Empathy Isn’t Enough: We Need Compassion
Scroll to read a recap of Pastor Caleb Culver’s sermon from September 21, 2025!
This weekend, Pastor Caleb closed out our Coming Attractions series with the story of Jonah. At its core, the message was simple but challenging: God calls us beyond empathy into true compassion.
Empathy means feeling for people, but the purpose of empathy can get lost in a self-serving culture. Empathy has become tribal, selective, even self-serving. Compassion, however, is different. It’s rooted in God’s character, motivated by love, is aimed toward the vulnerable, and always leads to action.
That’s where Jonah struggled. When God showed mercy to Nineveh, Israel’s brutal enemy, Jonah was furious. He wasn’t unfeeling, but his empathy didn’t line up with God’s compassion. Out of rage, Jonah built a small shelter, a “booth,” where he could sit in judgment and watch the city. That booth became a picture of his bitterness—a place where he could distance himself, physically and emotionally, rather than lean into God’s mercy.
Like Jonah, many of us build our own “booths.” They may not be physical structures, but they’re the safe places we retreat to: comfort, resentment, or self-righteousness. In fact, if we practice empathy without compassion, it can turn toxic. The longer we sit in our booths, the less we pray, the less we reach, the less we weep for others. It’s easy to let this world harden our hearts, but God has a higher calling for us.
So how do we move past the spirit of Jonah? Not by trying harder to feel more, but by remembering what it cost Jesus. We were lost and broken without Him. Jesus didn’t just empathize with us from heaven: He came down, entered our mess, healed, loved, and gave His life. That’s compassion. That’s the heart of God that we should be aiming to reach.
God didn’t save us just so we could live safe, comfortable lives. He brought us into His kingdom so the joy of our salvation could overflow into others. This leads us to ask:
Where have we built our booths—places of distance, judgment, or resentment?
Are we letting God’s mercy soften our anger and widen our perspective?
Will we step toward others with the same compassion first shown to us?
Just like with Jonah, God meets us in our bitterness, tears down our false shelters, and realigns our hearts with His own. He is patient with us. Our prayer is to be a people known not just for our convictions, but also for our compassion. If we attempt to practice empathy without the heart of God, we will completely miss the mark.
How do we get moved to compassion? We see the cost that Jesus paid for us to come home.
Tap to watch Pastor Caleb Culver’s full sermon on Youtube.
Here's a 5-day devotional guide based on this sermon:
Day 1: God's Boundless Compassion
Reading: Jonah 4:1–11
Devotional: As we read about Jonah's anger and God's response, we're confronted with the vastness of God's compassion. Unlike Jonah, who struggled to extend mercy beyond his own people, God's love knows no bounds. Reflect on times when you've found it difficult to show compassion to those different from you. How might God be calling you to expand your heart? Remember, God's compassion for Nineveh wasn't based on their worthiness, but on His own character. Today, ask God to give you His eyes to see others, especially those you might consider "enemies" or undeserving of grace.
Day 2: From Empathy to Action
Reading: Luke 10:25–37
Devotional: Yesterday, we saw how God's compassion leads to action. Today's parable illustrates this perfectly. The priest and Levite likely felt empathy for the beaten man, but only the Samaritan took action. In our world of social media activism, it's easy to feel we've done our part by simply acknowledging an issue. But God calls us to more. What situation in your life or community requires more than just empathy? How can you move beyond feeling to concrete action? Remember, Christ didn't just empathize with our fallen state—He came down and sacrificed everything to save us.
Day 3: Embracing God's Heart for the Lost
Reading: Luke 15:1–32
Devotional: These parables paint a vivid picture of God's heart for the lost. Like the shepherd leaving the 99, the woman searching diligently, and the father watching eagerly, God passionately pursues those who are far from Him. Often, like Jonah or the older brother in the prodigal son story, we can become comfortable in our "found" state and forget the urgency of reaching others. Today, ask God to reignite your passion for those who don't know Him. Who in your life needs to experience God's love? How can you be an instrument of His pursuing grace?
Day 4: Overcoming Fear with Love
Reading: 1 John 4:7–21
Devotional: Fear often holds us back from sharing God's love. We fear rejection, ridicule, or simply feeling uncomfortable. But John reminds us that perfect love casts out fear. This love isn't just a feeling, but a powerful force that compels us to action. Reflect on what fears might be holding you back from boldly sharing God's love. Remember, we love because He first loved us. Our ability to love others comes not from our own strength, but from the overflow of God's love in us. Today, ask God to fill you afresh with His love, allowing it to overflow to those around you.
Day 5: Transformed by Grace
Reading: Ephesians 2:1–10
Devotional: As we conclude this week, we're reminded of our own transformation story. Like the girl in the video who was saved from Satanism, we too were once dead in our sins. But God, rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ. This grace isn't just for our own benefit—we are God's workmanship, created for good works. How has God's grace transformed your life? How can you use your story to encourage others? Today, take time to thank God for His saving grace, and ask Him to use your transformed life as a testament to His power and love.
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