Compassion

The sermon opens with an appeal from Colossians 3:12-15, where the Apostle Paul reminds believers that they are chosen by God and called to put on compassion, humility, and patience. The sermon emphasizes that God particularly cares for orphans, widows, and the poor. Compassion is defined not merely as understanding others' difficulties but as the ability to share their emotions and feelings, helping them become stronger and more confident in life.

The second section develops four reasons for compassion. First, because God through Christ is compassionate toward our sufferings. Scripture testifies that Jesus wept (John 11:35) when he saw Mary weeping for Lazarus, even though he knew he could raise Lazarus from the dead. Jesus endured many sorrows: betrayal, torture, spitting, mockery, crucifixion between two thieves, and abandonment by the Father because he bore our sins. The prophet Isaiah foretold this seven hundred years before Christ's birth. Second, because everyone encounters difficulties and sins. In this world nothing is perfect; tears outnumber smiles, sadness exceeds joy, suffering surpasses pleasure. Therefore, the church must be a place where those who mourn find compassion and comfort, not criticism or condemnation.

The third part affirms that all God's children in the church belong to one body, with Christ as the head. The Apostle Paul teaches that each believer is a member of Christ's body, and one member cannot say to another that it does not need it. Weaker members are necessary, and those receiving less attention must be given greater care. God loves everyone equally under the cross, but life's reality differs. The fourth reason is that compassion, comfort, and mutual aid facilitate healing. Scripture teaches that two are better than one, because if one falls, the other will help him up. The sermon emphasizes that compassion is not agreeing with or accepting sin, nor is it criticism or condemnation. A compassionate person is one who patiently listens with the purpose to understand and help.

The conclusion presents two examples. First, the story of Trần Thượng Trí, an elderly musician who once abandoned the church, family, and God to pursue worldly freedom. After many years living a licentious life full of hardship, he returned to the church in 1980 and found salvation, becoming a testimony to God's mercy and compassion. Second, the mousetraps story teaches that when one person faces a problem, it concerns all of us. The mouse warned other animals about the trap, but they could not empathize because they thought it did not affect them. As a result, the mouse is caught, a snake is trapped, the farmer's wife is bitten and dies, leading to the loss of the chicken, pig, and cow. The lesson is: when one of us is threatened, all of us may be at risk. We must always care for others, help and encourage those around us, because each of us is a thread in the tapestry of another's life.