Square Mile
Isaiah 58: 1-14
What is the Square Mile?
Would anyone in our community notice if our
church ceased to exist?
We must keep working at two things:
a) turning our mirrors into windows!
b) think church, think people!
Mercy =demonstrating God’s compassion
for the helpless and poor
An obvious example of poverty: physical need
Less obvious example of poverty: emotional
need
To fully grasp the sense of the word ‘mercy’ we
need a group of overlapping linguistic circles!
KINDNESS
MERCIFUL
GOODNESS
LOVE
GRACE
God is not impressed with Religion that is
devoid of Mercy (Isaiah 58:1-3,5)
If my religious duties are to please me, or to
earn favour, then I have failed (v6-8)
True service leads to humility and mercy
(Micah 6:8)
So... what’s amazing about Grace?
Think for a moment!
There is a slight difference between Grace and
Mercy; for example:
Ephesians 2:8-9 = grace (I don’t deserve it)
Matthew 5:7 = a loving response to the helpless
(I need it)
So it follows that I am gracious because I
received grace
Also I am merciful because I received mercy
Luke 18:9-14 gives a picture of the unmerciful