(Below is an email I sent out to my small group on April 6, 2009)
Hey you guys!
For once I am going to get this email sent out on time! I smile. This week we deviated from the book a little bit... and I'm glad that we did. Tim felt led to talk a bit more about the topic of Pete's sermon: Mercy. We read the parable of the unmerciful servant (Matthew 18:21-35, for those of you who missed it) and discussed what it means to show mercy to others.
The ancient Greek word for mercy is eleos, which can also be translated "loving kindness" or "compassion." The root form of the word means "oil that is poured out." In Biblical times, oil was poured out as a special honor to the person on whom it was poured out. For example, King David was anointed with oil (1 Samuel 16:13). The mercy we show is our way of showing special honor to God, and to those around us... loving others as we love ourselves.
For most of us, mercy is going to mean letting things go, and not letting our anger get the best of us. It's so hard not to lash out when someone 'deserves' it, but we have to remember that while we are all deserving of punishment, Jesus pardoned us. Since we have been shown such great mercy, we ought to show the same mercy to others.
We also spent a great deal of time talking about the concert. It's getting down to the wire, so everybody make sure that you don't procrastinate! Every minute counts. I know that it's exciting, planning all these details for the fundraiser, but let's always keep in our minds and hearts the reason we are raising that money. The concert is not an end in itself; God has bigger things in store for us.
You are all in my prayers. I'll miss you next week; have a good Easter! I'll see you all on the 19th.
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