Doing For Those Who Don’t

Welcome to CROLCC, we are so glad you are here worshiping with us. I was so encouraged last week by pastor Neill’s Your March to a Miracle message. If you weren’t here I hope you can at least go online to listen to it. I loved his illustration of the lepers marching, made me thought about me, even when I don’t have it all together, I can still march on towards a miracle. It reminded me on one hand we need to pray and rely on God, but on the other we must take full responsibility to take action. Faith without work is dead, but we can only understand what James was saying if only we experience it ourselves. I pray that you will have the courage to march toward your miracle.

Christmas is a time to celebrate and to serve. We love to serve in community centers and teach our kids to serve others especially during this season. Doing good for those who can’t do for themselves is fun and gratifying . . . especially when they’re grateful. But doing good for someone who would never do anything good for you is challenging. Doing good for someone who hurt you, reminds you of someone who hurt you, or represents someone who hurt you is full of emotion and history. They don’t deserve it. So, when it comes to extending generosity, how far is far enough?

Moving Forward

Who is your centurion? Is it someone who hurt you, someone who reminds you of someone who hurt you, or someone who represents someone who hurt you? You don’t have to trust that person to love him or her. You don’t have to reengage relationally to serve him or her. When you do for others in spite of what they have done to you, you reflect what God has done for you.

Changing Your Mind

And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners do that. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
Luke 6:33, 35

Discussion Questions

1. Why is it often easier for people to be generous toward a stranger than toward a neighbor or family member?

2. Read Romans 5:6–8. Is it difficult to see yourself as someone who offended God and didn’t deserve his generosity? Why or why not?

3. Has another person ever been generous to you even though you didn’t deserve it? If so, how did it affect you?

4. Read Matthew 8:5–13. Who in your life is like the centurion—someone who doesn’t deserve your generosity? What is it about that person that makes it difficult for you to serve him or her?

5. What is one thing you can do this week to be generous toward you “centurion”? How can this group help and support you as you take that step?