Today’s Scripture ReadingToday’s Scripture Reading

1 Thessalonians 1:151 Thessalonians 1:15

Real Christians Are KINDReal Christians Are KIND

1 Thessalonians 1:151 Thessalonians 1:15

Christianity is about OUTREACHChristianity is about OUTREACH

•Perhaps you’ve noticed that the last Perhaps you’ve noticed that the last four character traits we studied are four character traits we studied are best appreciated when they are best appreciated when they are SHOWN toward others.SHOWN toward others.

LoveLove JoyJoy PeacePeace PatiencePatience

All these mean most when others see All these mean most when others see them in us.them in us.

The Same Is True of KindnessThe Same Is True of Kindness

Today’s trait is the same. It fact, it is all about showing God’s kindness to others for their benefit and not for our own!

• Real Christians show kindness in the Real Christians show kindness in the world.world.

• Our kindness is an EXTENSION of our Our kindness is an EXTENSION of our appreciation to God for His kindness appreciation to God for His kindness toward us.toward us.

Any other Any other understanding of understanding of kindness will fall kindness will fall short of the true short of the true fruit of the Spirit fruit of the Spirit

which should mark which should mark the attitude of all the attitude of all

MATURING MATURING Christians.Christians.

God’s Kindness Motivates Our God’s Kindness Motivates Our KindnessKindness

•Titus 3:4-5aTitus 3:4-5a -- But when the kindness -- But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. we had done, but because of his mercy.

Isaiah 54:7-8Isaiah 54:7-8

  "For a brief moment I abandoned you, "For a brief moment I abandoned you,        but with deep compassion I will bring        but with deep compassion I will bring

you back. you back.   In a surge of anger In a surge of anger

       I hid my face from you for a moment,        I hid my face from you for a moment,        but with everlasting kindness        but with everlasting kindness

       I will have compassion on you,"        I will have compassion on you,"        says the LORD your Redeemer.”       says the LORD your Redeemer.”

•God’s kindness is EVERLASTINGGod’s kindness is EVERLASTING

Luke 6:35““But love your But love your enemies, do good enemies, do good to them, and lend to them, and lend to them without to them without expecting to get expecting to get anything back. anything back. Then your reward Then your reward will be great, and will be great, and you will be sons of you will be sons of the Most High, the Most High, because he is kind because he is kind to the ungrateful to the ungrateful and wicked.”and wicked.”

The Requirement of Christian Love

• Christian love is identified by its kindness

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”

1 Corinthians 13:4

Our Kindness Reciprocatesthe Kindness of God and Christ

• Ephesians 4:32Be kind and compassionate to one another,

forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Our Kindness Reflects Our True Servant Nature

2 Timothy 2:24: And the Lord's

servant must not quarrel; instead,

he must be kind to everyone, able to

teach, not resentful.

Our Kindness is Unconditional

and Unselfish

• 1 Corinthians 4:13 -- …when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.

Our Kindness Brings Honor and Glory to God

• Proverbs 14:31

– He who oppresses the poor

shows contempt for their Maker,        but whoever is kind to the needy

honors God.

Illustrations of Christian Kindness

• The Good Samaritan – Luke 10:25-37

Matthew 25:34-40

Aesop’s Aesop’s Fable:Fable:

““The Mouse The Mouse and the and the Lion”Lion”

““No act of No act of kindness, no kindness, no matter how matter how

small, is small, is ever ever

wasted.”wasted.”