Embracing God's Loving Kindness in a Harsh World
Summary
Good morning, Conplace Church, and happy Memorial Day weekend. Today, we continue our nine-week series on the Fruit of the Spirit, focusing on kindness. Kindness is a quality that seems to be in short supply these days. Whether it's the way politicians dehumanize each other, the interactions on social media, or even the way kids and parents behave at school and sports events, kindness doesn't seem to be at the forefront of our cultural interactions. In fact, we often have to reward kindness when we see it, which suggests that it is not the norm. This raises a concern: Are we truly a culture that needs to be motivated to show kindness?
I believe there are different types of kindness. There's cultural kindness, which can be confusing due to its complexities, ambiguities, and subjectivity. For example, think of a time when you did something kind, but it wasn't received that way. Cultural kindness can be complex, like when a man helped an old lady with dementia cross the street, only for her to go missing and him being questioned for abduction. It can also be ambiguous, like the slogan "Be kind, rewind" from the days of VHS tapes. Does rewinding a tape make you a kind person? Cultural kindness can also be subjective, like a drug dealer giving a free bag of heroin to a struggling addict. From the addict's perspective, it might seem kind, but from a concerned family member's perspective, it's evil.
Thankfully, we don't have to rely on cultural kindness because we have a God who has revealed His word to us and provided a construct for kindness. This kindness is not based on perception but is defined by God and rooted in His perfect love. It's a kindness displayed in the gospel, where Jesus took the sin of the world upon Himself and put death to death. This is what I call loving kindness.
God's loving kindness is an offer extended to us, not out of obligation but out of love. It's detailed in Psalm 63, where the psalmist says, "Because thy loving kindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee." This type of kindness is better than anything else and is meant to lead us to repentance, as stated in Romans 2:4. God's loving kindness is not obligatory; it's a choice He makes, knowing that it might be rejected. This makes His kindness even more remarkable.
Our cultural declaration that we don't need God is a bunch of baloney. Our culture is not much different from Paul's culture, which was also filled with idols. We just call them careers, possessions, hobbies, and passions. These idols demand our submission just like the ancient gods did. We live under the rule of something, whether we call it a god or not. If your world exists to maintain a particular desire or material item, that thing is your god.
Jesus is upfront about the cost of following Him, unlike the idols we serve. These idols are secretive and unkind, hiding their costs until it's too late. Jesus, on the other hand, is honest and upfront about what it means to follow Him. This is an example of His loving kindness. He tells us the cost and offers us a life of meaning, abundance, and eternal life. This is in stark contrast to the idols that demand everything from us but give nothing in return.
In conclusion, God's loving kindness is an offer extended to us, not out of obligation but out of love. It's a kindness that is upfront about the cost of following Him. This is the type of kindness we are called to display as followers of Jesus. It's not obligatory or strategic; it's costly and might not be received or reciprocated. But that's the loving kindness God offers us through the gospel.
### Key Takeaways
1. Cultural Kindness vs. God's Kindness: Cultural kindness can be confusing due to its complexities, ambiguities, and subjectivity. God's kindness, however, is rooted in His perfect love and is clearly defined in the gospel. This loving kindness is not based on perception but is an objective, universal source of kindness. [01:05]
2. God's Loving Kindness is an Offer: God's loving kindness is an offer extended to us, not out of obligation but out of love. This offer is detailed in Psalm 63 and Romans 2:4, where it is described as better than life and meant to lead us to repentance. This makes God's kindness even more remarkable because it is a choice He makes, knowing it might be rejected. [12:05]
3. Cultural Idols vs. Jesus' Honesty: Our culture is filled with idols that demand our submission, just like the ancient gods did. These idols are secretive and unkind, hiding their costs until it's too late. Jesus, on the other hand, is honest and upfront about the cost of following Him. This honesty is an example of His loving kindness. [26:48]
4. The Cost of Following Jesus: Jesus is upfront about the cost of following Him, unlike the idols we serve. These idols demand everything from us but give nothing in return. Jesus tells us the cost and offers us a life of meaning, abundance, and eternal life. This is in stark contrast to the idols that demand everything from us but give nothing in return. [29:03]
5. Loving Kindness as a Choice: God's loving kindness is a choice He makes, knowing that it might be rejected. This makes His kindness even more remarkable. As followers of Jesus, we are called to display this same type of loving kindness. It's not obligatory or strategic; it's costly and might not be received or reciprocated. But that's the loving kindness God offers us through the gospel. [33:54]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[01:05] - The Deficit of Kindness in Our Culture
[03:18] - Cultural Kindness vs. God's Kindness
[12:05] - God's Loving Kindness is an Offer
[26:48] - Cultural Idols vs. Jesus' Honesty
[29:03] - The Cost of Following Jesus
[33:54] - Loving Kindness as a Choice
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
1. Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV) - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
