Mercy: THE ABUNDANT COMPASSION OF GOD Slide 2 A Biblical View of
Gods Mercy Quality of character of God Purpose-LIFE itself Slide 3
Rahamim as Compassion Rehem (singular noun form) means womb or
uterus Rahamim (plural noun form) means compassion, mercy and love
Rahum (adjectival form) means merciful Slide 4 God IS the merciful
One Slide 5 The Threefold Dynamic of Mercy: The Exodus Event Slide
6 Gods first three I Statements I see the misery of my people I
hear their cries I know their sufferings Slide 7 Gods next three I
Statements I have come down I have come down to free the people I
will send Moses to free the people from the Egyptians Slide 8
Threefold Biblical Pattern of Mercy 1.Seeing and hearing suffering
2.Responding with Compassion 3.Acting in ways that free people from
suffering and generate life Slide 9 Questions for Reflection and
Journaling 1.How have I participated in the threefold dynamic of
Gods mercy in my current ministry? 2.When have I seen suffering,
felt compassion, and responded in ways that have liberated or
brought life to administration, faculty, staff or students? Slide
10 Mercy: THE ABUNDANT COMPASSION OF GOD Slide 11 Compassion: A
Philosophical Perspective Slide 12 Compassion as a Virtue The
affliction of compassion Not only a felt response to suffering
Contains underlying structure of thought Slide 13 Compassions
Underlying Structure of Thought 1.Suffering is serious rather than
trivial 2.Awakens when we believe a person or community does not
deserve such suffering 3.Arises when we believe we could suffer
something similar Slide 14 Significance of Awareness of
Vulnerability Slide 15 Questions for Reflection and Journaling
1.How have I experienced Gods mercy lately? When has someone seen
my suffering, drawn near, had compassion, and acted on my behalf?
2.What serious suffering in todays world evokes compassion in me?
Slide 16 Mercy: THE ABUNDANT COMPASSION OF GOD Slide 17 Developing
Mercy in Childhood and Adolescence Slide 18 Children Ages 2-7
Magical Thinking Slide 19 Developing Compassion Appeal to
Imagination Slide 20 Developing Compassion Appeal to Imagination
Assist children in caring for others Notice when they do care Slide
21 Developing Compassion Appeal to Imagination Assist children in
caring for others Notice when they do care Help them recognize
feelings of others Slide 22 Developing Compassion Appeal to
Imagination Assist children in caring for others Notice when they
do care Help them recognize feelings of others Help them appreciate
and accept differences Slide 23 Notice Compassion in response to
Metaphorical Speech Slide 24 Children Ages 7-13 Slide 25 Concrete
thinkers Live in linear, orderly, predictable world Want to know
about limits Age of Collecting Have a greater capacity to tell
stories Children Ages 7-13 Slide 26 Developing Compassion Read
books describing people of compassion Slide 27 Developing
Compassion Read books describing people of compassion Collect
personal items for people in shelters Slide 28 Developing
Compassion Read books describing people of compassion Collect
personal items for people in shelters Sort and distribute food at
food banks Slide 29 Developing Compassion Read books describing
people of compassion Collect personal items for people in shelters
Sort and distribute food at food banks Tutor younger children Slide
30 Mercy: Response to Expressed Vulnerability Slide 31 Teens and
Young Adults Slide 32 Abstract thinkers See all kinds of relations
and implications Ask universal questions Detect logical
inconsistencies Slide 33 Teens and Young Adults Black and white
thinkers Bad things wont happen to me Tremendous amount of physical
energy Have strong feelings they want to express Develop important
and interesting relationships Slide 34 Teens and Young Adults
Highly self-conscious Strong outward thrust Can be immediate and
reactionary Can take unnecessary risks Think they can save the
world Slide 35 Adolescent Angst Slide 36 Developing Compassion
Seeing and hearing them Treating them with respect and compassion
Acting toward them with kindness Finding ourselves amazed and
delighted by them Slide 37 Developing Compassion Putting them in
touch with great suffering of the world Slide 38 Developing
Compassion Guided active engagement with suffering Senior Service
Programs, Habitat for Humanity Slide 39 Power of Presence Slide 40
Questions for Reflection and Journaling 1.How have you evoked
compassionate mercy among your students? 2.How have your students
or your colleagues elicited compassionate mercy from you? Slide 41
Mercy: THE ABUNDANT COMPASSION OF GOD
