Sermon Tone Analysis

Sub-Heading: Putting on Kindness

Good morning, and welcome back into God’s house of worship, love, praise, and biblical teachings here at Old Spanish Trail Baptist Church.

Much Love, joy, peace, patience, and kindness from God, our Father, through Jesus Christ our King, by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit in us, the children of God.

Scripture Reading: Turn with me to Galatians 5:223-23; Repeat Galatians 5:22-23.

While you turn to Galatians 5:22-23 let me speak for a moment on kindness.

Kindness: “what is the biblical definition of kindness?

Kindness is selfless, compassionate, and merciful; its greatest power revealed in practice to our enemies and amongst the lest of these.

Love your neighbor; show kindness to EVERYONE.

For a perfect emblem of Biblical kindness, we need to look no further than Jesus”(Geneva College, What Does Biblical Kindness look Like).

“What are the characteristic traits of behavior?

Kindness is generally thought of as the quality of being friendly, considerate, and generous.

A kind person considers the feelings of others, tries to help them, and avoids actions to harm.

Affection, empathy, and giving to others are qualities of a kind person”(July 14, 2020, The Ethics of Kindness).

“Kindness is considered a virtue.

It is an excellence of character that drives ethical decisions.

People who are kind act that way, not for any reward or even recognition but because it is the right way to behave and how a person wishes others would act towards themselves”(July 14, 2020, The Ethics of Kindness).

If you are with me at Galatians 5:22-23, say amen; would you please stand in honoring the reading of God’s inspired, infallible, and inerrant Word.

22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control.

Against such things, there is no law.

Opening Prayer!

Introduction: Biblical Examples of Kindness

“The Bible contains remarkable examples of various Bible characters acting with compassion.

Many Bible stories are filled with kindness, mercy, and compassion, along with calls for God’s people to follow the example of the heroes of the faith”(Compassion.com).

“For example, Joseph of Arimathea who prepared his tomb for his Messiah, or the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her hair.

Through them, we learn that showing compassion and kindness is not simply about being nice — it can be an act of worship of our Savior”(Compassion.com).

The Fruit of Kindness takes:

time

work

change

and yes, the Power of the Holy Spirit in us to develop and grow in kindness.

“The fruit of the Holy Spirit is what God desires our lives reflect, and that includes kindness born of compassion!”(Compassion.com).

Kindness can and will become contagious to others, but first, you have to be willing to share your heart with people.

Illustration: Kindness to a Stranger!

To show care and kindness to a stranger in need, one must put themselves aside to meet that person’s needs.

Let’s say you just pulled into the Walmart parking and noticed an elderly lady wandering around in the parking lot.

You receive in your heart a firm conviction by the Holy Spirit to go and assist the lady.

Ask her if she needs help?

Ask her if you can help her out in any way?

At that moment, when you are prompted to help the lady, your mind tells you someone else can check on her.

Your thoughts of selfishness can cause you heartache if you are not careful.

However, nothing in this world is ever just about us.

Acts of kindness are blessings designed to help others who are in need.

It only takes a little kindness to cheer a sad, troubled, or worried heart.

Suppose you see a person wandering in the parking lot.

Ask them if they need help?

Perhaps the person forgot where they parked their vehicle.

For Hebrews 13:2 tells us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it”(NASB 1995).

Little Kindnesses

You gave on the way a pleasant smile,

And thought no more about it;

It cheered a life that was sad the while,

That might have been wrecked without it;

And so for the smile and its fruitage fair

You'll reap a crown sometime—somewhere.

You spoke one day a cheering word,

And passed to other duties;

It warmed a heart, new promise stirred,

And painted life with beauties.

And so for the Word and its silent prayer

You'll reap a palm sometime—somewhere.

You lent a hand to a fallen one,

A lift in kindness given;

It saved a soul when help was none,

And won a heart for Heaven;

And so for the help you proffered(extended), there

You'll reap a joy sometime—somewhere.—Selected.

If we knew what hearts are aching for

the comforts we might bring,

If we knew what souls are yearning for the sunshine, we could fling,

If we knew what feet are weary walking pathways roughly laid,

We would quickly hasten forward, stretching forth our hands to aid.—Selected.

The Bible tells us in the Old and New Testaments what kindness looks like, how we are to put it on(clothe ourselves in it), and how to grow in compassion.

Here we find in Job 6:14“He who withholds kindness from a friend forsakes the fear of the Almighty.”

Eliphaz, one of Jobs’ three friends, whom I like to call his three miserable comforters, “suggests that Job should consider his suffering as an indication that he has been a fool.

Job argues that the one who withholds kindness from a friend is himself acting out of accord with wisdom forsakes the fear of the Almighty”(footnotes, ESV Study Bible).

Quote: Kindness is never-ever meant to be withheld from your friends, let alone those of us here in the Family of God.

Whatever happened to people holding the door for one another?

How about not gossiping about people or spreading rumors around town; Standing up for someone another person has bullied.

Are we not listening to the conviction of the Holy Spirit within our hearts.

How about putting on kindness every morning?

Make an honest decision to put on the attitude of compassion before you even walk out the door in the morning to start the new day.

God shows us throughout Scripture what His kindness looks like and how He commands us to put it on each day.

Titus 3:4-7

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, 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, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Prompt: “According to this Scripture, why did God save us?

How did He save us?

What does the Holy Spirit do?

Have you surrendered your life, dreams, and desires to Jesus?

Let Him take over and make you new.

The first things He’ll give you are love, joy, and peace”(wordsofandylee.com).

God’s kindness was poured out on us, His children, Beloved, through salvation and Jesus coming into this world to pay the price for our filthy sins.

There is no more extraordinary kindness than God’s kindness, church.

How many times do we see in the Old Testament?

Where God showed Israel so much kindness, time and time again, for their repeated sinfulness against Him, the All-Loving God?

Isaiah 54:8

In a surge of anger, I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting kindness, I will have compassion on you,” says the Lord your Redeemer.

Prompt: “Everlasting kindness” is Chesed, the Hebrew Word meaning “the attribute of grace, benevolence, or compassion.

This is God’s promise to Israel.

It is His character.