Rooted in Mark 10:14 — “Let the little children come to me” — our mission is to open the door for every child to know they are loved by God and invited into friendship with Him

JULY | AUG | SEPT

QUESTIONS

Biblical Foundation

Q: What biblical passage establishes the corporal works of mercy? 

A: Matthew 25:31-46 describes the Last Judgment where Jesus identifies himself directly with seven categories of suffering people: the hungry, thirsty, stranger, naked, ill, imprisoned, and dead, making service to them equivalent to serving Christ himself.

Corporal Works Structure

Q: What are the seven corporal works of mercy and what do they address? 

A: The seven corporal works address physical needs of the body: feed the hungry, give drink to the thirsty, clothe the naked, shelter the homeless, visit the sick, visit the imprisoned, and bury the dead.

Spiritual Works Structure

Q: What are the seven spiritual works of mercy and what needs do they fulfill? 

A: The seven spiritual works address needs of the mind, heart, and soul: counsel the doubtful, instruct the ignorant, admonish sinners, comfort the sorrowful, forgive offenses, bear wrongs patiently, and pray for the living and the dead.

Theological Purpose

Q: How do the works of mercy relate to Jesus’ core commandment? 

A: The works of mercy are practical applications of Jesus’ command to love God and neighbor, demonstrating love through concrete actions addressing both physical and spiritual needs.

Judgment Criteria

Q: What role do corporal works play in the Last Judgment according to Matthew 25? 

A: In Matthew 25, Jesus uses the corporal works of mercy as the criteria to separate the righteous from the wicked, with the righteous inheriting the kingdom prepared from the foundation of the world.

Dual Nature of Mercy

Q: What is the fundamental distinction between corporal and spiritual works of mercy? 

A: Corporal works appeal to physical needs of the body, while spiritual works express needs of the mind, heart, and soul, creating a comprehensive framework for serving others.

Jimmy Wants to Help

• Feeling Empathy: When Jimmy saw the refugees on TV living in a war-torn country, he wanted to give them a big hug. How do you feel when you see or hear about people who are going through a really tough time?
• The Problem: At first, Jimmy’s dad thought they couldn’t help because the families lived thousands of miles away. Have you ever felt too small or too far away to fix a big problem?
• The Solution: How did Jimmy and his dad eventually find a way to help the refugees prepare for winter?
• God’s Hands and Feet: The story says that “God works through us.” How did God work through Jimmy and his dad in this story?
• Sacrifice: To help others, sometimes we have to give up something of our own (like donating allowance money or giving away toys). What is something you would be willing to share to make someone else’s life better?
• Prayer Action: If you could say a prayer for the children and families around the world who don’t have a safe home right now, what would you ask God to do for them?