Canaan Fellowship

Empathy and Compassion

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Eric Schnackenberg delivers a sermon on empathy and compassion, acknowledging his personal struggles with these traits despite their importance in Christian life. He shares anecdotes and biblical insights to explore how believers can better connect with others in distress, emphasizing trust, humility, and patience.

Bullet points with key content:

  • [00:00:00] Eric introduces the topic of empathy, admitting it’s a personal weakness but one he finds compelling. He contrasts it with his past sermons on topics he felt confident about.
  • [00:01:29] Defines empathy (sharing another’s emotional experience) and compassion (adding a desire to help), citing Galatians 6:2 as a biblical foundation.
  • [00:02:48] Shares an anecdote about a woman panicking over a distant forest fire, illustrating how lack of empathy can hinder effective help.
  • [00:05:55] Highlights four pitfalls to avoid when building trust:
    • Gossip (Proverbs 16:28, Ephesians 4:29-30).
    • Hiding personal struggles (James 5:16, 2 Corinthians 12:9).
    • Judging others (Romans 14:4, John 8:3-11).
    • Rushing solutions instead of listening.
    • [00:13:43] Emphasizes that feeling unqualified can make one more relatable and effective in offering empathy.
    • [00:17:41] Warns against a judgmental attitude, using the adulterous woman story (John 8) to show Jesus’ model of grace over condemnation.
    • [00:25:55] Stresses that empathy requires time investment (Ephesians 5:15) and challenges listeners to prioritize eternal treasures over earthly busyness.

      • Scripture References

      • Galatians 6:2
      • Proverbs 16:28
      • Ephesians 4:29-30
      • James 5:16
      • 2 Corinthians 12:9
      • Romans 14:4
      • John 8:3-11
      • Isaiah 53:6
      • Ephesians 5:15

        • Generated by AI model deepseek-chat

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