Opening:
Compassion can be defined as “showing deep feelings of concern for those who are suffering and needy.” Compassion can happen on mission a trip to Thailand to help others recover from a tsunami, or it can happen when you pick up food at the grocery store that will go in a backpack to feed hungry children in your community. Let’s take a look at a clip in which this film’s lead character, Bethany, show of compassion not only helps others, but also gives her a new perspective on life.

Watch DVD Scene 13—Start Time: 1:10:20—End Time: 1:18:29 (8:09)

Discussion Questions:
1. Read Zechariah 7:9-10 and 1 Peter 3:8. Do you think God expects you to be compassionate toward others? (Yes.) Why? (Because the Bible tells us to be compassionate to others.) How are you at showing compassion toward others? (Answers will vary.)

2. In this clip, Bethany’s youth director, Sarah, said, “Don’t be sorry for compassion, Bethany. It can move us to do amazing things, and it can help you get a new perspective.” What were some amazing things that happened in Thailand due to the compassion of Bethany and her youth group? (People were being treated for injuries, water and food were being handed out to those who needed it…) What are some amazing things compassion can lead you to do for others? (Answers will vary but may include helping feed the hungry, being there for friends who are suffering through the loss of a loved one, etc.)

3. How does our church show concern for people who are needy and suffering? (Answers will vary.) How does our youth group show compassion toward others? (Answers will vary.)

4. In the clip, Bethany said, “Who would have ever thought that teaching a kid to surf could teach me that surfing isn’t the most important thing in the world and that something else is? Love.” How did Bethany’s compassion for others lead her to a new perspective on surfing? (Her compassion for others led her to take the mission trip to Thailand. While there, she met a little boy who feared the water and coaxed him into the water by surfing with him. This led her to see that surfing wasn’t the most important thing in the world—that having compassion and loving others was.) How can being compassionate to others help give you a new perspective on life? (Answers will vary but may include that it may allow you to see how blessed your life is.)

5. Read Lamentations 3:22. Do love and compassion go together? (Yes.) Can you have one without the other? (Not really; love leads to compassion, and it’s hard to show compassion without love.)

6. Can your compassion for others help them overcome their fears? (Yes.) Did you see that happen in this clip? (Yes.) How? (When the little boy who feared the water went surfing, which happened because of Bethany’s compassion for him.) Can your compassion for others help you overcome your fears? (Answers will vary.)

7. Read Luke 10:30-37. Who showed compassion in these verses? (The Samaritan: background information—Samaritans and Jews hated each other, but the Samaritan showed compassion to the Jew.) How did the Samaritan show compassion? (Bandaged him, took him to an inn, took care of him and the next day gave the innkeeper money to look after him.) Who failed to show compassion in these verses? (The priest, who was a religious leader; and the Levite, who was a lay associate. The people most likely to show compassion didn’t, and the one least likely did show compassion.)

8. Read Psalms 86:15. Is God compassionate toward you? (Yes.)

9. Read Mark 1:40-42; Matthew 15:32; Luke 7:11-15 and Hebrews 4:15. Was Jesus compassionate toward others? (Yes.) Who was Jesus compassionate toward in each of these verses? (The sick, the hungry, a widow, those who are weak, which includes us.) Who do you think God wants us to be compassionate toward? (The same people to whom He showed compassion.) Who can you turn to for a perfect example of compassion? (Jesus.)

10. Read 1 John 3:17-18. According to these verses, is compassion more about words, actions or both? (Both.) Will you commit to showing compassion to others, each and every day, not just through your words but also through your actions? (Answers will vary.)

Closing Thought:
Your God loves and has compassion for you. That love and compassion for you should lead you to share love and compassion with others in your community and around the world. Will you choose to follow the lead of Jesus and look for opportunities to share His love and compassion with the less fortunate in your world? What will you choose to do?

Closing Prayer and The Lord’s Prayer:
“Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble” (1 Pet. 3:8).

“This is what the LORD Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other'” (Zech. 7:9-10).

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail” (Lam. 3:22).

“In reply Jesus said: ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. “Look after him,” he said, “and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.” Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?’ The expert in the law replied, ‘The one who had mercy on him.’ Jesus told him, ‘Go and do likewise'” (Luke 10:30-37).

“But you, Lord, are a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness” (Ps. 86:15).

“A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus was indignant. He reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’ Immediately, the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed” (Mark 1:40-42).

“Jesus called His disciples to Him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they already have been with Me three days and have nothing to eat. I do not want to send them away hungry, or they may collapse on the way'” (Matt. 15:32).

“Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a large crowd went along with Him. As He approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out—the only son of his mother, and she was a widow. A large crowd from the town was with her. When the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her and He said, ‘Don’t cry.’ Then He went up and touched the bier they were carrying him on, and the bearers stood still. He said, ‘Young man, I say to you, get up!’ The dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother” (Luke 7:11-15).

“For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have One who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet He did not sin” (Heb. 4:15).

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth” (1 John 3:17-18).