2. Psalm 63:3 (ESV) - "Because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you."
3. Romans 2:4 (ESV) - "Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?"
#### Observation Questions
1. What are the different types of kindness mentioned in the sermon, and how do they differ from each other? [03:18]
2. How does the sermon describe the complexities, ambiguities, and subjectivity of cultural kindness? [04:14]
3. According to the sermon, what makes God's loving kindness different from cultural kindness? [09:16]
4. What does the sermon say about the cost of following Jesus compared to following cultural idols? [29:03]
#### Interpretation Questions
1. How does the concept of God's loving kindness in Psalm 63:3 compare to the cultural kindness described in the sermon? [11:18]
2. In Romans 2:4, Paul states that God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance. How does this idea challenge or support the notion of kindness as presented in the sermon? [12:05]
3. The sermon mentions that cultural idols demand everything from us but give nothing in return. How does this contrast with Jesus' upfront honesty about the cost of following Him? [29:34]
4. What does it mean for God's kindness to be a choice rather than an obligation, and how does this impact our understanding of His love? [13:33]
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you experienced cultural kindness that was confusing or not well-received. How did that experience shape your understanding of kindness? [05:02]
2. How can you practice God's loving kindness in your daily interactions, knowing that it might not be received or reciprocated? [16:58]
3. Identify an idol in your life that demands your submission. How can you begin to shift your focus from this idol to following Jesus more closely? [26:48]
4. Jesus is upfront about the cost of following Him. How can you be more honest and transparent in your relationships about the costs and benefits of your commitments? [29:34]
5. Think of a situation where you might be tempted to offer kindness as a form of currency. How can you change your approach to reflect God's loving kindness instead? [17:45]
6. How can you remind yourself daily that God's kindness is a choice He makes out of love, and not something you need to earn through "buttering up" or good deeds? [20:03]
7. What specific steps can you take this week to reject cultural idols and embrace the loving kindness that Jesus offers, even if it comes with a cost? [33:54]
Devotional
Alright, let's begin.
### Step 1: Themes
1. The Deficit of Kindness in Our Culture
2. God's Loving Kindness as a Divine Offer
3. The Deceptive Nature of Cultural Idols
4. The Transparent Cost of Following Jesus
5. Choosing to Display God's Loving Kindness
### Step 2: Descriptions
1. The Deficit of Kindness in Our Culture:
In today's world, kindness seems to be a rare commodity. Whether it's the harsh rhetoric of politicians, the vitriol on social media, or the aggressive behavior seen in everyday interactions, kindness is often overshadowed by negativity. This scarcity of kindness raises a significant concern: have we become a culture that needs to be incentivized to show basic human decency? Cultural kindness can be complex, ambiguous, and subjective, often leading to misunderstandings and unintended consequences. For instance, a well-meaning act can be misinterpreted, or what seems kind to one person might be harmful to another. This complexity underscores the need for a more reliable and consistent form of kindness, one that is not subject to the whims of cultural perception. [01:05]
2. God's Loving Kindness as a Divine Offer:
Unlike cultural kindness, God's loving kindness is a steadfast and unchanging offer extended to us out of pure love. This divine kindness is beautifully illustrated in Psalm 63, where the psalmist declares that God's loving kindness is better than life itself. It is also highlighted in Romans 2:4, which tells us that God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance. This offer of loving kindness is not obligatory; it is a choice God makes, fully aware that it might be rejected. This makes His kindness even more remarkable and profound. God's loving kindness is a reflection of His perfect love, a love that is willing to give without expecting anything in return. [12:05]
3. The Deceptive Nature of Cultural Idols:
Our modern culture is rife with idols that demand our attention and devotion, much like the ancient gods did. These idols come in various forms, such as careers, possessions, hobbies, and passions. They are deceptive and unkind, often hiding their true costs until it is too late. Unlike these idols, Jesus is upfront and honest about the cost of following Him. This honesty is a manifestation of His loving kindness, offering us a life of meaning, abundance, and eternal life. The idols we serve demand everything from us but give nothing in return, whereas Jesus offers us everything in exchange for our devotion. [26:48]
4. The Transparent Cost of Following Jesus:
Jesus does not hide the cost of following Him. He is clear and upfront about what it means to be His disciple. This transparency is a stark contrast to the idols of our culture, which demand our all but give nothing back. Jesus offers a life of true meaning, abundance, and eternal life, but He is honest about the sacrifices involved. This honesty is a form of His loving kindness, as it allows us to make an informed decision about our faith journey. Following Jesus may be costly, but it is a cost that leads to a life of profound fulfillment and eternal significance. [29:03]
5. Choosing to Display God's Loving Kindness:
As followers of Jesus, we are called to emulate God's loving kindness in our own lives. This type of kindness is not obligatory or strategic; it is a choice we make, knowing that it might not be received or reciprocated. God's loving kindness is costly and often goes unappreciated, but it is a reflection of His perfect love. By choosing to display this kind of kindness, we become conduits of God's love in a world that desperately needs it. This is the essence of living out the gospel, showing a love that is willing to give without expecting anything in return. [33:54]
### Step 3: Bible Passages
1. The Deficit of Kindness in Our Culture:
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV)
2. God's Loving Kindness as a Divine Offer:
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)
3. The Deceptive Nature of Cultural Idols:
"Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love." (Jonah 2:8, ESV)
4. The Transparent Cost of Following Jesus:
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)
5. Choosing to Display God's Loving Kindness:
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." (Luke 6:35, ESV)
### Step 4: Reflection Questions
1. The Deficit of Kindness in Our Culture:
Think of a recent interaction where you could have shown more kindness. How can you intentionally practice kindness in similar situations moving forward?
