Day 2

Gospel to the Poor

Study 2 - Institution or organism?

Matthew 22:37-39 ' Love the Lord your God with all your heart and will all your soul and will all your mind'.  This is the first and greatest commandment.  And the second is like it" 'Love your neighbour as yourself'.

IMOW

/The church is not an institution to which we bring the problems around us to be sorted out.  The church is an organism in which we are part, and we, by God's grace, are the means by which the needs around us can be met.  Acting more in this way, we may find release from the materialism which grips the church, brings disappointment, and soaks up our energies and vision.

/"Materialism has gripped th church, yet the pursuit of things had brought not satisfaction but disappointment and a constant craving for something to excite us.  While we race off after personal satisfaction, thousands of desperate people roam he streets.  Shouls we be looking to the government or the social services to meet their needs?  No.  The work should be spearheaded by the church"

To analyse

/Be completely honest and analyse your reaction to someone ou encounter who is homeless.  (Think about a specific occastion in the past).  Write down exactly what you thought about them.

I thought they were a danger to my family and I wanted to keep them away.  I wanted to help them by talking to them and being interested, but I felt as though my attempts were clumsey and that really I wasn't helping at all - probably patronising and seemed fake.  If I had arranged to meet them for a coffee, I wouldn't have expected them to turn up, and would have been worried about giving them any contact details for me in case they got wierd.  On one level I wanted them to just tell me what it was they really needed so I could just give them stuff, but I knew their needs were likely to be a lot more complicated and difficult to resolve, and I didnt know how to help.

To meditate on

We must love others.

/"Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellow-man has fulfiled the law." (Romans 13:8).

I remember what Terry said about giving money away.  Every time we do it is a demonstration to ourselves and to God that we don't live to the world's tune, we trust that he is the provider of every good gift.

/'Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who ill-treat you'. (Luke 6:27,28)

Who do I consider to be my enemies and how do I respond to them?  Must cultivate the practise of praying for these people in devotions.

/'Let us consider how we may spur one another on towards love and good deeds' (Hebrews 10:24).

How can I spur on, and be spurred on myself?  Flow is established through the relationships within which habits grow

To discover

/Look up the words institution and organism in a dictionary.  What do each of these mean in the context of the church?

Food for Thought

/Spend time seeking the Lord about your reactions to the poor.

Ask Him to reveal any hidden prejudices you have.

Ask Him to show you His heart for the poor.

Ask Him to speak to you as you work through this study about what you should be doing to help the poor.