THE MOST BEAUTIFUL VIRTUE (7 OF 8)
Scripture: LUKE 19:37-44
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The Most Beautiful Virtue (7 of 8)
Series: A Treasury of Virtues
Dr. J. Gerald Harris
Luke 19:37-44
Today we're going to consider the most beautiful virtue, and I contend that the most beautiful virtue is compassion. Basically, compassion is a heart-felt concern for others. And I pray that Eastside Baptist Church will always be a church that is full of love and compassion for people.
In fact, Frances Schaeffer says, "Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world."
And John Henry Jowett said, "As soon as we cease to bleed we cease to bless."
However, sometimes we fail to have the compassion that we ought to have. When I went to Colonial Heights Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, the church wanted to build a Christian activity center. And so we challenged the church with what we called "40 Days of Faith." And during that period of time I fleeced the flock pretty good. Every Sunday we were asking people to give. Every service we were asking people to give. We were asking them to give in faith. We were asking them to give sacrificially. We were asking them to give liberally, and we were asking them to give unselfishly.
During those "40 Days of Faith" we had our Vacation Bible School. And even during Bible School we were asking the children to give.
And I remember one morning I went to talk to a first grade class, maybe a second grade class. And the story for the day was on "the good Samaritan." And I was telling the children the story of the good Samaritan and I asked them the question, "Why did the priest and the Levite pass by on the other side?"
And there was a little boy who held up his hand, and I recognized him, and he said, "Because they could tell the poor man had already been robbed."
Well now, that's bad. But I really don't think it was that bad. I don't think they would have robbed the man if he had had money. I just don't think they had any compassion in their hearts.
You've seen these arti ...
Series: A Treasury of Virtues
Dr. J. Gerald Harris
Luke 19:37-44
Today we're going to consider the most beautiful virtue, and I contend that the most beautiful virtue is compassion. Basically, compassion is a heart-felt concern for others. And I pray that Eastside Baptist Church will always be a church that is full of love and compassion for people.
In fact, Frances Schaeffer says, "Biblical orthodoxy without compassion is surely the ugliest thing in the world."
And John Henry Jowett said, "As soon as we cease to bleed we cease to bless."
However, sometimes we fail to have the compassion that we ought to have. When I went to Colonial Heights Baptist Church in Jackson, Mississippi, the church wanted to build a Christian activity center. And so we challenged the church with what we called "40 Days of Faith." And during that period of time I fleeced the flock pretty good. Every Sunday we were asking people to give. Every service we were asking people to give. We were asking them to give in faith. We were asking them to give sacrificially. We were asking them to give liberally, and we were asking them to give unselfishly.
During those "40 Days of Faith" we had our Vacation Bible School. And even during Bible School we were asking the children to give.
And I remember one morning I went to talk to a first grade class, maybe a second grade class. And the story for the day was on "the good Samaritan." And I was telling the children the story of the good Samaritan and I asked them the question, "Why did the priest and the Levite pass by on the other side?"
And there was a little boy who held up his hand, and I recognized him, and he said, "Because they could tell the poor man had already been robbed."
Well now, that's bad. But I really don't think it was that bad. I don't think they would have robbed the man if he had had money. I just don't think they had any compassion in their hearts.
You've seen these arti ...
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