Goodness - Kind Like Jesus

Theme: God’s goodness through us to the world

Are you known as a good person?

· If I were to ask your family, friends, neighbors, coworkers, or church associates to describe you, would they use the word “good”?

· Would they describe you as a good neighbor, friend, singer, giver, listener, helper, spouse, parent, son or daughter, tipper, driver, Christian

Many want to live THE good life (for themselves),

when we should want to live A good life (for othersand for God).

Good goes above the expected

· Compensation is fair, but a bonus is good

· Payment is just, but good is blessed

For the Lord is GOOD, and his mercy endures forever

God is good all the time - so should we

· Taste and see the Lord is GOOD - in all that we do. So the world will see God through us.

· Then the world will say - “That was good!” or even “Good Lord!”

Key Scripture

Micah 6:8 NLT

8 No, O people, the Lord has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.

· The Lord desires the primary forms of love—justice (do justice), mercy (love kindness), and faithfulness (walk humbly)—as a proper response to God’s love

Definition

Good =

· having desirable or positive qualities; especially those suitable for a thing specified.

· moral excellence

· the deliberate preference of right to wrong,

· the firm and persistent resistance of all moral evil,

· the choosing and following of all moral good[1]

God is Goodness

· Goodness An attribute of God

· The Goodness of God is expressed in givingand for-giving

Jesus is Goodness

Mark 10:17–18 NLT

17 As Jesus was starting out on his way to Jerusalem, a man came running up to him, knelt down, and asked, “Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” 18 “Why do you call me good?” Jesus asked. “Only God is truly good.

My calling Him good, the man was calling Jesus God.

Jesus did the good works of God

Acts 10:38 NLT

38 And you know that God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. Then Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

The church is the Goodness of God - in the earth

We are Created to do Good

Ephesians 2:10 NLT

10 For we are God’s masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago.

Goodness is a Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22 NLT

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Goodness = G19 ἀγαθωσύνη [agathosune/ag·ath·o·soo·nay/

uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness.[2]

Do Good to Others

Goodness means working for the benefit of others, not oneself

Do Good to the Needy

1 Timothy 6:17–19 NLT

17 Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment. 18 Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. 19 By doing this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they may experience true life.

Do Good to the Bad

Romans 12:17 NLT

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

Romans 12:17 NLT

17 Never pay back evil with more evil. Do things in such a way that everyone can see you are honorable.

· overcome evil with good - acts of kindness toward evildoers

Do Good to ALL

Galatians 6:7–10 NLT

7 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8 Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

Be zealous for good works

Titus 2:7 NLT

7 And you yourself must be an example to them by doing good works of every kind. Let everything you do reflect the integrity and seriousness of your teaching.

Titus 2:14 NLT

14 He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.

Good works Glorify God

· In Matthew 5, Jesus lists how we are to help heal a bad world:

· The church is to be a city on a hill - representing a good community

o How are we doing in this area?

o Showing a lack of unconditional goodness is one of the biggest charges against the church

· The church is to be a lamp on a stand - shining a good light in the house

· The church is to be the salt of the earth - giving a good flavor

Matthew 5:16 NLT

16 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

· The world will see the light of the kingdom through the good works done by believers.

Do Good ALWAYS

Don’t grow weary of doing good!

Galatians 6:9–10 NLT

9 So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up. 10 Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.

· Salvation is not based on works, but the good works Christians do are the result of God’s good work IN us.

End Time Alert - evil called good

Jesus said darkness hates the light -

· They do not want their deeds exposed by our good light.

· Instead of a preservative, our salt is an irritant in their unrepentant wounds

· that’s why they hated Him, and that is why the world opposes the true church

Evil is called good -

· abortion is called health care,

· non-biblical relationships and marriage is called love

And good is called evil -

· The Good Book is called hate speech,

· Peaceful prayer gatherings at an abortion clinic are charged as a hate crimes

· Saying that Jesus is the only way to salvation is now viewed and intolerance and bigotry.

Knowing all this in advance, Jesus still called us to be good as we love and follow a good God!

Good Results = Rewards!

Although it is difficult sometimes, it is worth being good

1 - Goodness glorifies a good God

2 - Goodness preserves the world we all live in

3 - Goodness leads others to Christ

4 - Goodness results in great rewards

Luke 6:33–35 NLT

33 And if you do good only to those who do good to you, why should you get credit? Even sinners do that much! 34 And if you lend money only to those who can repay you, why should you get credit? Even sinners will lend to other sinners for a full return. 35 “Love your enemies! Do good to them. Lend to them without expecting to be repaid. Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked.

· Goodness demonstrate that we are children of God - by showing compassion even to the mean, cruel, vindictive, hostile, selfish and spiteful.

As we follow goodness, goodness follows us

Psalm 23:6 (NLT)

6 Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever.

Let’s be remembered for GOOD!