The Good Samaritan did not ignore the man beaten on the road to Jericho. Just like this man, we realize there are people in need around us: the widowed neighbor, the nearby family that cannot afford their medical exams, the homeless person sleeping outside the church. God calls us to help them in their need: to offer them shelter, provide support, give medical care, or simply offer them our friendship.
Timothy Keller shows that caring for these people is the responsibility of every believer, and that such care is as fundamental to Christian life as evangelism, discipleship, and worship. But Keller doesn't stop at duty; he shows us how we can carry out this vital ministry as individuals, families, and churches.
He explores mercy ministries, addressing difficult topics such as:
Balancing the cost of need with the limits of time and resources
Providing physical help versus teaching responsibility
Meeting the internal needs of the church versus meeting external ones
"There was a time in my pastoral ministry when I was looking for guidance to navigate the turbulent waters of mercy ministries in an urban context without neglecting the commitment to expository preaching of God's Word. I'm not surprised that I found what I needed in this book by Timothy Keller, Ministries of Mercy." --John Piper, author of Five Points and Money, Sex, and Power
