Embodying Kindness: The Church's Call to Action
Summary
In a world where meanness and unkindness have become the norm, the Church of Jesus Christ is called to stand out by embodying and spreading kindness. This kindness is not just a superficial nicety but is deeply rooted in the theology of our faith, as highlighted in Titus 3:4. We are to model the kindness of our God and Savior, reflecting His love and grace in a culture that often undermines dignity, order, and unity. This movement of kindness is not limited to words but is demonstrated through good deeds—actions that are inherently good because they are connected to God and benefit others.
The Church should be recognized for its good deeds, allowing society to witness the kindness of God through our actions. This doctrine of kindness, though often overlooked, should be a defining characteristic of the Church, offering a stark contrast to the prevailing culture. It is about showing genuine care for others, helping the poor, the oppressed, the disenfranchised, the orphan, and the widow. Our kindness should extend beyond the church community, impacting the broader culture and addressing issues like political vitriol, hatred, crime, racism, and classism.
However, to be truly kind to others, we must first allow God to be kind to us. Our reference point must always be the cross, where God's ultimate kindness was demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice for us while we were still sinners. This profound act of love and grace is the root of our kindness. When we lose sight of this, we fail to produce the fruit of kindness. Our testimony should not only be spoken but also lived out through our actions. By doing so, the Church fulfills its calling to glorify God and contribute to the well-being of humanity.
Key Takeaways:
- Kindness is deeply rooted in our theology and should be a defining characteristic of the Church. It is not just about being nice but about reflecting the kindness of our God and Savior in a culture that often lacks dignity and unity. [00:28]
- Good deeds are more than just good actions; they are acts connected to God that benefit others. The Church should be known for these deeds, demonstrating God's kindness to the world. [01:18]
- Our kindness should extend beyond the church community, addressing societal issues like racism, classism, and political vitriol. This demonstrates the transformative power of God's kindness in our lives. [02:29]
- To be kind to others, we must first allow God to be kind to us. The cross is our reference point, where God's ultimate kindness was shown through Christ's sacrifice. This understanding is crucial for producing the fruit of kindness. [02:58]
- Our testimony should be both spoken and lived out through our actions. By embodying kindness, the Church fulfills its calling to glorify God and contribute to the well-being of humanity. [03:30]
Youtube Chapters:
- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:11] - Kindness in an Unkind Culture
- [00:28] - Theology of Kindness
- [00:47] - Movement of Kindness
- [01:02] - Good Deeds and God
- [01:18] - Church's Testimony of Kindness
- [01:37] - Normalizing Kindness
- [01:52] - Caring for Others
- [02:10] - Extending Kindness Beyond Church
- [02:29] - Addressing Societal Issues
- [02:43] - Allowing God's Kindness
- [02:58] - The Cross as Reference Point
- [03:15] - Root and Fruit of Kindness
- [03:30] - Living Out Our Testimony
- [03:48] - Conclusion and Reflection
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Theology and Practice of Kindness
Bible Reading:
- Titus 3:4-7
- Romans 5:8
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Observation Questions:
1. According to Titus 3:4, how is the kindness of God our Savior described, and what does this imply about our actions as believers?
2. In the sermon, what societal issues are mentioned that the Church's kindness should address? [02:29]
3. How does the sermon describe the relationship between good deeds and God's kindness? [01:18]
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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the understanding of God's kindness, as demonstrated on the cross, influence the way believers should interact with a culture that often lacks dignity and unity? [02:58]
2. What might it look like for the Church to be known for its good deeds in today's society, and how does this reflect the kindness of God? [01:18]
3. How can the Church's testimony of kindness serve as a contrast to the prevailing culture of meanness and division? [01:37]
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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced God's kindness in your life. How can this experience motivate you to show kindness to others, especially those outside the church community? [02:43]
2. Identify a specific societal issue mentioned in the sermon, such as racism or political vitriol. What practical steps can you take to address this issue with kindness in your community? [02:29]
3. Consider the people in your life who are marginalized or in need, such as the poor or the disenfranchised. How can you extend kindness to them this week in a way that reflects God's love? [01:52]
4. The sermon emphasizes the importance of allowing God to be kind to us first. What are some ways you can open yourself to receive God's kindness more fully? [02:43]
5. Think about your daily interactions. What is one specific action you can take to ensure your testimony of kindness is both spoken and lived out? [03:30]
6. How can you involve your small group in a collective act of kindness that addresses a need in your local community? What steps will you take to organize this effort?
7. Reflect on the cross as the ultimate demonstration of kindness. How can this perspective change the way you approach conflicts or disagreements in your life? [02:58]
Devotional
Day 1: Kindness as a Theological Imperative
Kindness is not merely a social nicety but a profound theological imperative rooted in the character of God. In a world where dignity and unity are often undermined, the Church is called to reflect the kindness of our God and Savior. This reflection is not just about being nice but about embodying the love and grace of God in our interactions with others. The Church should stand out as a beacon of kindness, offering a stark contrast to the prevailing culture of meanness and unkindness. By doing so, we fulfill our calling to glorify God and contribute to the well-being of humanity. [00:28]
"But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit." (Titus 3:4-5, ESV)
Reflection: In what ways can you intentionally reflect God's kindness in your daily interactions, especially in situations where it is least expected?
