“We are kind not because someone deserves kindness or because of what we get in return, but because of who we are in Christ.”
Sermon Title: THE POWER OF KINDNESS
Scripture Text: GALATIANS 5:22-23; VARIOUS TEXT
Sermon Notes:
GALATIANS 5:22-23 NIV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self- control. Against such things there is no law.
COLOSSIANS 3:12 NIV
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
- KINDNESS :
- “a kind act or favor”
- (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)
- KINDNESS :
- the quality of being friendly, generous and considerate; a kind act.”
- (Oxford Dictionary)
- kindness | Greek: chrestos
- “to make oneself useful to another, make things easier, smoother.”
“Kindness is treating others the way God treats you.”
EPHESIANS 4:32 NIV
32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
REASON. MOTIVATION. ACTION.
I. THE REASON FOR KINDNESS
LUKE 6:35 NIV
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.
COLOSSIANS 1:15 NIV
15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
ROMANS 2:4 NIV
4 Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God’s kindness leads you toward repentance?
TITUS 3:4-7 NIV
4 But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared,
5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
“Our challenge is to live from a Christ-centered relationship that spills out into a life of kindness.”
REFLECT :
Are we kind because of Jesus?
II. THE MOTIVATION OF KINDNESS
1 CORINTHIANS 13:4 NIV
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
“Kindness is not something you buy at a store and wrap in silver paper. It is, more than anything else, a portion of yourself offered in love.” — Leroy Lawson
LUKE 6:35-36 NIV
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.
“Kindness is something that we give to people even though they don’t deserve it.”
“Kindness is love no matter what.” — Barry Corey, author of Love Kindness
REFLECT :
Is our kindness motivated by love?
III. THE ACTION OF KINDNESS
“You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late.” — Ralph Waldo Emerson
ACTION OF KINDNESS
1. Christian kindness is a lifestyle, not random
COLOSSIANS 3:12 NIV
12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
ACTION OF KINDNESS
1. Christian kindness is a lifestyle, not random
2. Christian kindness is brave, yet humble
PSALMS 141:5 NIV
5 Let a righteous man strike me--it is a kindness; let him rebuke me--it is oil on my head. My head will not refuse it. Yet my prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers;
ACTION OF KINDNESS
1. Christian kindness is a lifestyle, not random
2. Christian kindness is brave, yet humble
3. Christian kindness is real, not superficial
MATTHEW 8:2-3 NIV
2 A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.”
3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cured of his leprosy.
LEVITICUS 13:45 NIV
45 The person with such an infectious disease must wear torn clothes, let his hair be unkempt, cover the lower part of his face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’
REFLECT :
Are we keeping kindness in our pockets? Or does the world see the kindness of Jesus in our lives?
“We are kind not because someone deserves kindness or because of what we get in return, but because of who we are in Christ.”
2 THESSALONIANS 2:16-17 ESV
16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word.