Transformative Kindness: A Pathway to Restoration
Summary
The sermon begins with the pastor emphasizing the transformative power of God's kindness, drawing parallels between the story of Mephibosheth and the believers' relationship with God. The pastor encourages the congregation to seek restoration, joy, peace, and relationships at God's table, where they can find their true identity and experience the covering and hope that Jesus offers. The pastor then discusses the importance of kindness, using Jesus as the perfect role model. He highlights that kindness is a fruit of the Spirit and encourages the congregation to grow in kindness with the help of the Holy Spirit.
The pastor addresses those who may not have experienced kindness in their lives and find it difficult to accept. He emphasizes that there are no strings attached to God's kindness, only salvation and restoration as a son or daughter of God. The pastor then invites anyone who does not know Jesus personally or has never experienced the kindness of God to respond in this moment. He leads the congregation in a prayer of repentance and surrender, inviting individuals to receive Jesus and God's love.
The pastor discusses the importance of kindness in our relationships with others, emphasizing that through our kindness, we can show others a pathway to God. He uses the example of David and Mephibosheth to highlight how kindness can be backed up with action. The pastor encourages the congregation to follow Jesus' example and extend kindness to others, as it reveals who Jesus is in our lives and can lead others to want to know Him.
The pastor shares a personal story about a dry and sore finger that brings him discomfort. He explains that applying hand balm brings relief and healing to his finger. The pastor then relates this experience to God's desire to bring relief, healing, and restoration into the lives of the listeners. He emphasizes that God's kindness is not temporary but permanent, and it can cover and heal any wounds or hurts in their hearts.
The sermon concludes with the pastor focusing on the theme of kindness, using the story of David and Mephibosheth as an example. The pastor highlights how David showed kindness to Mephibosheth by restoring the land that belonged to his grandfather Saul and inviting him to always eat at his table. The pastor encourages the congregation that they too can show kindness to others, relying on the Holy Spirit for guidance. The outworking of kindness, as seen in David's example, can bring restoration and transformation to people's lives, providing dignity, meeting needs, and acknowledging worth.
Key Takeaways:
- God's kindness is transformative and is not based on anything we can do but is a pathway to Him. It is here to break shame and fear, setting believers free to know who they are in Him. ([12:45])
- Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, and we can grow in kindness with the help of the Holy Spirit. By walking in relationship with the Holy Spirit and trusting in His guidance, we can water and tend to the fruit of kindness in our lives. ([22:30])
- Through our kindness, we can show others a pathway to God. Kindness reveals who Jesus is in our lives and can lead others to want to know Him. ([34:15])
- God's kindness is not temporary but permanent, and it can cover and heal any wounds or hurts in our hearts. God desires to bring relief, healing, and restoration into our lives. ([45:50])
- The outworking of kindness can bring restoration and transformation to people's lives, providing dignity, meeting needs, and acknowledging worth. We should not underestimate the impact our kindness can have on others. ([58:20])
Study Guide
Bible Reading:
1. Ephesians 4:32: "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
2. Colossians 3:12: "Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, and patience."
3. 2 Samuel 9:7: "Don’t be afraid," David said to him, "for I will surely show you kindness for the sake of your father Jonathan. I will restore to you all the land that belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will always eat at my table."
Observation Questions:
1. In Ephesians 4:32, what are the characteristics that believers are encouraged to exhibit towards one another?
2. What does Colossians 3:12 suggest about the qualities that God's chosen people should possess?
3. In 2 Samuel 9:7, what actions does David take to show kindness to Mephibosheth?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does Ephesians 4:32 connect kindness and forgiveness with the actions of God in Christ?
2. What does it mean to "clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, and patience" as stated in Colossians 3:12?
3. How does David's kindness towards Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:7 reflect the kindness of God?
Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent interaction where you could have shown more kindness. How can you apply the principle of Ephesians 4:32 in a similar situation in the future?
2. Identify one quality from Colossians 3:12 (tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, patience) that you find challenging to exhibit. What is one specific step you can take this week to grow in this area?
3. Think of someone in your life who, like Mephibosheth, might be feeling overlooked or undervalued. What is one act of kindness you can show them this week?
4. How can you demonstrate God's kindness to someone who may not have experienced it before? Plan a specific action for the coming week.
5. Reflect on the permanence of God's kindness as discussed in the sermon. How does this understanding influence your view of God's love and your relationship with Him?
