What's the difference between feeling sorry for someone and showing true biblical compassion? This weekend, Pastor Lawrence unpacks the profound meaning of compassion in Scripture and challenges us to move beyond sympathy into life-changing action.

Drawing from the story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10, we discover that compassion isn't just an emotion—it's a call to get physically involved, to risk our comfort, and to invest our resources in the lives of others. With over 2,000 verses in the Bible addressing care for the poor and vulnerable, this message reminds us that compassion is absolutely central to our faith.

Key Highlights:

• The Greek word for compassion means "to be moved to one's bowels"—your very core
• The Good Samaritan shows us what hands-on compassion looks like
• Why removing poverty-focused verses would make your Bible fall apart
• How 2.2 billion Christians worldwide can unite to fight poverty
• The power of child sponsorship to transform lives and bridge the global divide

Featured Scriptures:

• Luke 10:25-37 | The Good Samaritan
• Matthew 9:35-38 | Jesus' Compassion on the Crowds
• Matthew 25:40 | Whatever You Did for the Least of These
• James 2:18 | Show Me Your Faith by Your Deeds
• 1 Corinthians 12:4-14 | Many Parts, One Body

Next Steps: Visit https://www.compassion.com/sponsor-a-child/ to learn more about child sponsorship and how you can make a tangible difference in a child's life through Compassion International.

Prayer Request: Please join us in praying for Joelle, who will undergo major surgery on January 22nd to help control her epilepsy. Pray for the medical team, for Joelle's complete healing, and for her family (Stacey & Kevin) during the 8-week hospital stay.

Connect with Grand Point Church:
Website: www.grandpoint.church
Instagram: @grandpointchurch
Facebook: /grandpointchurch
YouTube: Grand Point Church

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What if you were doing everything right—following all the rules, living a good life—and Jesus looked at you with love and said, "You lack ONE THING"?

In this powerful weekend message, Pastor Lawrence explores one of the most challenging encounters in Scripture: the rich young ruler who asked Jesus about eternal life but couldn't release his possessions to follow Him.

This teaching from Mark 10:17-23 asks us to examine what we're holding onto that keeps us from fully following Jesus. The rich young ruler had wealth, youth, power, and religious devotion—everything the world values. He came to Jesus with the ultimate question: "What must I do to inherit eternal life?"

Jesus' response was both loving and challenging: "You lack ONE THING: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me." The man went away sorrowful because he had great possessions.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• The profound question at the heart of life: "Do you want to be something or do you want to do something?"
• Why keeping all the commandments wasn't enough for the rich young ruler
• How Jesus looked at this man with genuine love before giving him the invitation of a lifetime
• The principle that you can't shop horizontally for what can only be found vertically
• Why any invitation into deeper relationship with God almost always involves a choice
• How to identify and release the idols that grip your heart
• Jesus' promise for those who leave everything to follow Him

Key Scripture: Mark 10:17-23

Questions to Reflect On:

1. What's your ONE THING—what stands between you and deeper relationship with Jesus?
2. Are you trusting in earthly possessions or in God for your security?
3. How much do you want more of Jesus?
4. What idols grip your heart that need to be released?

Next Steps:

• Identify what idols grip your heart and cut off their supply
• Invest your resources—time, money, abilities—in lasting kingdom purposes
• Say "yes" to Jesus' Presence, whatever it costs
• Pray: "Jesus, I never want to make the same choice that the rich young ruler made—at any level of my life. I do say 'yes' to your Presence and always want to go deeper, whatever it costs."

Coming Next Week: Hear Jonathan's powerful testimony about how Compassion International transformed his life from victim of global poverty to kingdom minister. Don't miss this inspiring story of investment and multiplication in God's kingdom.

Connect with Grand Point Church:

🌐 Website: www.grandpoint.church
📱 Instagram: @grandpointchurch
👥 Facebook: /grandpointchurch
📺 YouTube: Grand Point Church

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In this powerful message, we explore one of the most misunderstood stories in the Gospels: Mary and Martha. When Jesus visits their home in Bethany, Martha busies herself with elaborate preparations while Mary simply sits at His feet. Jesus' response to Martha's complaint reveals a stunning truth about what God truly desires from us.

Are you serving Jesus but missing Jesus? Discover why God didn't create you primarily for usefulness, but for something far more beautiful: to know Him and be enjoyed by Him.

In This Episode:

• The real reason Jesus corrected Martha's service
• Why sitting at Jesus' feet isn't passive—it's powerful
• What J.I. Packer teaches about knowing God
• How to prioritize intimacy with God in everyday life
• The ONE thing Jesus says is needed for a fulfilling spiritual life

Key Scripture: Luke 10:38-42

Mentioned Resources:

• "Knowing God" by J.I. Packer
• Matthew 6:33 - "Seek first the kingdom of God"

Connect with Grand Point Church:
Website: www.grandpoint.church
Instagram: @grandpointchurch
Facebook: /grandpointchurch
YouTube: Grand Point Church

Next Steps: 📖 Read Luke 10:38-42 and journal your reflections
🙏 Set aside 15 minutes daily this week to "sit at Jesus' feet"
👥 Join a Small Group (Circles) at grandpoint.church/groups
💒 Plan to attend our next baptism on March 22, 2026

Support Global Ministry:
Our Christmas Eve offering of $62,282 will support our new partnership in Honduras and other global missional opportunities.

Weekend Messages at Grand Point Church is a weekly podcast featuring powerful biblical teaching to help you grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ. Subscribe so you never miss a message!

Connect with us at www.grandpoint.church/nextsteps
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