May 23, 2021
First Baptist Church, Burlington, KS
Dr. Jay Hale, pastor
• God’s purpose in us and for us: to be conformed to the image of his son – Jesus is the perfect embodiment of the spiritual fruit
• Galatians 5:22-23
•Paul don’t walk according to the flesh but walk according to the Spirit
•Next in the list is Kindness
▪ Sometimes minimized in the church
• We observe it in our world: People who are far from God being kind
• Observed in scripture: Acts 27:39-28:2
• Paul, prisoner of Rome being taken to Rome to be judged by Caesar. Two weeks in a storm,
ended up on Malta – “Showed us extraordinary kindness”
• Paul was treated better by these pagans than by some of the Christians he had contact with
• Paul experienced kindness from Gallio, a judge and brother of Roman statesman Seneca.
▪ Just like patience (last week), love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4
• Hard to be kind if you do not love people
• Easy to be kind if you do love people – love is kind!
▪ Kindness is part of the image of God in man
▪ Kindness is initiated by love – just as patience is
•Christians are to be clothed in kindness – Colossians 3:12
•What is scriptural kindness?
▪ Chrestotes (chray-stoh’-tays) – a benevolent attitude or action between individuals
Result of the kindness of God
▪ Romans 2:1-4 Leads to repentance
▪ Ephesians 2:6-7 Gives evidence of the immeasurable riches of his grace toward us
•Kindness in the Christian life
▪ Luke 6:27-36
• V. 35 Impossible commandment! Except God in us…
• Patience – do not return evil for evil (Romans 12)
• Kindness is active – Go out of your way to do good; return good for evil (also Romans 12)
• Kindness requires an awareness of others’ feelings and needs.
▪ Kindness not just for our enemies but for our loved ones
• Ephesians 4:32 be kind to one another. (Christians)
• When Christians act according to the natural man, they quench the Spirit.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient. I love everyone…
•Kindness has a moral effect
▪ Dr. William Bede McGrath, Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association: “Ninety percent of all mental illness that comes before me could have been prevented, or could yet be cured, by simple kindness.”
▪ Romans 12:20 effect of heaping coals on his head
• Quoted from Proverbs 25:21-22
• Object is not to burn him up, heaping coals produces a moral effect
• Act with kindness: Hungry? Feed him
• Act with kindness: Thirsty? Give him something to drink
• Effect? Melt his heart OR it will make his malice more inexcusable and bring about God’s
vengeance
• William Penn (Founder of Pennsylvania) “I expect to pass through life but once. If, therefore, there be any kindness I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.”
• Be aware of the opportunities God is providing to grow spiritual fruit in you. Be kind.