Kindness

Recap on the previous fruit: Peace

Read core text: Galatians 5:22-25

I know I spoke last week about having a common theme. Which was that Jesus is the center of all these fruits. Just to recap, when we look at ourselves having agape love, joy instead of happiness, and peace that surpasses our understanding, it’s because of Jesus and clinging to Him and His attributes. 

I want to lay another common theme you will see in these lessons that we have covered. It’s a common principle I want you to understand and allow it to play out in your life. It’s that we can have Love, because of the Love God shown us. We can have Joy because to the Joy God displayed on us. We can have Peace, because the Peace God offers to us. And it is no different for this week: We have Kindness, because we have received Kindness from God. So when we look at the previous and even upcoming lessons, you will see that we look how we received and because we have been given that, we then go give to others. It correlates to what Pastor Steve talked about this past Sunday to those that were there. Remember the servant and the master? The master forgave the servant of an innumerable debt, yet that same servant got all upset for a person who owed him a days wages? Same thing: we have been given love, joy, peace, and kindness in an innumerable way, so let us go out and do the same to those in the world. 

Alright, now thinking in that mindset, lets look where we received the Kindness from God…

Read Ephesians 2:4-7

Now let’s look and break these versus down of how God has shown His kindness to us. 

V4-6: 

To save us time, versus 1-3 explain our sinful condition prior to Christ. We were dead in our sins, spiritual dead corpse, only living for our flesh or sin. But God, being rich in mercy for us out of the great love He has for us, even though while we were dead in those sins, brought our spiritual corpse alive to Christ, and its only by God’s grace you have been saved. Not only did He awaken us or save us, but He raised and seated us up with Him in the heavenly places, in Christ Jesus.

V7:

Now, the main verse in this passage to look at after explaining all what Christ did for us, that he may show the immeasurable riches of His grace? Now, I’d like to insert a word , as “How ?” In His kindness for us. As sinful human creatures, God does not owe us anything. He is just, holy, sinless, perfect, and a blameless God does not owe us anything. If God were to send all of us to hell, God would still be just. How would that still be just? Because we are sinful. We are blemished. We deserve punishment.  But God, in His kindness, lavished everything we just mentioned on us, as the un-blemished Lamb of God, so that, in verse 6, we may be raised up with Him. That is kindness my friends. What I just said, that is a sober thought, is it not? But for us to understand the love and kindness God displayed to us, we must know what He indeed saved us from. 

Now let’s look at another passage we can see God’s kindness. 

Read Titus 3:4-7

V4-7:

Let’s break this down. So, when the goodness and kindness of God appeared He:

Saved us according to His own mercy, not by what we could do. 

Justified by His grace > Does anyone remember what justified means?

Heirs of hope to eternal life.

To break this down: God did not save you because you were impressive or you bring something to the table or have something to offer God. No, out of His goodness and kindness he saved you. 

So, we just looked at two passages where it was pretty clear: God has showed us kindness. Now, I’m not going to lie. Kindness is hard. Has anyone ever been un-kind [raise hand]? For me, kindness is something I constantly have to keep on the forefront of my thoughts and mind. Because oftentimes, I can be reactional. Meaning, when something upsets me or if you’re maybe having a bad day, we project what we reflect on the inside. But as Fruit Bearers, people who reflect God’s image and His Spirit, we must be able to control ourselves and show kindness. Why? It’s not that if we show kindness, God will show kindness back. No, it’s the exact opposite. We show kindness because the kindness God has displayed to us. 

So before applying this to ourselves, let’s look at some examples in the Bible, of people providing kindness. 

Read Luke 10:25:37

We all know the passage about the Good Samaritan, right? If you didn’t and even if you have, it’s good to go over things that are familiar with you. 

To summarize:

We have four people involved in this passage. There was a man walking from Jerusalem to Jericho, and he got robbed. Not only did they rob him, but they beat him, leaving him almost dead. Now first, a priest when he saw him, walked on the other side and bypassed him. A Levite, who was walking, did the same thing. But when a Samaritan came, when he saw him, had compassion or kindness on him. So not only did he stop to see if he was ok, but bounded up his wounds, put him in his car, and drove him to a hotel. The next day, after taking care of him, paid the hotel assistant the cost for the room and told them to take care of him and if there was any more funds needed, call me and I’ll pay it with my credit card. 

You see, there is context there that the average reader would not comprehend. From traveling from Jerusalem to Jericho was like traveling on Jonathan Street or the worst part of town. It was known for robberies and killings. And that’s not even the best part. But that Jews hated the Samaritans. Jews considered Samaritans as not full-fledge Jews. So for context, the Samaritan not only showed kindness and went up and above, but that he cared not about his own life but the person that he was helping probably hated him. 

So, based on this story, who are you? [Pause] 

While you think about that, let’s apply that and look at what scripture has to say to us directly. 

So, let’s Read Colossians 3:12-13

V12:

Starts out by saying “Put on then” or therefore since God has done all of these great things for you like we talked about earlier, do these things… AS… The chosen ones of God, or as God’s children, Kindness. 

Here is a direct command, from God, that we “Put on Kindness”. Now what does that mean? Here is a description of kindness that I thought could be beneficial. It is someone who is friendly and in a pleasant manner. It refers as a goodness toward others, that pervades the entire person, mellowing all harsh aspects of that person. 

What does pervades mean? It is commonly known to have a sense of smell, that spreads through and be perceived in every part of. Now, just to be clear, it does not mean that you want them to smell like you. Or maybe you do if they stink! No, it’s a picture. 

Ask for Volunteer > Bring Cologne and use example of spraying on myself and then spraying on them. 

So, when you’re around that person, not only are you to soften their harshness or crudeness, but you are to have such kindness that they “smell” like your kindness. Does everyone get the picture?

Discussion Questions:

What usually stops you from being kind?

• No answer: But if someone described you at school or even within your family, would the word kindness be a description of yourself?