Love is Kind
Notes
Transcript
Kindness: The Key to Connection
If I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but do not have love, I have become a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge; and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.
And if I give all my possessions to feed the poor, and if I surrender my body to be burned, but do not have love, it profits me nothing.
Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant,
Introduction: Brothers and sisters, today we journey through one of the most transformative concepts emphasized in the Bible: kindness. 1 Corinthians 13:4 says, "Love is patient, love is kind." Kindness is more than mere politeness; it is a powerful force that God uses to transform our relationships, our communities, and our world. Let’s explore the profound impact kindness can have when we truly understand its divine purpose.
Point 1: Compassionate Conduct
Compassionate conduct involves more than just actions; it is about embodying the love that God has shown us.
We become a conduit of God’s love. Like water passing through a pipe. God’s love love and compassion flows through you and me.
- Embrace Compassion: Be genuinely interested in others’ feelings and experiences. Philippians 2:3-4 reminds us to "value others above yourselves," urging us to look beyond our own needs and connect deeply with others.
- Empower Your Influence: Create a culture of caring around you by reacting patiently even when situations are not ideal.
You cannot change the people around you, but you can change yourself. You can use your influence to create and culture of caring around you.
- Exemplify Encouragement: Kindness can be as simple as a word of encouragement, lifting someone's spirit in their time of need.
Once, a teenager volunteered at a local nursing home. Initially, he felt hesitant, unsure of how to connect with the residents. However, he chose to listen to their stories instead of just delivering the typical pleasantries. Soon, he discovered how much he had in common with some of them, with shared hobbies and experiences. By valuing their stories, he transformed his own experience and lifted their spirits, embodying Philippians 2:3-4 by putting others first. It reminds us that genuine interest can bridge generational gaps and foster real connections.
Philippians 2:3–4 “Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.”
Point 2: Consistent Commitment
Truly kind people show up and serve continuously, not just when it's convenient.
- Devote Daily Time: Consistency in kindness is key. Lamentations 3:22-23 reminds us that God's mercies are new every morning. Let us reflect that constancy in our own acts of kindness.
- Designate Service: Make a habit of seeking opportunities to serve others each day, no matter how small.
- Develop a Kindness Calendar: Plan intentional acts of kindness on a weekly or monthly basis to ensure you're continually serving others.
Random Acts of Kindness
If you don’t think the world is hungry for kindness, consider this. In 1982, Berkeley writer and activist Anne Herbert coined a simple phrase: Random Acts of Kindness (RAOK). The idea took root, then took off. In 1992, a book by that title was published promoting this thought: “Imagine what would happen if there were an outbreak of kindness in the world, if everybody did one kind thing on a daily basis.” The book became an instant best-seller, spawning such things as:
• An annual RAOK Week—Participants are encouraged to do things like paying the toll of the person on the road behind them, shovel their neighbor’s driveway, offer flowers to a co-worker with whom they normally clash. (In 1997, more than 500 communities in five countries celebrated Random Acts of Kindness Week).
• RAOK Clubs that hand gifts to strangers on the subway and deliver ‘baskets of joy’ to nursing homes, hospitals, and rehab centers.
• A RAOK World movement, spreading through classrooms, churches, hospitals, businesses, municipalities, web sites, and service clubs.
• RAOK emphases in schools. Some principals now give deserving students certificates saying “Caught Ya Being Kind.”
• RAOK foundations, magazines, and newsletters.
• An endorsement from Princess Diana: “Perhaps we’re too embarrassed to change or too frightened of the consequences of showing that we actually care. But why not risk it anyway? Begin Today. Carry out a random act of seemingly senseless kindness, with no expectation of reward or punishment, safe in the knowledge that one day, someone somewhere might do the same for you.”
Imagine the joy of a small child as they learn to tie their shoes. Daily practices turn frustration into skill! It’s just like showing kindness—if we try each day, we’ll find ourselves becoming more proficient at lifting others up. Lamentations tells us that God’s mercies are new every morning. So let’s take a page from that book: each day is a chance to perfect our acts of kindness, making them shine brightly for all to see.
Point 3: Courageous Commitment
It takes courage to step out of our comfort zones and extend kindness in challenging situations.
- Resist Retaliation: Romans 12:21 states, "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." In moments where we are wronged, choose to return kindness instead.
- Reject Revenge: Listen to God’s call for peace, choosing paths of reconciliation rather than retribution.
Trusting God’s Justice: God is believed to be a just and righteous judge. He sees and knows every action, including the injustices we may face. The Bible teaches that vengeance belongs to God, and it is His role to mete out justice. By trusting in God’s justice, we can release our desire for revenge and find solace in the belief that He will ultimately judge and address all wrongdoings.
Romans 12:17–19 “Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.”
Imagine a chain where every link symbolizes a cycle of revenge: one harm prompts another, which sparks yet another. The only way to break that chain is to refuse to become the next link. By not taking the bait of retaliation, you set down the chain completely, ending the cycle of harm and opening the door for healing.
- Realize Reconciliation: Seek to mend broken relationships through gentle kindness, leading to healing and restoration.
“Offering forgiveness instead of revenge is like opening a window in a dark room—light drives out the darkness and allows hope to enter.”
Imagine two powerful magnets that have been flipped to repulse each other. They push away with invisible force, no matter how close you try to bring them. Yet if you rotate just one magnet, they instantly snap together. In the same way, when a heart changes direction from anger to grace, the distance between people can close in a moment.
Story – A Personal Turning Point:A woman who spent years harboring resentment toward her estranged sister decided she’d had enough distance. One afternoon, she nervously made a phone call to simply say she missed her. That vulnerable act opened the door to a tearful and heartfelt reunion. What began as a shaky phone call turned into a renewed relationship, reminding us that reconciliation often starts with one courageous step of kindness
Conclusion: Friends, as we allow kindness to flourish in our hearts, we craft a tapestry of love that binds us together. Let us commit to living out compassionate, consistent, and courageous kindness each day. By doing so, we are not only fulfilling God's command, but also creating a community reflective of His kingdom here on earth. Let kindness be the key that unlocks deeper connections and a deeper faith in the living God.
