What we want students to learn: That God is full of compassion for those in need.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To trust that they can depend on the Lord during times of need and distress.

Scripture Focus: Psalm 86:15; Exodus 34:1-7; Isaiah 49:13; 2 Samuel 24:14; Psalm 121:1-2

Overview: None of us have to look very far to see that people, including ourselves, are hurting. The circumstances and severity of the trouble vary from person to person, but we all deal with heartache, pain, and distress in life. The question is: What do you look to in times of trouble and distress? Do you just chalk it up to being part of life or do you draw your hope from someone or something? Scripture teaches us that we can look to the Lord during these times because He's full of compassion. Compassion refers to the mercy and goodness He shows to those in need. In Lesson 1 we'll see that compassion towards those in need is a part of God's character. In Lesson 2 we'll see how Jesus is the full revelation of God's compassion. Finally, in Lesson 3 we'll look at how we are called to show Christ-like compassion on a daily basis.

What we want students to learn: That Jesus is the ultimate revelation of God’s compassion.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To evaluate their own lives, examining whether or not they are full of mercy and compassion, and then reflect on what this means.

Scripture Focus: Mark 6:30-34; Matthew 9:35-38; Mark 10:45; Matthew 15:32; Matthew 5:7

Overview: We all blow it at one point or another, right? We're sinful people and can make messes of situations and relationships on a pretty regular basis. On the other hand, there are plenty of things in our lives that we just can't control. Life isn't fair and bad things happen. You combine all this together, and the result is that we all go through plenty of pain and turmoil. We need to be shown compassion, and we need to show kindness to others. Jesus is the full revelation of God's compassion and shows us what true mercy and compassion really looks like. He tells us that the merciful will experience mercy themselves, all because of His life, death, and resurrection. In Lesson 1 we learned that compassion towards those in need is a part of God's character. In Lesson 2 we'll see how Jesus shows us what true compassion really looks like.

What we want students to learn: That a life void of compassion is a life that hasn’t been changed by Jesus.

What we want students to do with what they’ve learned: To flesh out what showing compassion to others looks like in their lives.

Scripture Focus: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4; Luke 3:9-11; James 2:15-18

Overview: Our calling as believers is to be Christ-like. Over the past two lessons, we've talked about compassion being a part of God's character and Jesus being the full revelation of that compassion. So, if we're going to be Christ-like in our daily lives, we must show compassion to those around us. Without it, we aren't living like Jesus. We aren't following Him. So, what does Christ-like compassion look like in your teenagers' lives? God has placed them in unique situations and circumstances and given them great opportunities to model His love and kindness to those around them. In Lesson 1 we learned that compassion is a part of God's nature and character. In Lesson 2 we learned that Jesus is the full revelation of God's compassion. In this lesson, you'll challenge your students to show Christ-like compassion to those around them.