Above Ground 6 Kindness

By now in the series, many of us have seen our mundane interactions with others in a very different light. It's easy to miss when not reflected upon, but undoubtedly, members of our groups are having run-ins that bring the content of group discussions right to the front of their mind. Their digging into these topics are having a direct effect, slow but sure, on every part of who they are.

Thank you for being a crucial part of the collective maturing of our community!

As we discuss kindness, know that this topic is woven together with all the others. There will be overlap and familiarity as the case for letting God's Spirit reign compounds.

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Thaw

• What is significant about March for you?

• What's a kindness that you experienced or observed recently?
• What most stuck with you from Sunday morning?
• What's the difference in your mind between kindness and being polite?

Leader note: You may want to point out that, though not empty of value, politeness is just as its etymology suggests: polit-ics. It's a way of behaving that pacifies a standard, or even manipulates favor. This is not kindness, as it doesn't require God's spirit. A pecking order is a simple form of politeness.

Read

• Luke 10:25-37
• Thoughts?
• How are you like the priest or the levite?
• How are you like the samaritan?

Leader note: You may want to point out that the innkeeper in this story is kind, and even highly risk-tolerant considering the circumstances, as well. Additionally, the man knocked unconscious never wakes up. He is therefore unable to make anything done for him "worth it" for the samaritan as far as the story goes.

Read

• Titus 2:11-3:11
• Thoughts?
• In summary, how would you describe the reputation Paul is trying to help the church have under Titus' leadership?
• Any phrases stand out to you? Why?
• Verses 9-11 spell out what to do with a person that continues to try and make the movement about the specifics of the rules, rather than the power of love and kindness. What does this say to our modern Christian context and topics that are important to us.
• What is the significant of verses 4-7?

Leader note: Paul specifically references unmerited favor by God toward us. For nothing we did, but because of his own character and his own love for us. In context, Paul might be heard saying, "if being kind and gracious and others-centered seams unreasonable, keep in mind that this is exactly how it happened for us. Rather than being judged for our sins, we were, against all odds, loved and sacrificed for. That is our model, not the divisive religion we seem to default to!"

• Is there any lasting power in kindness to change hearts?
• Is there more power in severity, or kindness, to elicit transformation? Explain.

Read

• Romans 2:1-4
• Thoughts?
• Like in the passage in Titus, we see that it is God's kindness toward us that's transformative. How does this differ with your views or even your answer before?
• What are the implications of kindness being given this much power in the lives of people that God wants to change?

Discuss

• What does all this say about the kind of _____________ we are?

Spouses

Friends

Bosses

Teachers

Sons/Daughters

Siblings

Officers

Evangelists

Students

Customers

Disagree-ers

Apply

PEOPLE WITH BAD RHYTHM CAN'T DANCE.

• How does having more peace in your life, more margin and the spirit of sabbath, equal more kindness to those around you?

YOU CAN'T BE KIND TO AN ADJECTIVE

• How does refusing to interact with people's titles, descriptors, etc. help you be kind the human being others aren't seeing?

KINDNESS IS EXPENSIVE

• Sentiment costs nothing. what are ways that being specifically kind and loving towards people that you already know going to cost you?

• How can this group create a way to celebrate the kindnesses that happens by and to its members?