Love is Kind
Welcome To REUNION
We are glad that you are here. We hope that you feel save, welcomed and relaxed. We are going to read the Bible, pray, sing a few songs and listen to a short Lead In. We might even have discussions But.. you’re invited to participate as much as you want. No expects you to speak or share. We do invite you to remain present. We believe that remaining present - even in our minds - is an act of love.
Lead In Notes
Kind:
Eugene Peterson: Love cares more for others than for self.
Making oneself useful to another, or is marked by or disposed to doing good for another at the cost of oneself.
Paul used the present, passive tense meaning - ongoing state versus past tense. We are living in a state of kindness versus had a moment of kindness.
“Kindness is doing unconditionally good to others even when it’s an inconvenience to us.”
Unconditionally:
meaning that we do something without wondering, “what’s in this for me.”
selfless act of kindness - no strings attached
Inconvenient isn’t Canadian
it’s one thing to be kind when it’s convenient, it’s Christlike to be kind when it’s inconvenient.
living in constant state of kindness means doing good for others even when it’s not convenient for us.
Jesus Story: Water into Wine - John 2 (NLT)
2 The next day there was a wedding celebration in the village of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the celebration. 3 The wine supply ran out during the festivities, so Jesus’ mother told him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Dear woman, that’s not our problem,” Jesus replied. “My time has not yet come.”
5 But his mother told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
6 Standing nearby were six stone water jars, used for Jewish ceremonial washing. Each could hold twenty to thirty gallons. 7 Jesus told the servants, “Fill the jars with water.”When the jars had been filled, 8 he said, “Now dip some out, and take it to the master of ceremonies.” So the servants followed his instructions.
9 When the master of ceremonies tasted the water that was now wine, not knowing where it had come from (though, of course, the servants knew), he called the bridegroom over. 10 “A host always serves the best wine first,” he said. “Then, when everyone has had a lot to drink, he brings out the less expensive wine. But you have kept the best until now!”
11 This miraculous sign at Cana in Galilee was the first time Jesus revealed his glory. And his disciples believed in him.
12 After the wedding he went to Capernaum for a few days with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples.
What Stands Out To You?
A couple of Things:
Jesus seems to be inconvenienced by the invitation to step in help.
running out of wine is a big deal, embarrassing on multiple levels.
Jesus’ first miracle is to save a man, his family and a new family from embarrassment.
Really… Water into Wine?
We can often think our acts of kindness needs to be acts of grandeur - bigger the better!
Maybe loving people where they are, just as they need it in the moment even when it’s inconvenient is exactly what love does because that’s exactly what love is?
“Imagine we were known for doing unconditionally good to others even when it’s an inconvenience to us. ”
Questions to Consider:
How was living in Patience last week?
any steps forward, backward - swallows or pops?
how were your touch points with God?
Share a time you were embarrassed because something didn’t go as planned
Kindness is continuously living in a state of doing good for others.
Wesley defined kindness as: doing unconditionally good to others even when it’s an inconvenience to us.
What is your reaction to the terms: unconditional and inconvenient
How do these definitions fit our Canadian culture?
How do these definitions challenge our Canadian culture?
Read John 2 above:
What stands out to you from the story?
Are you surprised by anything?
Wesley said we can spend a lot of time discussing the “what could it mean” and loose the straightforward applications.
what are some straightforward applications you see from this story?
Are you aware of any needs in your circles of influence/networks/communities?
how might you/Table Group offer unconditional good to these situations?
Are there any that seem too big for your group?
please send these along to Wesley so our team can discuss and respond.
