Twelve Weeks of Prayerful Discernment
Listening Together for Where God Is Leading Holy Trinity
Week 4: Seeing People as Christ Sees Them
Scripture Readings
Read:
Matthew 9:35–38
Luke 15:1–32
Jonah 4
Reflection
For the past three weeks, we have been laying a foundation for our Season of Discernment.
We have remembered that God is the primary actor. Christ continues to build and sustain His Church. Before we are ever called to serve, we first receive His gifts through His Word and Sacraments.
Now, our attention begins to turn outward.
If we are rooted in Christ, how then do we see the people He places before us?
The answer begins not with our eyes, but with Christ's.
In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus travels through towns and villages, teaching, proclaiming the kingdom, and healing those in need. Then Matthew gives us a remarkable glimpse into the heart of our Lord:
"When He saw the crowds, He had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd."
- Jesus did not first see interruptions.
- He did not first see problems.
- He did not first see projects.
- He saw people.
- He saw sheep in need of a Shepherd.
Luke 15 deepens this picture. The religious leaders grumble because Jesus welcomes sinners and eats with them. In response, Jesus tells three familiar parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son.
Each story reveals something about God's heart.
- The Shepherd seeks.
- The woman searches.
- The father runs.
Again and again, God is the One who moves toward those who are lost.
Jonah, however, reminds us how easily our hearts can drift away from God's own compassion. Jonah was willing to receive God's mercy for himself, yet reluctant to see that same mercy extended to Nineveh. He struggled to love the very people God longed to save.
If we are honest, we may discover a little of Jonah within ourselves.
- There are people who are easy to love.
- There are others we would rather avoid.
- There are neighbors whose lives seem messy.
- Visitors who make us uncomfortable.
- Families who do not look like us, think like us, or live like us.
Yet Christ invites us to see them as He does.
As Holy Trinity continues this Season of Discernment, perhaps one of our most important questions is not simply:
"What ministries should we have?"
But rather:
"Whom has God already placed before us?"
- The families in our preschool.
- The visitors who quietly enter our sanctuary.
- The lonely neighbor.
- The struggling coworker.
- The grieving widow.
- The child who asks difficult questions.
- The young family searching for hope.
Perhaps God has already brought many of the people He intends us to love.
The question is whether we have eyes to see them.
Discernment begins not by looking for new opportunities somewhere else.
It often begins by seeing, with fresh eyes, the people God has already placed within our reach.
Luther's Five Questions
Instruction
- What do these passages teach us about God's heart for those who are lost?
- How does Jesus' compassion shape the Church's mission?
- What do we learn from Jonah's struggle?
Thanksgiving
- Thank God for those who first welcomed you into His Church.
- Give thanks for the people He has already brought to Holy Trinity.
- Thank Him for His patience and compassion toward sinners—including ourselves.
Confession
- Where have we failed to see others as Christ sees them?
- Have we ever viewed people as interruptions instead of neighbors?
- Where might we be more like Jonah than we care to admit?
Petition
- Ask the Lord to give Holy Trinity the eyes of Christ.
- Pray for our preschool families, visitors, neighbors, and community.
- Ask Him to deepen our compassion and our willingness to welcome those He brings among us.
Recognition
- Where do you already see Holy Trinity reflecting Christ's compassion?
- What ministries already demonstrate His love?
- Who has God already brought into our lives that may represent an opportunity for ministry?
Three Layers of Reflection
Personal Reflection
- Which of these passages challenged you the most?
- Who has God placed in your life that you may have overlooked?
- How has Christ shown compassion to you?
Congregational Reflection
- Who are the people God has already brought to Holy Trinity?
- How well do we welcome visitors and newcomers?
- What opportunities already exist within our congregation and preschool that deserve greater attention?
Discernment Reflection
- As you pray through these passages, what recurring themes continue to emerge?
- Are there groups of people our congregation is uniquely positioned to serve?
- What opportunities seem to be appearing naturally rather than being manufactured?
- What observations should be shared with the Planning Committee?
Conversation Challenge
This week, ask another member:
"Who do you believe God has already placed before Holy Trinity that we may not be fully seeing?"
Listen carefully.
You may discover that several people independently mention the same individuals, families, or opportunities.
Record these conversations in your discernment journal.
Pay attention to recurring names, recurring themes, and recurring burdens.
Sometimes the Holy Spirit helps a congregation discern its direction not by revealing something entirely new, but by repeatedly drawing our attention to the same people and opportunities.