The obvious question must be asked – why plant churches at all? Two reasons:
First, it is how the Great Commission gets done. Look in Matthew 28 –
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19–20 ESV)
Where do we make disciples, baptize them, and teach them? In the local church. The church is the place where all this happens as worshipers of God come together. Elsewhere, Scripture tells us that church is “God’s Plan A” – the place where the manifold riches of the gospel are to be brought to the Earth. (Ephesians 3:10)
But there must also be a personal motivation. I mean…if you are a Parent, you can testify how well the “Just-do-it-because-I-told-you-to” usually works. Have you ever seen a kid clean up his room who’s heart just wasn’t in it? Yeah.
This isn’t to say we shouldn’t obey in faith, but there is more. God doesn’t give us empty commands to just pacify Himself. He calls us to love and care for people, and in that is compassion. Look at Jesus in Matthew 9:36:
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” (Matthew 9:36 ESV)
Compassion should motivate us to take the message of true hope to those who are hurting, lost, and without a shepherd. Compassion is God’s love for others in action. Meeting their actual physical needs AND giving them the message of hope that goes BEYOND their physical needs. Whether we realize it or not, our greatest need is to be forgiven from our sins and have our relationship restored to our Creator. God has made a way for this to happen by faith in Jesus, his perfect righteous sacrifice on the cross on our behalf. We trust, live and worship him then in faith – and show compassion as he would.
Next time, we’ll look at some things that are compassion killers. You might be surprised…
