AHSS: Fruit of the Spirit (Lesson 11)

Fruit of the Spirit

Galatians 5:22-23 – Kindness Part B

The publisher of the book God Within issued an invitation to young adults to submit writings about their spiritual or religious lives. The book reflects the opinions of Christians, Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists, Wiccans, agnostics, and atheists. The author of the essay “Simply Complicated” writes that at one time she was a fervent Christian, but at the time of this writing, she felt abandoned by and disillusioned with God, preferring to follow no God than to follow a God she couldn’t commit to wholeheartedly. The following is a quote from this essay:

“When I say I worship God, am I really saying that I worship a being that pretends to love the world while only caring for himself? I ask myself, ‘If this God is the selfish maniac he appears to be, how can I spend my entire life worshiping him? What a waste of a life that I could dedicate to something better.”

How do people miss seeing God’s kind nature?

What can Christians do to help the world see the kindness of God?

From the Random Acts of Kindness website, we find this description of what happens when kindness takes hold of someone.

“As people tap into their own generous human spirit and share kindness with one another, they discover for themselves the power of kindness to effect positive change. When kindness is expressed, healthy relationships are created, community connections are nourished, and people are inspired to pass kindness on.”

What motivates people in general to be kind? – What difference does kindness make in the world?

What should motivate Christians to be kind? – How does the Holy Spirit grow kindness in us?

What is our role in that process?
 

Kindness Quotes – The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation (randomactsofkindness.org)

• “Kindness is being someone who makes everyone feel like a somebody.”
• “Kindness can make a bad day good, and a good day better.”
• “Kindness is like a seed that when cultivated can grow and grow and grow.”
• “Kindness is the ability to know what the right thing to do is and having the courage to do it!!”

Write out or chat with a friend about how these quotes resonate in your daily life. Do they go along with what the bible verses revealed last week?

(Jeremiah 9:24 & 31:3, Hosea 11:4, and Romans 2:4, Proverbs 11:17, 12:25, 14:31, Luke 6:27-35,      1 Corinthians 13:4, Ephesians 4:32, 1 Thessalonians 5:15, 2 Timothy 2:22-24, 2 Peter 1:5-9)