Mercy Focus 2011

MERCY FOCUS 2011

“I was hungry…”  ~Jesus

OPENING QUESTION:

1. Have you ever gone without food for several days?  What was it like?  Are you the type to get grouchy when you’re hungry?

    

2. Let’s do a friendly contest.  Let’s see who owns the most shoes.  Who owns the most coats?  Who has the biggest tv in your group?

    

DIGGING DEEPER:

1. READ James 1:27.

    

2. How does James define “good religion”?

    

3. What does it mean to “keep oneself from being polluted by the world”?

    

4. Practically speaking what is it to look after orphans and widows?

    

5. READ Leviticus 19:9-10. 

    

6. God’s “welfare” system with involved a two part process.  The farmers had to leave some behind, but the poor had to come pick it up.  What wisdom do you see in this approach?

    

GETTING PERSONAL:

1. How do you respond when you see the pictures on tv of hungry children and their cries for help?

    

2. Ranging from one to ten, how compassionate are you towards those in need?  What needs to happen to move you up a notch?

    

3. We were asked this week to limit our food intake to one cup of rice and tap water each day.  Are any of you doing this?  How is it going?

    

PRAYER

Let’s ask God together what we can do to serve the poor.