Elementary Kindness

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Elementary Kindness
( A shining light that glorifies God )
Matthew 516
(Based upon study notes encouraged by sermon on
Nov.12)
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• Kindness Discussion
• Choices we all make
• Unkind (Easily Done)
• Action / Inaction / Words
• Indifference (Little Effort)
• Kind (Lot of Effort)

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• Kindness Discussion
• Choices we all make
• Unkind (Easily Done)
• Action / Inaction / Words
• Indifference (Little Effort)
• Kind (Lot of Effort)

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• Unkind Action Extreme
• (A few examples)
• Murder Cain Genesis 48
• Adultery and Murder David - II Samuel 114 /
  1115
• Idolatry Aaron Exodus 324

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• Kindness Discussion
• Choices we all make
• Unkind (Easily Done)
• Action / Inaction / Words
• Indifference (Little Effort)
• Kind (Lot of Effort)

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• Unkind Inaction Extreme
• (A few examples)
• Ignoring Gods Word Pharoahs Servants Exodus
  920-21
• Ignoring Wisdom Simple scoffers Proverbs
  120-31
• Ignoring Weak Priest and Levite Luke 1031-32

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• Kindness Discussion
• Choices we all make
• Unkind (Easily Done)
• Action / Inaction / Words
• Indifference (Little Effort)
• Kind (Lot of Effort)

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• Unkind Words Extreme
• (A few examples)
• Discouraging Jobs Wife Job 29
• Lying / Deceit Old prophet of Bethel - I Kings
  1318
• Gossip Busybodies - I Timothy 513
• Scoffing Fools Proverbs 298-9

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• Being Unkind
• Jealousy is a popular motivation
• Selfish / serves personal interests
• Hurtful and destructive
• Ignores consequences
• Degrades / demoralizes others
• Satisfies foolish desires
• Leaves important work left undone
• Unreasonable and irrational

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• Being Unkind
• Creates stumbling blocks for others
• Generates confusion in every situation
• Promotes self but destroys personal image and
  relationships with others
• Easy reaction to difficult situations
• Undoes good things
• Violates conscience
• Forgets about the things of God

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• Kindness Discussion
• Choices we all make
• Unkind (Easily Done)
• Action / Inaction / Words
• Indifference (Little Effort)
• Kind (Lot of Effort)

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• Indifference
• (A few examples)
• Reuben Genesis 3729
• Israelites Joshua 2415
• People of Laish Judges 187
• Cleansed Lepers Luke 1716-17
• Agrippa Acts 2628
• Church at Pergamum Revelation 214

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• Being Indifferent
• Isnt personally challenging
• Isnt personally rewarding
• Does not require courage
• Can be easily dismissed (as if it doesnt really
  matter)
• Easily states, not my fault and redistributes
  blame and shame!

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• Kindness Discussion
• Choices we all make
• Unkind (Easily Done)
• Action / Inaction / Words
• Indifference (Little Effort)
• Kind (Lot of Effort)

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Kindness Origin

• Romans 24
• Kindness originates of God
• Richly displayed
• Partnered with forbearance and patience
• Leads us to repentance

James 117 - 18 Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above, coming down from the Father
of lights with whom there is no variation or
shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought
us forth by the word of truth, that we should be
a kind of first-fruits of his creatures.
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• Kindness Concepts
• Job 614
• He who withholds kindness from a friend
  forsakes the fear of the Almighty.

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• Kindness Concepts
• Psalms 1415
• Let a righteous man strike me--it is a
  kindness let him rebuke me--it is oil for my
  head let my head not refuse it.

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• Kindness Concepts
• Proverbs 3126
• An excellent wife
• opens her mouth with wisdom, and the teaching
  of kindness is on her tongue.

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• Kindness Concepts
• Micah 68
• what does the Lord require of you but to do
  justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly
  with your God?

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• Kindness Concepts
• Zechariah 79-10
• Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true
  judgments, show kindness and mercy to one
  another, do not oppress the widow, the
  fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let
  none of you devise evil against another in your
  heart.

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• Kindness Concepts
• Galatians 522-25
• But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy,
  peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
  faithfulness, gentleness, self-control against
  such things there is no law. And those who belong
  to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its
  passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit,
  let us also walk by the Spirit. Let us not become
  conceited, provoking one another, envying one
  another.

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• Kindness Concepts
• Colossians 312-15
• Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and
  beloved, compassion, kindness, humility,
  meekness, and patience, bearing with one another
  and, if one has a complaint against another,
  forgiving each other as the Lord has forgiven
  you, so you also must forgive. And above all
  these put on love, which binds everything
  together in perfect harmony. And let the peace
  of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed
  you were called in one body. And be thankful.

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• Kindness When / How
• As opportunity exists
• As opportunity is created
• At a personal cost
• Without personal gain
• At a personal risk

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• Kindness Practical Advice
• Start with little things big things are a
  natural extension of the little things then do
  big things!
• Go beyond a comfort zone it is not about giving
  whats left over or available
• Be a gracious recipient of kindness
• Be courageous! Sometimes, just do it!
• Dont expect appreciation and dont allow a lack
  of appreciation deter your efforts!
• Prayer is a primary act of kindness and dont
  stop there!

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• Kindness Precautions
• Worldly definitions dont count!
• It is humbling, sometimes humiliating!
• Should be recognized only as a matter of
  incidental necessity!
• Must never be advertised!
• You need to budget time for this throughout the
  day, every day!
• Planned and spontaneous do both!

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• Kindness Warnings
• Doing / saying nothing can be unkind!
• Be practical and logical work within your means
  but always try to push your boundaries.
• Remember that you represent more than just
  yourself you are attempting to glorify God.
• Teach others how to be kind but dont teach
  others scripted actions thats not the point.
• Learn from others! Dont limit your observations
  to brethren but be careful to properly discern.
• Be willing to change your heart!

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• More Kindness Concepts
• Ephesians 431-32
• 31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and
  clamor and slander be put away from you, along
  with all malice. 32 Be kind to one another,
  tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in
  Christ forgave you.
• I Corinthians 1533
• Do not be deceived "Bad company corrupts good
  morals.

SAME GREEK WORD!
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• More Kindness Concepts
• Ephesians 53-11
• 3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or
  covetousness must not even be named among you, as
  is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no
  filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking,
  which are out of place, but instead let there be
  thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that
  everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or
  who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no
  inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
  6 Let no one deceive you with empty words, for
  because of these things the wrath of God comes
  upon the sons of disobedience. 7 Therefore do not
  associate with them 8 for at one time you were
  darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk
  as children of light 9 (for the fruit of light is
  found in all that is good and right and true),
  10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the
  Lord. 11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of
  darkness, but instead expose them.

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• More Kindness Concepts
• Titus 38
• The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to
  insist on these things, so that those who have
  believed in God may be careful to devote
  themselves to good works. These things are
  excellent and profitable for people.

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• More Kindness Concepts
• James 127
• Religion that is pure and undefiled before
  God, the Father, is this to visit orphans and
  widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself
  unstained from the world

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• Final Thought
• Romans 121-3
• 1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the
  mercies of God, to present your bodies as a
  living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God,
  which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be
  conformed to this world, but be transformed by
  the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may
  discern what is the will of God, what is good and
  acceptable and perfect. 3 For by the grace given
  to me I say to everyone among you not to think of
  himself more highly than he ought to think, but
  to think with sober judgment, each according to
  the measure of faith that God has assigned.