KINDNESS @ CHRISTMAS
TEXT: Luke 2:1-7 NKJV
INTRO: As I said last week, These past few weeks God has been getting us ready for the new year. Every message has been a springboard or launching pad for what God is doing in our midst. God is preparing this corporate body of people to move forward in to what He has in store for us. The # 1 thing He has given us to do is to reach people. One of the ways we reach people is by doing acts of kindness. The kindness that is to be showed should not be any different at Christmas then it is throughout the rest of the of the year. Today we want to look at kindness that was shown at Jesus’ Birth. We will see the birth of Christ in a different way then what we normally would see it. Then I just want to give you 7 simple & practical ways to show kindness to people this Christmas.
AMEN.
What is Kindness? (Definition of Kindness)
Kindness - having a good or benevolent nature or disposition;
desiring to do good to others; the sincere desire for the
happiness of others.
Acts of kindness were taken place even before our Lords Birth.
BACKGROUND:
For about 400 Years between the Old Testament and New Testament no revelation or words had come from God. Nothing had been heard. It seems as if the Heavens where shut and God was not speaking to humanity. There was no wide spread revelations. Heavens hotline seemed disconnected. Matter of fact nothing was revealed until the conception of John the Baptist. A messenger
that would latter in life prepare the way for the coming of the Lord Jesus. As wonderful as the birth of John is, the reason for this Christmas season is about the wondrous and miraculous birth of Jesus or Lord. We are about to look 2 acts of kindness that took place in scripture that to many of us has been hidden until now.
Turn in your bibles to Matthew chapter 1 starting in verse 18
WE READ...
1. AN ACT OF KINDNESS BY JOSEPH
Found in Matthew 1: 19 (18-25)NKJV
18 This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David’s family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God’s Holy Spirit. 19 Joseph was a (Good) Kind man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding. 20 While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. 21 Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins." 22 So the Lord’s promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23 "A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel," which means "God is with us." 24 After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the Lord’s angel had told him to do. 25 But they did not sleep together before her baby was born. Then Joseph named him Jesus.
Joseph and Mary where engaged which is a BIG deal
Joseph had ever right under Jewish law to publicly disgraced Mary - and being found guilty she would have been killed (Stoned to Death) for having a baby with someone else.
Again this was a BIG deal… BUT, God knew that through an act of Kindness The savior of the world would be born to be and He would be an example for us of how to live a life of kindness.
AN ACT OF KINDNESS BY THE INN-KEEPER
Found in Luke 2: 7 (1-7)
1 About that time Emperor Augustus gave orders for the names of all the people to be listed in record books. 2 These first records were made when Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 Everyone had to go to their own hometown to be listed. 4 So Joseph had to leave Nazareth in Galilee and go to Bethlehem in Judea. Long ago Bethlehem had been King David’s hometown, and Joseph went there because he was from David’s family. 5 Mary was engaged to Joseph and traveled with him to Bethlehem. She was soon going to have a baby, 6and while they were there, 7she gave birth to her first-born son. She dressed him in baby clothes and laid him on a bed of hay, because there was no room for them in the inn.
Joseph had to take Mary who was with child to Bethlehem for this census.
At the time of Birth there was no place or home or room available. For Mary to give Birth. (God provided)
No real details are given to us about the INN keeper.
Scholars say that the inn was not like a hotel but more like a guest room in someone’s home. With this census taking place no wonder there was no room. Most likely all the relatives of people who lived in Bethlehem returned to take part in the census.
Nevertheless Someone even though they did not have any room in there home did an act of kindness and let Mary and Joseph use the stable.
Again the stable was not a nice barn like we think of. Scholors agree it was most likely a cave that housed animals of the inn keeper and his guests.
A very humble place for the King of all Kings to be born, but oh but how an act of kindness was done at the time of Jesus’ Birth.
Now our example of kindness has been born. In this day and age that we live in people need love, compassion and kindness like never before. Its our job to show kindness to people and let them see Jesus in us in all we do. Remember who you represent this Christmas season and beyond.
In closing this morning I want to give you…
*** informal survey of people in Salisbury ***
7 PRACTICAL (SIMPLE) WAYS TO SHOW KINDNESS:
*Smile
*Give A complement (be sincere)
*Treat Others like you would want to be treated
*Help people with doors (packages)
*Buy the cashier at the store a soda while your inline
*Pay for someone else (stuff, food, gifts, coffee)
*Send a note to a person whom you don’t really know.