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing the Transformative Power of God's Kindness
God's kindness is not based on our actions or worthiness, but it is a pathway to Him. It is a transformative force that breaks the chains of shame and fear, setting us free to discover our true identity in Him. ([12:45](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjHNg4oCRsU&t=750s))
Titus 3:4-5 - "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."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when you experienced God's kindness. How did it transform your perspective or situation?
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Day 2: Cultivating Kindness as a Fruit of the Spirit
Kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, and we can cultivate it in our lives with the help of the Holy Spirit. As we walk in relationship with the Holy Spirit and trust in His guidance, we can nurture and grow the fruit of kindness in our lives. ([22:30](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjHNg4oCRsU&t=1335s))
Galatians 5:22-23 - "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law."
Reflection: What is one practical way you can cultivate the fruit of kindness in your life today?
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Day 3: Demonstrating God's Love Through Kindness
Through our acts of kindness, we can show others a pathway to God. Our kindness reveals who Jesus is in our lives and can inspire others to want to know Him. ([34:15](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjHNg4oCRsU&t=2040s))
Ephesians 4:32 - "Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you."
Reflection: Who is one person in your life that you can show kindness to today? How can your act of kindness reveal Jesus to them?
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Day 4: Experiencing God's Permanent Kindness
God's kindness is not temporary but permanent, and it can cover and heal any wounds or hurts in our hearts. God desires to bring relief, healing, and restoration into our lives. ([45:50](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjHNg4oCRsU&t=2735s))
Psalm 136:1 - "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever."
Reflection: What is a wound or hurt in your heart that you need God's kindness to heal? How can you invite His kindness into this area of your life today?
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Day 5: Impacting Lives Through Kindness
The outworking of kindness can bring restoration and transformation to people's lives, providing dignity, meeting needs, and acknowledging worth. We should not underestimate the impact our kindness can have on others. ([58:20](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjHNg4oCRsU&t=3485s))
Proverbs 11:17 - "A kind man benefits himself, but a cruel man brings trouble on himself."
Reflection: How can you extend kindness to someone in a way that acknowledges their worth and meets their needs today?
Quotes
"Our kindness to others reveals who Jesus is in our lives which can lead them those around us wanting to know what it is that's different about us when we action our kindness towards others it can help and encourage them." [16:40]
"Kindness can destroy shame... fear broken in the name of Jesus... all I can see is michef as this teenage boy going what relief what relief I'm no longer stuck out here in the Boondocks I have been called in to the very presence of royalty and now I can sit at a table." [19:00]
"Perhaps you haven't necessarily received kindness in your life maybe that wasn't a default that was given to you to receive...sometimes it's really hard to accept...just salvation just restoration just to be known as a son and daughter of God that's the strings attached." [26:28]
"True kindness is Spirit produced...it's a supernaturally generous orientation of our hearts towards other people even when they don't deserve it and don't love us in return...as Christians we are called to be kind and the good news is we can grow in kindness." [08:26]
"God by eating at his table michef was no longer hidden away this morning do you feel like you've been hidden away your invitation is come and sit at my table and you'll be hidden no more he no longer had to fear what Dave would do he could now Joy the Privileges of being a son not identified by his condition but identified by the Royal table he now sat at and this was not temporary this was permanent and that is the same for us we are also identified by the table that we sit at we are Sons and Daughters of the most high God and that is what God did for us in showing us kindness he went that one step further and sent his son and this is a beautiful example of what Jesus Jesus has done for us and many of us will continue to do because of his amazing kindness towards us his amazing love grace mercy and kindness" (#!!20:37!!#)
"God's amazing kindness doesn't want you to stay in hiding God's amazing kindness doesn't doesn't want you to stay in fear God's amazing kindness is here to break shame and fear God wants you to be free and to know who you are because of your his kindness in your life in exchange of fear and shame for his" (#!!22:46!!#)
"I can tell you with Assurance in my heart God's kindness is a BAL that is not temporary but it is permanent and it will bring relief it will bring healing it will bring restoration into your heart and your life this morning today is your day of healing and restoration today is your breakthrough of fear and pain in the name of Jesus." #!!24:05!!#
"David showed kindness because he knew God to be kind and had experienced God's kindness in his life and he also remember Jonathan's kindness to him." #!!13:59!!#
"The encouragement for us today is don't underestimate what your kindness can do in a person's life. How can our kindness bring restoration to people? It could bring dignity, for example, letting someone in at the checkout only to find out that maybe they've had a bad day, and letting them in has been like a balm to what they've been going through." #!!15:57!!#
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