Goodness

The Goodness of God doesn't depend on us, but we get to carry it.

Goodness is huge in the bible - Adam and Eve

What we think Goodness means

Goodness is a set of actions culture has agreed on

Helping people

Feeling loved

Enjoying the moment - when there is no trouble

Bob Marley - don’t worry about a thing

Oxycontin “love or happy” hormone

Essential for life - bounds people together

Listening, eye contact, touch, sharing

Approval/Quality - Good vs Bad - not just the act but the substance

Food, Kid, Sermon

Psalm 136:1 ESV

1 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 119:68 ESV

68 You are good and do good; teach me your statutes.

The Problem of Evil

2 ways to drive the car off the road

God is not Good - quantifying God’s character and actions

Everything is good - I don’t want to think about it

suspend that

How the Bible Sees Goodness

Closely related to kindness.

Greek - Goodness or Generosity

Goodness

Matthew 19:16–30 ESV

16 And behold, a man came up to him, saying, “Teacher, what good deed must I do to have eternal life?” 17 And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” 18 He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, 19 Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 20 The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?” 21 Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” 22 When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions. 23 And Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly, I say to you, only with difficulty will a rich person enter the kingdom of heaven. 24 Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God.” 25 When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished, saying, “Who then can be saved?” 26 But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” 27 Then Peter said in reply, “See, we have left everything and followed you. What then will we have?” 28 Jesus said to them, “Truly, I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of Man will sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. 29 And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or lands, for my name’s sake, will receive a hundredfold and will inherit eternal life. 30 But many who are first will be last, and the last first.

What is the goodness of God?

Rich people??

“a large amount of something which has value”

Money

Social Status

Power

Sex

In their own eyes and the eyes of others

1) God’s Goodness doesn’t count on your actions!

“Enter life”

Maverick city music - “I have never held you up, so I can’t let you down.”

The Goodness of God is unconditional love - free gift

2) God defines the good life as living with him and being a part of his family

It’s not the preconceived ideas of good that we hold

A certain status

A feeling

A security

I might be able to do good for me over the short run - maybe. God does good for everyone. “Good news”

Unconditional love is not leaving us in our condition

What Jesus has done for us is so Good we can act out of that goodness

HOW?

Generosity

1 Timothy 6:17–19 ESV

17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.

We are not saved by good deeds (actions), but we are to do good works

Give Generously - Carry God’s Goodness to others

Time, Money, Talent, Love, Compassion

a good person is not stingy - Scrooge

The problem of Evil? - Let God take care of that. Do Good.

What does Goodness Look like

Living free from earning love and value

Starving after the wind

status, security, money, sex, and power

Living Generously

Freely I have received and freely I give

The Goodness of God is that we receive freely and give freely. We can do what is good and right and trust God to take responsibility for the future.