- How would you define mercy? Have you experienced another person showing you mercy? How did it make you feel?
- Read Hosea 6:6 and James 2:13. How important to God is it that we be merciful? Is this important to you? What challenges do you have showing mercy to someone else? How does remembering your own need for mercy help you grow in the practice of being merciful to others?
- How does the Lord describe Himself in Exodus 34:6-8? Why is mercy such an important quality to understand? Read Lamentations 3:22. What would happen if the Lord was short on mercy?
- In Jesus’ day, the antithesis of those who practiced mercy were the Pharisees. Instead of mercy, they demonstrated a legalistic self-sufficiency and self-righteousness. Read Luke 18:9- 14. How does this kind of proud attitude fly in the face of mercy?
- If you want to see the mercy of God on display, look to the nation of Israel. Nehemiah paints a quick summary of the people’s guilt and God’s mercy in Nehemiah 9:9-21. In what ways do we have the same tendencies as Israel?
- The merciful will themselves receive mercy. Do you think it is possible to be merciful without first experiencing mercy yourself? Why or why not? Read Hebrews 2:17. Jesus is our merciful High Priest and he identified with us in every way. How does knowing that help you to extend mercy? Who do you know that needs to be shown mercy this week?
