SHOW KINDNESS TO OTHERS
Pastor Corey Mantz
Woodland Church
Sunday, July 7, 2024
(Colossians 3:12-14, Message) “So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.”
- Kindness requires you to take action
(1 Corinthians 13:4, GW) “Love is patient. Love is kind.”
(Romans 2:4, NLT) “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?”
- Kindness involves you taking a risk
(Luke 10:33-34, NLT) “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him. 34 Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him.”
(Philippians 2:6-8, Message) “He had equal status with God but didn’t think so much of himself that he had to cling to the advantages of that status no matter what. Not at all. When the time came, he set aside the privileges of deity and took on the status of a slave, became human! Having become human, he stayed human. It was an incredibly humbling process. He didn’t claim special privileges. Instead, he lived a selfless, obedient life and then died a selfless, obedient death”
1. Be sensitive to the needs of others
(Philippians 2:3-4, NLT) “Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”
(2 Samuel 9:7, NLT) “Don’t be afraid!” David said. “I intend to show kindness to you because of my promise to your father, Jonathan. I will give you all the property that once belonged to your grandfather Saul, and you will eat here with me at the king’s table!”
2. Be supportive with your words
(Proverbs 15:1, Message) “A gentle response defuses anger, but a sharp tongue kindles a temper-fire.”
(Proverbs 15:4, Message) “Kind words heal and help; cutting words wound and maim.”
3. Be spontaneous
(Galatians 6:10, NLT) “whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone—especially to those in the family of faith.”
4. Share the same kindness Jesus has shown to you
- He provides for us
(Acts 14:17, NIV) “He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy.”
- He cares for us
(Genesis 39:21, NIV) “the Lord was with him; he showed him kindness and granted him favor in the eyes of the prison warden.”
- He saves us
(Titus 3:4-5, NLT) “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, 5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit.”