July 25, 2010

 

Summary:  Today we continued with our series on the fruit of the Spirit from Galatians 5:22-23.  Our focus this Sunday was the fruit of the Spirit known as kindness.  We examined its definition and its directions.

 

Questions:

 

   1.     We began our study of kindness by defining it.  We saw that the Greek term is chrestotes and means “kindness, goodness and honesty, especially in a behavioral sense.”  We saw that it refers to the opposite of a “harsh, crabbed, crooked temper.”  A person manifesting the fruit of kindness will have “a calmness of spirit, an unruffled disposition.”  It’s the idea that when someone “pushes your buttons” you’ll respond rather than react.  What is it that can easily cause your buttons to be pushed?  Do you find that you react rather than respond in those situations?  In summary, we said that kindness is “extending grace rather than playing gotcha.”  How do you feel when someone plays “gotcha” with you rather than extending grace to you?

 

 

   2.     The first direction of kindness is God towards us.  Read Romans 2:4.  What three things does this verse tell us about God’s attributes?  What does this Scripture say is the purpose of God’s kindness towards us?

 

Read Titus 3:3-5.  What does this verse say about God’s kindness?  When did it appear?  What did God’s kindness, love and mercy make possible in our lives?

 

 

   3.     The second direction of kindness is us towards others.  Read Ephesians 4:31-32.  What are we to get rid of in our lives?  Are there any of these with which you have struggled?  With what are we to replace them?  How are you doing in fulfilling this command of Scripture?

 

   4.     Read Colossians 3:12.  What is it that we are to “put on” (clothe ourselves)? Discuss the concept of a “spiritual wardrobe” and how that helps us to live a life marked by the fruit of kindness. 

 

 

Chuck Wall challenged his students to random acts of kindness.  The Holy Spirit challenges us to a lifestyle marked by kindness.  Would you pray to the Lord and ask Him to fill you with His Spirit and motivate you to a lifestyle of kindness?  Is there someone to whom you’ve been harsh, crabby or bitter?   How could you, through God’s power, begin to show kindness to that person?

 

 

Next Week:  Next Sunday, August 1, we enter a new month.  Here is the Sunday Message Schedule for the next 6 weeks:

 

Sunday, August 1…The Fruit of Goodness

Sunday, August 8…Elder Frank Kolby Preaching

Sunday, August 15…The Fruit of Faithfulness

Sunday, August 22…The Fruit of Gentleness

Sunday, August 29…The Fruit of Self-Control

Sunday, September 5…Harvesting the Fruit of the Spirit (Final Message in this Series)

 

God bless you!

 

Pastor Mike Laramie