Caring for People in Need: Benevolence in the 21st Century

Caring for others should be a primary concern for every believer. It certainly is what the ministry of Jesus is all about. So great was His desire to meet the needs of fallen humanity that He left the glories of heaven and came to earth where He was despised and rejected by the very ones He came to help. Benevolence was such an important aspect of His ministry that the apostle Peter could characterize what He did in these words: “God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).

Caring for People in Need: 21st-Century Benevolence makes a strong case for making benevolence an important part of each church’s ministry. It offers the Biblical foundation for this type of ministry, as well as practical applications through case studies

Course Objectives:

After completing this course, students will be able to…

1. Trace the Biblical and theological basis of benevolence through the Old Testament, the teachings of Jesus, and the New Testament church.
2. Discuss the role of the church in benevolence to the community of faith and outside the community of faith.
3. Identify practical ways for the Christian to care for people in need in the marketplace.
4. Develop a ministry of care and benevolence.

1. Introduction and Old Testament: Foundations of Benevolence
2. The Teachings of Jesus on Benevolence
3. The Nature and Mission of the Church: A Theological Basis for Benevolence
4. The Social Gospel? Social Justice?
5. The Church: Benevolence Inside the Community of Faith
6. The Church: Benevolence Outside the Community of Faith
7. The Caring Christian
8. The Church That Cares
9. Care and Benevolence in the Marketplace: Part 1
10. Care and Benevolence in the Marketplace: Part 2
11. Directional Dimensions of Benevolence
12. Ministries of Compassion
13. Developing a Ministry of Care and Benevolence: Part 1
14. Developing a Ministry of Care and Benevolence: Part 2

Video Lesson 1: Introduction and Old Testament: Foundations of Benevolence