Blessed Are The Merciful

INTRODUCTION 1. What single word may best describe the nature of God? a. One very appropriate choice: _____________________________________ b. In the Old Testament alone, this word is used over ____________ times to describe the nature of God 2. Luke 6:35-36 _________________________________________________________________________ 3. Matthew 5:1-7 _______________________________________________________________________

DISCUSSION I. What is Mercy? A. A definition: “Forbearance from ___________________; disposition to exercise ___________________ or _________________________; a willingness to _________________________ 1. “To feel _______________________________ with the misery of another” 2. “Activity _______________________________, sympathy in action” B. Mercy is a two sided coin 1. “an _______________________________ and an________________________________” 2. “an _______________________________ seen in an ________________________________” 3. this is called “_____________________________________________________” C. We see this powerfully in the life of Jesus! 1. Matthew 9:36, 14:14, 15:32, 20:34 __________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________ 2. Luke 7:13 ______________________________________________________________________ 3. First came the ___________________________; then came the __________________________ D. Our Lord’s coming to earth is the greatest ______________________________ of mercy conceivable! 1. His _________________________________________________________________ 2. His ______________________________________________________________ (Luke 10:30-34) E. Mercy should control three areas of life 1. Our _____________________________________________________________________ 2. Our _____________________________________________________________________ 3. Our _____________________________________________________________________

II. Why should We Be Merciful Toward Others? A. Because the more I abound in mercy, the more I possess ___________________________ (Romans 8:9) B. Because the more I abound in mercy, the more I am ___________________________________! 1. Psalm 86:15 ____________________________________________________________________ 2. Psalm 119:64 ___________________________________________________________________ C. Because I ___________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________ (see James 2:13) 1. Luke 18:13 _____________________________________________________________________ 2. James 2:13 _____________________________________________________________________ 3. Matthew 18:21-33 _______________________________________________________________

CONCLUSION 1. Opportunities for great deeds rarely come in life, but every day ________________________________!

This evening’s Scripture Reading:

Luke 6:31-36