“Practitioners and Technicians ”

1. “Practitioners and Technicians”

2. Technician:a person who is trained or skilled in the technicalities of a subject. • Practitioner:One who practices something, especially an occupation, profession, or technique. • Caregiver:An individual, such as a physician, nurse, or social worker, who assists in the identification, prevention, or treatment of an illness or disability.

3. We are not called to be Christian technicians only; We are called to be Christian caregivers, true practitioners. We are not called to have all the answers We are called to love, to serve, to have compassion.

4. Mark 1.40-42:  40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean."  41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured.

5. Mark 1.43-45:  43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

6. Matthew 7.21-23: 21"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'

7. Matthew 23.23-24: 23"Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices—mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former. 24You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

8. Matthew 25.37-40: 37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' 40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

9. 1 Corinthians 13.1-3: 1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

10. Mark  12.28-31: 28One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" 29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[e]30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[f]31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[g]There is no commandment greater than these."

11. Matthew 7.12: So in everything, do to others as you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

12. John 13.34-35: 34"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

13. We are not called to be ‘Christian technicians’ only; We are called to be ‘Christian caregivers’, true practitioners. We are not called to have all the answers. We are called to love, to serve, to have compassion!!