our cleverness, programs, or strength. The fields belong to Him, the crop belongs to Him, and the results belong to Him.

Our role is participation; His role is ownership and power.

God saves man and sends man. God’s spiritual power to save us takes place, and then His spiritual equipping when sending continues.

The Greek word for “send out” is ekballō, meaning to throw and THRUST.

It’s also where we get our word “ballistics”

I’ve heard it said “God is wanting to throw people out of the building!” - meaning a disciple who really wants to follow Jesus is required to get out of the pews and into the world with compassion!

COMPASSION IN EVANGELISTIC ACTION:

PRAY for compassionate people

BE a compassionate people

SHARE the compassionate savior

One question we each ought to ask is this: “WHERE IS YOUR TREASURE?”

Being an evangelist means we teach people about Jesus. Don’t look at souls and first think “how do I convince them to be baptized” — that’s not the first or main goal. It’s part of the vital process of becoming a real follower yes, but even Paul said that wasn’t the goal. 1 Corinthians 1:17 “For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.” What Paul is saying is you will inevitably arrive there if you’re sharing Jesus, but you start with Jesus. Don’t over complicate it by jumping down the line. Being an evangelist is a good news Jesus messenger. Look at those you encounter and ask “who needs me being a good Christian in their life with both my deeds and my words? What is this person’s “hurt” that maybe I can help in some way?” - the key is to see people as Jesus does and be moved to action as Jesus was.

That’s what Christ did while He was here. That’s what his Church, His body, is meant to do now still. Not only as a group, but on an individual level.

Our job is to say “COME AND SEE!” Come and see the one that can help, that truly understands, that can really make the difference your life needs.

So, the next preaching series is just that “Come and See Jesus”.