2. God's Loving Kindness as a Divine Offer:
Reflect on a time when you felt God's loving kindness in your life. How can you extend that same kindness to someone who might reject it?
3. The Deceptive Nature of Cultural Idols:
Identify an "idol" in your life that demands your time and energy. What steps can you take to prioritize your relationship with Jesus over this idol?
4. The Transparent Cost of Following Jesus:
Consider the sacrifices you have made to follow Jesus. How has His honesty about the cost of discipleship impacted your faith journey?
5. Choosing to Display God's Loving Kindness:
Think of someone who might not reciprocate your kindness. How can you show them God's loving kindness this week, even if it goes unappreciated?
### Step 5: 5-Day Devotional
Day 1: The Deficit of Kindness in Our Culture
In today's world, kindness seems to be a rare commodity. Whether it's the harsh rhetoric of politicians, the vitriol on social media, or the aggressive behavior seen in everyday interactions, kindness is often overshadowed by negativity. This scarcity of kindness raises a significant concern: have we become a culture that needs to be incentivized to show basic human decency? Cultural kindness can be complex, ambiguous, and subjective, often leading to misunderstandings and unintended consequences. For instance, a well-meaning act can be misinterpreted, or what seems kind to one person might be harmful to another. This complexity underscores the need for a more reliable and consistent form of kindness, one that is not subject to the whims of cultural perception. [01:05]
"Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you." (Ephesians 4:31-32, ESV)
Reflection: Think of a recent interaction where you could have shown more kindness. How can you intentionally practice kindness in similar situations moving forward?
Day 2: God's Loving Kindness as a Divine Offer
Unlike cultural kindness, God's loving kindness is a steadfast and unchanging offer extended to us out of pure love. This divine kindness is beautifully illustrated in Psalm 63, where the psalmist declares that God's loving kindness is better than life itself. It is also highlighted in Romans 2:4, which tells us that God's kindness is meant to lead us to repentance. This offer of loving kindness is not obligatory; it is a choice God makes, fully aware that it might be rejected. This makes His kindness even more remarkable and profound. God's loving kindness is a reflection of His perfect love, a love that is willing to give without expecting anything in return. [12:05]
"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." (Lamentations 3:22-23, ESV)
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you felt God's loving kindness in your life. How can you extend that same kindness to someone who might reject it?
Day 3: The Deceptive Nature of Cultural Idols
Our modern culture is rife with idols that demand our attention and devotion, much like the ancient gods did. These idols come in various forms, such as careers, possessions, hobbies, and passions. They are deceptive and unkind, often hiding their true costs until it is too late. Unlike these idols, Jesus is upfront and honest about the cost of following Him. This honesty is a manifestation of His loving kindness, offering us a life of meaning, abundance, and eternal life. The idols we serve demand everything from us but give nothing in return, whereas Jesus offers us everything in exchange for our devotion. [26:48]
"Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love." (Jonah 2:8, ESV)
Reflection: Identify an "idol" in your life that demands your time and energy. What steps can you take to prioritize your relationship with Jesus over this idol?
Day 4: The Transparent Cost of Following Jesus
Jesus does not hide the cost of following Him. He is clear and upfront about what it means to be His disciple. This transparency is a stark contrast to the idols of our culture, which demand our all but give nothing back. Jesus offers a life of true meaning, abundance, and eternal life, but He is honest about the sacrifices involved. This honesty is a form of His loving kindness, as it allows us to make an informed decision about our faith journey. Following Jesus may be costly, but it is a cost that leads to a life of profound fulfillment and eternal significance. [29:03]
"And he said to all, 'If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.'" (Luke 9:23, ESV)
Reflection: Consider the sacrifices you have made to follow Jesus. How has His honesty about the cost of discipleship impacted your faith journey?
