On this episode of Key Ministry the Podcast, Dr. Chris Hulshof explores a vital question for disability ministry: how do we move from curiosity to compassion? Looking at John 9 and Acts 3, Chris shows how the way we respond to disability reveals what is shaping our hearts. This conversation offers a theological and practical framework for church leaders who want to move beyond questions and toward welcome, empathy, and action.
If disability ministry is going to reflect the heart of Christ, it cannot stop at curiosity. It must grow into compassion. In this episode, Chris helps us see how the disciples’ response to a man born blind in John 9 stands in contrast to Peter and John’s response to a man lame from birth in Acts 3. The difference is not just maturity. It is what happens when people spend time with Jesus and begin to see others the way He does.
In This Episode
- Why curiosity can sometimes keep us from truly seeing the person in front of us
- What John 9 reveals about theological questions and misplaced focus
- How Acts 3 models compassion, dignity, and belonging
- Why disability ministry must center the person, not just the diagnosis
- How time with Jesus reshapes a church’s posture toward disability
- What it looks like for compassion to guide ministry, programming, and leadership
“The more that we hang around our Savior, the more that our questions of curiosity, like Peter and John, will be reshaped.”
When Curiosity Misses the Person
In John 9, the disciples encounter a man born blind, but instead of seeing someone in need of compassion, they see a theological problem they want Jesus to explain. Their question is revealing: they want to know who sinned. Chris points out that they had other options. They could have asked Jesus to heal the man. They could have shown mercy. Instead, their attention was pulled toward explanation rather than care.
That tension still shows up today. In disability ministry, it can be easy to ask questions about diagnosis, behavior, prognosis, or cause before we ever stop to know and love the person. Chris challenges listeners to recognize that curiosity, while often praised in modern culture, can sometimes reduce people to their disability instead of honoring them as image bearers of God.
Acts 3 and the Shape of Compassion
In Acts 3, Peter and John encounter a man lame from birth who is begging at the temple gate. This time, the response is different. They do not begin with speculation. They begin with attention. “Look at us,” they say. What follows is not detached analysis, but direct engagement, healing, and restoration.
Chris highlights the beauty of this moment. The man is not only healed physically. He is welcomed into worship. He is brought into the temple. He belongs. The story is not merely about a miracle. It is about compassion that moves toward a person and makes room for them in the life of the people of God.
What Changed in Peter and John?
The question driving this episode is simple and powerful: what changed? Why do Peter and John respond with curiosity in John 9 but compassion in Acts 3? Chris argues that the answer is time spent with Jesus.
After years of watching Jesus notice, touch, welcome, and restore the people society pushed aside, Peter and John were changed. Their posture was changed. Their instincts were changed. Their ministry was changed. What once showed up as curiosity had been reshaped into concrete action. That is the invitation for the church today too. The more we behold Christ, the more our ministry begins to reflect His compassion.
“Disability ministry cannot stay at the level of questions. It must move toward welcome, empathy, and belonging.”
A Needed Word for Church Leaders
Chris also brings this message to the church level. Many disability ministries begin with sincere compassion. A church notices families who need support. Leaders want to help. But over time, compassion can quietly give way to curiosity. Programs become about systems, questions, and uncertainty instead of people, belonging, and care.
This episode is a needed reminder that disability ministry is not first about solving every question. It is about learning to see people rightly. It is about welcoming individuals and families with the same mercy, dignity, and compassion that Jesus has shown to us.
Why This Conversation Matters
For pastors, ministry leaders, volunteers, and families, this episode offers a deeply biblical vision for disability ministry. It calls the church to move beyond observation and into presence. Beyond diagnosis and into discipleship. Beyond curiosity and into compassion.
If you have ever wondered what should shape the heart of disability ministry, this conversation is a strong place to start.
Resources Mentioned
About the Host
Dr. Chris Hulshof is a trusted voice in theology and disability ministry, helping church leaders think carefully and biblically about what it means to welcome and disciple individuals and families impacted by disability. On Key Ministry the Podcast, Chris regularly helps listeners explore the theological heart behind disability ministry and why it matters for the local church.
