A Compassionate Call to Discipleship(Luke 6:12-49)

As Opposition Mounted…• Jesus chose men to represent him and who

would carry on his message after he was gone- Apostles

• He continued to speak the truth and care for the needs of people

• He challenged all who would follow him with the radical kind of life needed to change the world:– A radical life toward God– A radical life toward people

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Messengers Chosen- Apostles6:12-16

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Jesus’ Impact is Noted6:17-19

Truth without Compassion produces apathetic intellectualism- No heart

Compassion without truth produces ignorant emotionalism - No insight

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Philippians 3:12-15Not that I have already obtained all this, or have

already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I

press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 15

All of us who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently,

that too God will make clear to you.

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

A Radical Life is Urged6:20-28 Toward God

Blessings and WoesBlessings on the Person

who is…Woes on the Person

who is…Poor Dependent on

GodGet the

Kingdom!Rich Focused on

this world’s Wealth

That is all you get

Hungry Craving God’s truth

Satisfied in the

Kingdom!

Well fed Enjoying this world’s fares

Future Hunger

Weeping Saddened by World’s needs and direction

Joyful in the Kingdom!

Laughing Enthralled with this world’s

good life

Future mourning

and weeping

Hated, excluded,

reviled, spurned

Rejected by the World for

their association with Jesus

Rewarded in Heaven

Well spoken of

Approved by this World’s

people

Associated with the False

prophets of Old

Notice…• Each list describes one kind of person- and four

qualities in each of their lives• God is intimately aware of our lives- he sees into

our hearts!• Our choices here and now have consequences

for eternity- to provide for us blessing both here and now and in the future or to remove it from us.

• God vindicates the Faithful and warns the Self-centered

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

A Radical Life is Urged6:20-28 Toward God

6:29-38 Toward People

Matthew 9:36When he saw the crowds, he had

compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a

shepherd.

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

2 Corinthians 4:4The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the

image of God.

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

Four Key Applications6:39-49

4 Key Applications1. Choose your teachers wisely- they will determine your identity and Habits (“be like them”) VV. 39-40

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

4 Key Applications2. Choose your Perspective carefully- It will determine your usefulness in the lives of others (“take out the speck…”)   VV 41-42

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

4 Key Applications3. Choose your thoughts selectively- they will determine your reputation (“Known by good or evil) VV. 43-45

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship

4 Key Applications4. Choose your actions faithfully- they will determine your ultimate success or ruin VV. 46-49

A Compassionate Call to Discipleship