Day 5: Choosing to Display God's Loving Kindness
As followers of Jesus, we are called to emulate God's loving kindness in our own lives. This type of kindness is not obligatory or strategic; it is a choice we make, knowing that it might not be received or reciprocated. God's loving kindness is costly and often goes unappreciated, but it is a reflection of His perfect love. By choosing to display this kind of kindness, we become conduits of God's love in a world that desperately needs it. This is the essence of living out the gospel, showing a love that is willing to give without expecting anything in return. [33:54]
"But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the evil." (Luke 6:35, ESV)
Reflection: Think of someone who might not reciprocate your kindness. How can you show them God's loving kindness this week, even if it goes unappreciated?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "Kindness doesn't typically seem to be at the forefront of our cultural interactions. In fact, there's such a deficit, we've had to figure out ways to highlight it when it happens, right? We reward kindness now when we observe it, right? I think each one of my kids has been a recipient of the kindness award at some time in their education, which, listen, I'm really proud of. But I'm also, like, was left feeling a little bit concerned over the fact that kindness isn't just the norm." [01:57]
2. "Think of a moment, right? Maybe where you did something you thought was kind for someone. Heartfelt. Genuine. And yet, it wasn't received that way. Like maybe you let that person make the turn and you were, you know, you had the right of way. But you're like, I'll just be kind. And that person didn't even acknowledge you with like any sort of kind gesture. In fact, maybe they just gave you a dirty look in return. Right? Anyone, times you might recall that, right?" [05:02]
3. "Cultural kindness contains complexities. Or how about cultural kindness? Cultural kindness as this just kind of ambiguous, like ambiguity, right? Anyone remember VHS tapes? Maybe they're making a comeback like records. But if you're old enough to remember having to physically go rent a movie from a store, maybe like blockbuster video. Well, when you arrived, there was a slogan about being kind. Did anyone remember the slogan? Be kind and what? Rewind. So listen, by that logic, I was pretty kind, right? Being kind is just rewinding. Well, count me in. I'm a kind person, right?" [08:24]
4. "Now here's a crazy thought in regards to God's love and kindness. Because God chooses to offer this, here's the crazy thing about an offer. Right? Offer versus some sort of like obligation. It's that an offer, an offer comes with a risk. For instance, if anyone has ever been through the home buying process. Right? You might be able to attest that maybe you're fine in the home you love. But then you're also like knowing, well hey, there's a risk when I make this offer. That offer might be rejected. Might not be accepted. Might not be received." [15:26]
### Quotes for Members
1. "Thankfully, we don't have to lean into a cultural understanding of kindness because we have a God who in his kindness has revealed his word to us and revealed a construct for kindness. And this kindness, it isn't based upon a perception of kindness or how I receive kindness. This kindness is actually defined by God. And it serves as this objective, universal source for kindness. It's kindness that's found in the message of the gospel. It's the kindness of God displayed from Jesus taking our sin of the world upon himself and putting death to death." [09:16]
2. "God's loving kindness is an offer that he actually extends to us. And so here's what that means. The second thing is God's loving kindness is upfront, clear about a cost. So the first one, God's loving kindness is this offering extended, not some obligatory like credit. So what distinguishes God's loving kindness from cultural? Well, clarity that this type of kindness is actually an offer extended out of love. Right? It's not from like an obligation. It's not for any sort of validation." [11:18]
3. "Jesus is upfront about costs of following the idols of this world. And here's what I love about Jesus. He's also upfront about the cost of following him. Right? And in that, showing his loving kindness. And listen, I know that many can read that verse in Luke where Jesus says you need to love everything, him more than anything else and not really come across as seeing Jesus loving kindness there. Right? That I need to love him more than anyone else. Like, who does he think he is?" [29:03]
4. "Our cultural declaration that tends to state that we're beyond a need for some God, that's a bunch of baloney. That's a crap, like it's bull honky. Because the reality is our culture, our culture isn't actually different, much different at all from Paul's culture. I would suggest that as a culture, we too also exist within the presence of a plurality of gods. Like plural, like we're, we're the same. Here's what I think is different. It's just the difference in the use of our terminology." [26:13]
5. "But here's what's unkind. It's the idols we serve. It's the cultural guidance. It's the gods we chase after. They're secretive. They're secretive. Right? The God of success is incredibly unkind because it calls you to give up everything to follow it and then abandons you once your talent is dried up or the next highly productive person steps on the scene. What a mean, heartless deity. But here's what's so fascinating. Right? How often when these idols crumble, we find ourselves angry at the wrong God." [34:57]
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