Sunday Fuel: Aug. 4, 2024

Receive and remember God’s kindness through worship.

God’s kindness through others: What is the most powerful act of kindness you have ever received from another person? (a gift, a simple act of service, forgiveness, spoken truth for the moment, a listening ear or presence)

God’s kindness to us:

In Scripture: Every act of kindness we receive is actually a kindness from God. How does the Bible describe God’s kindness to us? (Suggestion: review some of David’s psalms that list the many kindnesses of God, such as Psalms 23, 68, 103. How have you received these in your own life?

Through Christ: Just as David showed kindness to Mephibosheth by assuring him of his protection, providing for him, and inviting him to sit with him at his table, God has done the same for us, though we were traitors and enemies. Read Eph. 2:4-7 and take time to remember this greatest kindness God has shown to us through Christ.

Amidst suffering: If you are struggling with challenging trials, debilitating sins, or impossible problems: how might you still see God’s kindness to you in this moment? How might remembering that His kindness is with you in this moment even be a simple kindness in itself?

Respond in prayer:

Take some time to worship and thank the Lord for His gift of kindness. What’s a gift of kindness that He has given you today?

Also take time to confess the ways you are blind to His kindness, minimize it, forget it, or focus on other things as if they are more real. Pray that he will wake you up and make you more aware of the reality of His kindness.

Reflect and rehearse God’s kindness in giving to others.

Start with your heart: Consider the difference between kindness and cruelty, as defined above.

Ask God to help you honestly evaluate how you treat people. Is your kindness truly kindness?

Or is it actually cruelty? Be honest with how you want to punish, gossip, mock, cancel, or withhold love from those who displease us. Pray for a willingness to admit the truth to the Lord, confess and pray for His help through the Spirit to change your heart.

Do you see the people around you as inconvenient burdens or as people who are here to serve you—or as people who need kindness?

Look for opportunities:

Identify people: What opportunities for kindness has God placed before you—at home, within the church family? With those who have shown cruelty towards you? With those who are unbelievers?

Identify ways to show kindness:

How might you seek to understand someone’s needs with humility and honor toward them (1 Cor 13, Phil 2:3-4)? Check your heart and pray that the kindness of God might drive you towards a true kindness, without strings attached. Ask God for the humility to serve, putting others first.

How might you identify and extend care for tangible needs. (1 Jn 3:17, Job 6:14, Matt 6:1-4)? What needs do you see in your family, friends, community, and even enemies? What resources—material or immaterial (like time or attention)—might you offer secretly, generously, and unconditionally to honor this person?

How might you minister God’s grace to someone’s heart through your words of truth spoken in love, to build them up so that we might grow up into Christ? (Ps 141:5a, Prov 31:26, Eph 4:29)

3. Involve others:

Do you need to share your struggle with showing kindness with another person and ask for prayer support?

Are there people in your life who can provide some wisdom that you need in your desire to show kindness?

“Do not make an excuse that you have not opportunities to do anything for the glory of God, for the interest of the Redeemer’s kingdom, and for the spiritual benefit of your neighbors. If your heart is full of love, it will find vent; you will find or make ways enough to express your love in deeds. When a fountain abounds in water it will send forth streams.”–Jonathan Edwards, Charity and Its Fruits