Embracing Kindness: Reflecting God's Love in Action

 

Summary

In our world today, where meanness and vitriol seem to be increasingly prevalent, it is crucial for Christians to prioritize kindness in their interactions with others. This is not just about being nice; it is a significant aspect of our faith and how we reflect God's love to the world. Kindness should be extended not only to fellow Christians but also to the broader society. To help foster this spirit of kindness, we have launched the "Kindness and the Culture" campaign. This initiative encourages Christians to perform at least one act of kindness each week for someone in need, doing so in a way that connects the act to our faith in Christ.

The campaign is designed to be more than just a series of good deeds. It is about making a spiritual impact by praying with the person you are helping and sharing the Gospel with them. To assist in this mission, we have created a "kindness card" that you can give to the person after your act of kindness. This card includes a presentation of the Gospel, allowing the recipient to understand the motivation behind your kindness and encouraging them to pass it on to others. By participating in this campaign, we can collectively reflect the kindness that God has shown us through Christ and make a tangible difference in our communities.

Key Takeaways:

1. Kindness is a reflection of God's love and should be a priority in the life of every Christian. It is not merely about being nice but about embodying the love and grace that God has shown us. By prioritizing kindness, we counteract the negativity in the world and become beacons of hope and love. [00:16]

2. The "Kindness and the Culture" campaign is an opportunity for Christians to actively engage in acts of kindness that are rooted in faith. This initiative encourages believers to perform weekly acts of kindness, connecting these actions to their faith by praying and sharing the Gospel with those they help. [00:33]

3. The kindness card is a practical tool that helps Christians share their faith through acts of kindness. By giving this card after performing a kind act, believers can provide a tangible reminder of God's love and encourage others to continue the cycle of kindness. [01:01]

4. Participating in acts of kindness is a way to reflect the kindness God has shown us through Christ. It is a call to action for Christians to serve others and make a positive impact in their communities, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love. [01:17]

5. The campaign is not just about individual acts but about creating a culture of kindness that can influence society at large. By consistently practicing kindness, Christians can help change the narrative of negativity and hostility in the world, promoting a culture that values compassion and love. [01:35]

Youtube Chapters:

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:16] - Importance of Kindness
[00:33] - Launching the Campaign
[00:50] - Connecting Kindness to Faith
[01:01] - Introducing the Kindness Card
[01:17] - Reflecting God's Kindness
[01:35] - Conclusion and Call to Action

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Kindness and the Culture

Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."
2. Colossians 3:12 - "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience."
3. Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."

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Observation Questions:
1. What is the primary goal of the "Kindness and the Culture" campaign as described in the sermon? [00:33]
2. How does the kindness card serve as a tool in the campaign, and what is its purpose? [01:01]
3. According to the sermon, how should acts of kindness be connected to one's faith? [00:50]
4. What are the expected outcomes of participating in the kindness campaign, both for individuals and the community? [01:17]

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Interpretation Questions:
1. How does the sermon suggest that kindness can counteract the negativity and hostility present in today's world? [00:16]
2. In what ways does the kindness campaign encourage Christians to reflect God's love and grace in their daily lives? [01:17]
3. How might the kindness card help in spreading the Gospel and encouraging others to continue the cycle of kindness? [01:01]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between kindness and evangelism? [00:50]

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Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent interaction where you could have shown more kindness. What would you do differently now, considering the sermon’s message? [00:16]
2. Identify a person in your life who might benefit from an act of kindness this week. How can you connect this act to your faith in a meaningful way? [00:33]
3. How can you incorporate the use of the kindness card in your acts of kindness? What impact do you hope it will have on the recipient? [01:01]
4. Consider the negativity you encounter in your daily life. What specific steps can you take to be a beacon of hope and love in those situations? [01:35]
5. How can you encourage others in your community or church to participate in the kindness campaign? What role can you play in fostering a culture of kindness? [01:35]
6. Think about a time when someone showed you kindness. How did it affect you, and how can you pass that feeling on to others?
7. What challenges might you face in consistently practicing kindness, and how can you overcome them with the help of your faith? [01:17]

Devotional

Day 1: Kindness as a Reflection of Divine Love
Kindness is more than just a social nicety; it is a profound reflection of God's love and grace. In a world often filled with negativity and hostility, Christians are called to be beacons of hope and love by prioritizing kindness in their daily interactions. This is not merely about being nice but about embodying the love and grace that God has shown us. By doing so, we counteract the negativity in the world and become living testimonies of God's transformative power. [00:16]

"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 reflect God's love in your next encounter with that person?


Day 2: Engaging in Faith-Rooted Acts of Kindness
The "Kindness and the Culture" campaign is an invitation for Christians to actively engage in acts of kindness that are deeply rooted in their faith. This initiative encourages believers to perform at least one act of kindness each week, connecting these actions to their faith by praying and sharing the Gospel with those they help. By doing so, Christians not only meet physical needs but also address spiritual ones, offering a holistic expression of God's love. [00:33]

"And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith." (Galatians 6:9-10, ESV)

Reflection: Identify one person in your community who could benefit from an act of kindness this week. How can you incorporate prayer and a Gospel message into this act?


Day 3: The Kindness Card as a Tool for Evangelism
The kindness card is a practical tool designed to help Christians share their faith through acts of kindness. By giving this card after performing a kind act, believers can provide a tangible reminder of God's love and encourage others to continue the cycle of kindness. This card includes a presentation of the Gospel, allowing the recipient to understand the motivation behind the kindness and inviting them to explore the faith further. [01:01]

"Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:5-6, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how you can use a kindness card in your next act of kindness. What message do you hope to convey to the recipient about God's love?


Day 4: Reflecting God's Kindness Through Service
Participating in acts of kindness is a way to reflect the kindness God has shown us through Christ. It is a call to action for Christians to serve others and make a positive impact in their communities, demonstrating the transformative power of God's love. By serving others, we not only meet their needs but also reflect the character of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. [01:17]

"For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." (Mark 10:45, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you served someone in need. How did this experience help you understand and reflect God's kindness more deeply?


Day 5: Creating a Culture of Kindness
The campaign is not just about individual acts but about creating a culture of kindness that can influence society at large. By consistently practicing kindness, Christians can help change the narrative of negativity and hostility in the world, promoting a culture that values compassion and love. This collective effort can lead to a significant cultural shift, where kindness becomes the norm rather than the exception. [01:35]

"Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good." (Romans 12:21, ESV)

Reflection: What steps can you take to contribute to a culture of kindness in your community? How can you encourage others to join you in this effort?

Quotes

"How we relate to and how we treat other people is a big deal to God and that's why kindness must be prioritized in the lives of Christians both to other Christians but also to the society at large to counteract the meanest and vitriol that is so evident in our world." [00:01:34]

"That's why we at the urban alternative have launched the kindness and the culture campaign. It's a campaign to incentivize Christians to at least once a week do a kind act for someone who needs it and to do it in a way that brings God and attaches Our Savior to it." [00:26:40]

"You do that through praying with the person for whom you're going to react and then sharing the good news of the Gospel with them as well. We even have a tool you can use; it's our kindness card. This is a card you can give a person after you've done an act of kindness and prayed with them." [00:48:84]

"There's even a gospel presentation on the card so that they know that you care and that they can be incentivized to pass kindness on to someone else. You can go on tonyevans.org and find out more about the kindness and the culture campaign. We would love to have you a part of it." [00:68:04]

"After all, we should reflect the kindness God has given us in Christ and how we serve others." [00:88:79]

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Transcript
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