Gritty Kindness
Teaching Notes
When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers,
The moon and the stars, which You have ordained;
What is man that You take thought of him,
And the son of man that You care for him?
Psalm 8:3-4
Wonder provokes kindness.
Kindness provokes a kind of wonder.
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 own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?
Jesus, Matthew 5:46-47
1. Kindness comes straight from God’s heart.
Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,”
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.
Isaiah 54:10
Hesed is “wrapping up in itself all the positive attributes of God: love, covenant faithfulness, mercy, grace, kindness, loyalty–in short, acts of devotion and loving-kindness that go beyond the requirements of duty”
Darrell L. Bock, Bible scholar
2. Kindness disagrees and still loves
Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.
Ephesians 4:32
3. Kindness has power.
“...not realizing that God’s kindness is intended to lead you to repentance?
Romans 2:4
4. Kindness is impossible.
If only there were evil people somewhere insidiously committing evil deeds, and it were necessary only to separate them from the rest of us and destroy them. But the line dividing good and evil cuts through the heart of every human being.
Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Galatians 5:22-23
Who needs your kindness?
Who can you provoke to wonder?
Going Deeper Discussion Questions
When is a moment that you have experienced a deep sense of awe or majesty, either in stargazing, being in nature, or through some other experience?
What’s the kindest thing you’ve ever experienced from someone else?
What strikes you about true, biblical kindness?
How does the sermon help you better understand God’s heart for you and what true repentance is?
This Christmas season, who is God’s Spirit prompting you to show biblical kindness towards?
Sunday Set List
WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere
O Come All Ye Faithful- Phil Wickham
Broken Vessels- Hillsong
What A Beautiful Name- Hillsong
O Come O Come Emmanuel- Lincoln Brewster
WFC Speedway
Same God- Hillsong
Noel (He Is Born)- Tommee Profitt
O Holy Night- Lincoln Brewster
Raise A Hallelujah- Bethel Music
Be sure to save our Spotify Worship Playlist, updated weekly with the upcoming Sunday’s set!