Sermon Tone Analysis

Be Kind to One Another –

Text: ,

Introduction:

A. Think back over your life:

1.

What is the kindest thing that has ever been done for you?

* You remember it because it made an impression on you.

2. What’s the kindest thing you have ever done for someone else?

* You may have forgotten it because you expect kindness of yourself.

3. Kindness is highly prized by our society as a virtue to be cultivated.

B. However, kindness it doesn’t just instinctively occur; it must be cultivated.

1.

We are born with an instinct for self-interest and for self-promotion.

a. Children must be taught to share and to play well with others.

b.

Those that are raised without siblings (like me) are more difficult to teach.

2. One of the first verses we teach our children is:

– 32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

C. As Christians we are commanded to develop the virtue of kindness.

1.

We must add kindness:

– 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;

2. In order to be a mature Christians, we must add kindness to our faith:

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.

3. Note: The reason we’re commanded to develop it because it’s not naturally there.

D. Kindness is considered a virtue in Western culture because of Christ’s influence.

1.

An oriental man once expressed that:

“The poor are put on the earth to be exploited by the wise.

If I do not use them, they will be used be someone else.” -Unknown

2. Kindness is synonymous with Christianity because Jesus is kindness personified.

– 4 But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior,

3. Interesting: The Romans often confused the terms for Christian and for kindness.

a. 📷📷In the Greek there is only on letter difference in the two words.

(“chrestos” = kind; “Christos” = Christ)

b.

Consequently, The Christians were often called “the kind.”

It was an easy mistake because the Christians were so very kind.

c.

The Romans were a cruel and brutal people so Christians were a stark contrast.

With this lesson we will look into God’s command that Christians “be kind to one another.”

I. What is kindness?

A. Kindness is inherent within the very nature of God.

a.