Transforming Culture Through Acts of Kindness

 

Summary

In today's message, I introduced the "Kindness in the Culture" campaign, a movement aimed at fostering an atmosphere of kindness across our nation. This initiative encourages each of us to actively participate by using a kindness card to perform acts of kindness at least once a week. By doing so, we can transform the environment around us, one kind act at a time. The process is simple: perform an act of kindness, pray for the person, and share the Gospel with them. The kindness card serves as a reminder that kindness truly matters and encourages the recipient to pass it on to others.

Life is often filled with hurt, loss, and disappointment, and I understand these struggles personally. To support those who are hurting, we are offering our book and Bible study, "Hope for the Hurting." This resource is designed to provide encouragement and strength to those facing life's challenges. It can also be a gift to a friend in need, offering them God's comfort and guidance. The book and study are available for a gift of any amount, and your generosity will not only provide you with this resource but also help us spread the kindness campaign nationwide.

If you believe, as I do, that our world has become too mean and that kindness should be a cultural norm, I invite you to join us in this mission. Together, we can send a powerful message that it's time for kindness to prevail in our culture. As you participate, don't forget to request your copy of "Hope for the Hurting" to uplift someone else in their time of need.

Key Takeaways

- Kindness has the power to transform our culture. By committing to perform acts of kindness regularly, we can create a ripple effect that changes the atmosphere around us. This initiative is not just about individual acts but about fostering a culture where kindness becomes the norm. [00:18]

- Life's challenges are universal, and everyone experiences hurt and loss. Recognizing this shared human experience can motivate us to reach out and support one another. Our book, "Hope for the Hurting," is a tool to provide encouragement and strength to those in need. [01:07]

- Generosity plays a crucial role in spreading kindness. By contributing to this campaign, you are not only receiving resources for personal encouragement but also enabling the message of kindness to reach a wider audience. [01:38]

- The Gospel is central to our acts of kindness. As we perform kind acts, we are also called to share the good news of the Gospel, offering spiritual hope alongside practical help. This dual approach can have a profound impact on those we encounter. [00:50]

- Encouragement is a gift we can give to others. Whether through a kind word, a thoughtful gesture, or sharing resources like "Hope for the Hurting," we have the opportunity to lift others up and remind them of God's love and presence in their lives. [01:21]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[00:18] - Introduction to Kindness Campaign
[00:37] - The Power of Kindness
[00:50] - Sharing the Gospel
[01:07] - Understanding Life's Struggles
[01:21] - Hope for the Hurting Resource
[01:38] - Generosity and Its Impact
[01:54] - Call to Action for Kindness

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide: Kindness in 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. Galatians 6:9-10 - "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
3. Matthew 5:16 - "In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Observation Questions:
1. What is the main goal of the "Kindness in the Culture" campaign as described in the sermon? [00:18]
2. How does the kindness card function within the campaign, and what are the three steps involved in using it? [00:37]
3. What resource is being offered to support those who are hurting, and how can it be used to help others? [01:07]
4. How does the sermon suggest that generosity contributes to the spread of kindness? [01:38]

Interpretation Questions:
1. In what ways does Ephesians 4:32 relate to the idea of using kindness to transform our culture? How does forgiveness play a role in this transformation?
2. How might Galatians 6:9-10 encourage someone who feels discouraged in their efforts to spread kindness? What does it mean to "reap a harvest" in this context?
3. How does the concept of letting your light shine in Matthew 5:16 align with the campaign's goal of sharing the Gospel through acts of kindness? [00:50]
4. What does the sermon imply about the relationship between experiencing personal hurt and the motivation to help others? [01:21]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on a recent situation where you could have shown more kindness. What specific action can you take next time to respond differently? [00:18]
2. Identify someone in your life who might benefit from a kind word or gesture. What is one practical way you can reach out to them this week? [00:37]
3. Consider the role of prayer in the kindness campaign. How can you incorporate prayer into your acts of kindness to make them more impactful? [00:50]
4. Think about a time when you experienced hurt or disappointment. How did someone else's kindness help you during that time, and how can you pay it forward? [01:07]
5. How can you use the "Hope for the Hurting" resource to support someone in your community? Who might benefit from receiving this book, and how will you approach them? [01:21]
6. What are some ways you can practice generosity in your daily life to support the spread of kindness, both within your community and beyond? [01:38]
7. Reflect on the idea that kindness should become a cultural norm. What steps can you take to contribute to this cultural shift in your own circles? [01:54]

Devotional

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Quotes

I'm back to Tony Evans and I am so excited about our kindness in the culture campaign. We want to promote an atmosphere of kindness throughout our whole land, and so this campaign invites you to get a kindness card that you are to use and ask God to guide you at least once a week to show kindness to someone who needs a kind word spoken or kind act done. [00:05:10]

If we can get millions of people doing that, we can change the atmosphere. You do the act of kindness, you pray for the person, you share the good news of the Gospel with them, and with this card, they will be reminded that kindness does matter and hopefully they'll pass it on to someone else as well. [00:35:16]

You know life is full of hurt and loss, is full of needs and struggles, disappointments. I know personally what that feels like, and that's why we want to make available to you our book and Bible study "Hope for the Hurting." It's designed not only to encourage you as you face life's difficulties but you can also get it and give it to a friend who you know is hurting and needs encouragement from God to deal with the weight of life that's pressing on them right now. [00:55:32]

The book and Bible study is being made available to you for a gift of any amount, and your generous contribution will not only allow us to make this product available to you but your generosity will allow us to spread this campaign all over the nation. [01:00:90]

If you agree that the world is too mean and that kindness needs to be something that becomes normal in the culture, help us to send a message it's time for kindness in the culture, and when you do, ask for your copy of "Hope for the Hurting" to encourage someone else. [01:08:65]

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Transcript
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Were there any personal stories shared?