Day 2: Good Deeds as Expressions of Divine Connection
Good deeds are more than just actions; they are expressions of our connection to God and His transformative power in our lives. The Church should be recognized for its good deeds, allowing society to witness the kindness of God through our actions. These deeds are inherently good because they are connected to God and benefit others. By demonstrating God's kindness through our actions, we offer a testimony of His love and grace to the world. This is not just about doing good for the sake of doing good but about being a living testimony of God's kindness. [01:18]
"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matthew 5:16, ESV)
Reflection: Identify one specific good deed you can perform this week that reflects God's kindness and benefits someone in need.
Day 3: Extending Kindness Beyond the Church
Our kindness should not be confined within the walls of the church but should extend to the broader culture, addressing societal issues like racism, classism, and political vitriol. This demonstrates the transformative power of God's kindness in our lives and offers a counter-narrative to the prevailing culture of division and hostility. By extending kindness beyond the church community, we become agents of change, reflecting God's love and grace in a world that desperately needs it. This is about showing genuine care for others, helping the poor, the oppressed, the disenfranchised, the orphan, and the widow. [02:29]
"Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart." (Zechariah 7:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: How can you extend kindness to someone outside your immediate community this week, particularly in addressing a societal issue you care about?
Day 4: Receiving God's Kindness as a Foundation for Our Own
To be truly kind to others, we must first allow God to be kind to us. Our reference point must always be the cross, where God's ultimate kindness was demonstrated through Christ's sacrifice for us while we were still sinners. This profound act of love and grace is the root of our kindness. When we lose sight of this, we fail to produce the fruit of kindness. By receiving God's kindness, we are empowered to extend it to others, fulfilling our calling to glorify God and contribute to the well-being of humanity. [02:58]
"In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:9-10, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's kindness in a profound way. How can this experience inspire you to show kindness to others?
Day 5: Living Out Our Testimony Through Kindness
Our testimony should not only be spoken but also lived out through our actions. By embodying kindness, the Church fulfills its calling to glorify God and contribute to the well-being of humanity. This is about living out our faith in tangible ways, allowing others to see the transformative power of God's kindness in our lives. Our actions should reflect the love and grace of God, offering a testimony of His goodness to the world. By doing so, we become living testimonies of God's kindness, drawing others to Him through our actions. [03:30]
"By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13:35, ESV)
Reflection: What specific actions can you take this week to ensure that your testimony of God's kindness is both spoken and lived out in your daily life?
Quotes
hi this is Ministry was in the context of an unkind culture meanness had become normalized in society and he wants to make sure that the Church of Jesus Christ brings kindness to the culture he Roots the doctrine of kindness in theology because he says in chapter 3 verse 4 that we are to model the kindness of our God and savior so the kindness shown to us [00:00:00]
ought to be the kindness that we display in a culture of meanness in a culture that undermines dignity undermines order undermines structure undermines unity and just in many respects care little about the well-being of life there was to be this movement of kindness this movement of kindness in the culture was not just to be kind talk although it included that but it was supposed to also be Time Walk [00:00:28]
a good deed for a Christian is not merely a good thing it is a good thing attached to God that benefits the well-being of people he says I want the church to be known for its Good Deeds that the kindness demonstrated and articulated in the broader Society lets people see how kind our God is and has been to us [00:01:06]
that this doctrine of kindness often not viewed as a Doctrine but it is ought to be normalized for the church so that the culture can see something different working in its midst it can see what it looks like when people care about other people what it looks like when people help other people when the poor of the oppressed or the disenfranchised the orphan and the Widow [00:01:37]
are are helped because we bleed kindness we look for opportunities to be kind certainly within the family of God we should be kind to one another but also in the culture they should see and feel the fact that we care that we we care about the vitriol we care about bad political discourse we care about hatred and crime and racism and culturalism and classism and all the other isms [00:02:00]
because of how we function with the kindness of God demonstrated through the kindness of his people but it's hard to be kind to others if you don't even allow God to be kind to you and that's why our point of reference has to always go back to the cross because in the kindness of God while we were yet sinners Christ died for us it doesn't get Kinder than that [00:02:36]
that when we were estranged from God away from God he loved us enough to reach out to us in our rebellion and offer the free gift of Salvation the reason why we're often not kind is we lose sight of the root of kindness so we don't demonstrate the fruit of kindness but when we understand that this is our testimony not just our talk but our walk [00:03:01]
demonstrated through kindness then the church is being and doing what it was called to be and do for the glory of God and also for the good of humanity [00:03:25]
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