Compassion in Action: Jesus and the Widow’s Son

Sermon Notes

Scripture: Luke 7:11–17

Topic: Compassion, The Widow of Nain, and Making a Difference

I. Announcements & Opening

The service began with updates on the life of the church. This marked the final Sunday for the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering, a vital fund for international missions. The congregation celebrated a generous total of $2,320 collected, which exceeded previous contributions by nearly a thousand dollars.

Upcoming community events were also highlighted. The church family is looking forward to the Progressive Dinner, which will replace the Wednesday night service. The event begins at noon at the church, travels to Terrence’s home, moves on to Gator Trace, and concludes at Bob and Sharon’s residence. Looking ahead to the New Year, the Men’s Breakfast is scheduled for the first Saturday of January, followed by a Deacon’s meeting on January 5th. The church will gather again on January 11th for a potluck featuring turkey, tetrazzini, and green beans, with members encouraged to bring soups, sides, and desserts.

A special moment of worship was led by Ava Ingersol, Pastor Troy's daughter visiting from Melbourne, Australia. She ministered to the congregation by singing "What a Beautiful Name," setting the stage for a message about the power and person of Jesus.

II. Introduction: The Bystander Effect

Pastor Troy opened the message with a sobering illustration from a 1968 Reader's Digest account. The story detailed a tragic event in New York where a young woman was attacked over the course of nearly an hour. Despite her screams for help, 38 witnesses heard the commotion but remained behind their windows. No one intervened, and no one called the police until it was too late. When asked why, the witnesses simply replied that they didn't want to get involved or that they didn't care enough to act.

This phenomenon, often called the "Bystander Effect," is not limited to secular society; it can also be found within the church. A study by the Barna Group revealed that 37% of unchurched Americans avoid religious organizations specifically because of a perceived lack of concern from the church body. As we look toward the future, the church must confront a difficult question: Do we genuinely care about the hurting, or are we content to simply watch from a distance?

III. The Meeting at the Gate (Luke 7:11–12)

The text centers on a dramatic encounter in Luke chapter 7. Jesus and His disciples were traveling from Capernaum to the town of Nain, a journey of about 11 miles. As they approached the town gate, two very different crowds collided. One crowd was following Jesus, the Light of the World, representing hope and life. The other crowd was a funeral procession, representing darkness, sorrow, and death.

At the center of this tragedy was a woman who was already a widow, now burying her only son. Pastor Troy emphasized the cultural weight of this moment. In that society, a son was a mother’s lifeline. He was her provider, her protector, and her social security. To lose him meant she was not only grieving a child but facing total destitution and homelessness. To the average observer, the situation was hopeless, but Jesus saw the deep helplessness that others might have missed.

IV. Compassion in Action (Luke 7:13–15)

This passage reveals the distinct difference between merely seeing a need and feeling compassion. The scripture says that when the Lord saw her, His heart went out to her. He did not offer a cliché or look away; He processed her pain emotionally. He stepped forward and told her, "Don't cry."

Jesus then took action that defied social and religious norms. He reached out and touched the "bier," the wicker or stick stretcher carrying the body. Under ceremonial law, touching a dead body or the stretcher would make a person unclean. Jesus, however, was not concerned with optics or ritual rules; He was concerned with the person. He prioritized compassion over cleanliness.

With the authority that only God possesses, Jesus spoke to the corpse, saying, "Young man, I say to you, get up." The response was immediate. The dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. The crowd was filled with awe, realizing that this was not just a prophet doing a trick, but God Himself visiting His people to help them.

V. The Starfish Principle (Application)

To bring the message home, Pastor Troy shared the story of a young girl walking along a beach covered in thousands of stranded starfish after a storm. She was picking them up one by one and throwing them back into the ocean. An old man approached her and criticized her efforts, pointing out that there were miles of beach and thousands of starfish. He told her she was wasting her time and that she couldn't possibly make a difference.

Undeterred, the girl picked up another starfish, tossed it into the waves, and replied, "It made a difference to that one."

This illustrates our spiritual "Return on Investment." We may feel overwhelmed by the needs of the world, thinking we cannot fix everything. However, Jesus calls us to be that "one" who makes a difference for someone else. True compassion requires involvement. A simple hello, a sincere prayer, or a moment of genuine care can change the trajectory of a single life.

VI. Conclusion

The reaction of the crowd at Nain was one of praise, recognizing that God had come to help. As Midway Road Baptist Church moves into the new year, the call to action is clear. We must move beyond observation and overcome the bystander mentality. We are called to be a people of compassion, willing to stop our busy lives, touch the "unclean" places of our community, and get involved to bring life and hope to those who need it most.