Introduction

  • Our faith can’t just be a sideshow or a hobby.
  • Your faith should make you different!

Kindness

  • Being helpful and supportive
  • Acting out of sympathy
  • Voluntarily answering a need
  • Being gentle and forbearing
  • Usually not a big sacrifice

Examples of kindness

  • Drawing water for a stranger – Genesis 24:18
  • Ruth taking care of Naomi – Ruth 3:10
  • Recovery of Saul’s body – II Samuel 2:6
  • Anointing Jesus – Matthew 26:10
  • Helping shipwreck victims – Acts 28:2

The power of kindness

  • Kindness is an attribute of God
    • Psalm 100:5
  • It is the example of Christ
    • Christ had all power on earth (Acts 10:38) and He used it to show kindness.
  • We are called to embrace it
    • Deuteronomy 22:1-2
    • Proverbs 19:22; 31:26
    • Isaiah 58:6-7
    • Micah 6:8
    • Luke 3:11
    • Acts 9:36
    • Galatians 5:22-23
  • It has the power to effect good

What does kindness do?

  • It draws people together
  • It engenders good will
  • It shows the better way
  • It defeats malice
  • It draws us closer to God
  • Matthew 5:16; Romans 12:21; Luke 6:35

Conclusion

  • Showing kindness to others is central to our faith.
  • It bears all the blessings, power, and goodness of God’s spirit.
  • It is how we exercise His power.