Kindness Human Relations

:::: Kindness ::::::: Kind or Unkind? Helping an elderly person open the door to Target? Pulling over to check on someone who had broken down on the side of the road? Catching your neighbor’s cat on your property, and taking it to the pound? Double-parking on purpose to give you an easy exit? Leaving your shopping cart in an empty parking space? Helping the Marchael’s move because Kevin’s wife is too pregnant to function?

:::: Kindness ::::::: Kindness Defined: An inherent, purposeful display of benevolence within God’s creation.

:::: Kindness ::::::: Kindness Defined: An inherent, purposeful display of benevolence within God’s creation. Luke 18:35-43: As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.” He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, “Son of David, have mercy on me!” Jesus stopped and ordered the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, “What do you want me to do for you?” “Lord, I want to see,” he replied. Jesus said to him, “Receive your sight; your faith has healed you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised God.

:::: Kindness ::::::: Biblical kindness has purpose, and that purpose is to bring glory to God and people to his kingdom. John 5:1-9: Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie–the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty–eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath…

:::: Kindness ::::::: Biblical kindness has purpose, and that purpose is to bring glory to God and people to his kingdom. The Samaritan Woman: John 4: Woman who had no apparent need. 2.Jesus did not have a bucket to draw water. 3.Jews and Samaritans did not converse with one another. 4.Jesus through his kindness approached her and revealed his purpose for mankind.

:::: Kindness ::::::: Biblical kindness has purpose, and that purpose is to bring glory to God and people to his kingdom. Romans 2:4: Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, tolerance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness leads you toward repentance?

:::: Kindness ::::::: Kindness is NOT earned 1.Beggar, paralytic, and the Samaritan woman did nothing to receive the kindness of Christ. 2.Kindness is an outflow of the relational connection with God’s Spirit, therefore it does not require any pre-requisite. Matthew 5:43-47:“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. ’But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?

:::: Kindness ::::::: Kindness is beyond circumstance Acts 9:26-27: When he came to Jerusalem, he tried to join the disciples, but they were all afraid of him, not believing that he really was a disciple. But Barnabas took him and brought him to the apostles. He told them how Saul on his journey had seen the Lord and that the Lord had spoken to him, and how in Damascus he had preached fearlessly in the name of Jesus.

:::: Kindness ::::::: Kindness is beyond circumstance 1.Paul was responsible for the death and imprisonment of Christians. 2.Paul’s conversion was taken with much skepticism and critique from the new Christian community due to previous persecutions. 3.Knowing that Paul was a high profile Pharisee, it was likely the Pharisees would be looking for him. 4.Despite these reasons, Barnabas was willing to show kindness to Paul trusting in God’s plan.

:::: Kindness ::::::: What does kindness look like in our day? Chuck Colson’s Prison Fellowship Ministry a. It is a ministry that brings the Gospel to prisoners. b. It helps prisoners develop a relationship with God so as to transform their lives c. It brings reconciliation for the prisoners and their families d. Through a discipleship model, it provides training to prisoners so as to bring the Gospel to their fellow inmates. e. Upon exiting, it provides a means for the prisoners to share their testimony of conversion to the public.

:::: Kindness ::::::: How do we communicate the purpose of kindness? 1. Be available. 2. Tell people. 3. Be consistent.

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