Love - Lesson 4: Love Lived Out (2) – Kind

Love

Lesson 4: Love Lived Out (2) – Kind

1 Corinthians 13:4a Love is patient and is kind;

Ephesians 4:32 And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

1 John 3:18 My little children, let’s not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.

KIND, a.

1. Disposed to do good to others, and to make them happy by granting their requests, supplying their wants or assisting them in distress; having tenderness or goodness of nature; benevolent; benignant.

God is kind to the unthankful, and to the evil. Luke 6.

Be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted. Eph.4.

2. Proceeding from tenderness or goodness of heart; benevolent; as a kind act; a kind return of favors.

“kind.” Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language. 2015. http://1828.mshaffer.com/d/word/kind (30 July 2015).

The Main Points for This Lesson:

This series of lessons will center around love as seen in chapter 13 of the apostle Paul's first epistle to the Corinthians. The purpose of these lessons is to teach about love: love's importance; what love looks like lived out, including what it is and what it isn't, and what it does and what it doesn't do; love's greatness.

The apostle John exhorts us in his first epistle to love others not in word and in tongue only, but to love in deed and in truth. What does love look like in deed and in truth? John gave one example of what this looks like in his epistle (1 John 3:16-18). In 1 Corinthians 13, the apostle Paul provides us with some principles about what love looks like in deed and in truth. He begins by providing two positive characteristics or principles about love. The second of these is that love is kind.

Love is kind. Love does good to others, and takes an interest in the good of others. To be kind is to help others, especially those in need in some form or another. Everyone, from the poorest to the richest person, is in need. God is kind to us. The prophets spoke and wrote over and over of the loving-kindness of the Lord toward us. Our heavenly Father has helped us in our need (and helps us still), whether that need is related to our body, soul or spirit, and so we ought to be kind to one another.

The love commanded by God (and first demonstrated by God to us) is real and practical. This love is not first and foremost an emotion or feeling, though it may result in emotions or feelings (we don't have to wait for the feelings or emotions associated with love before we begin to love another). This love is made of real actions, choices and attitudes. So then, let us not grow weary in doing good. God has promised a harvest to those who persevere in doing good to others, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Suggestions:

To open the lesson, pray for the teacher and the students.

Let the children know that we are having some lessons on 1 Corinthians 13, about love. While 1 Corinthians 13 is not the only place God teaches us about love, it provides a very helpful, practical, and (perhaps) easily understood description of love.

In this lesson, we will learn about what love looks like lived out in our lives.

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4a. Being kind is the focus of this lesson. Ask the children if they can explain what it means to be kind to others. Have they been kind to someone? How were they kind? Has anyone shown kindness to them? How?

Tell them the story of David showing kindness to Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9:1-13. How did David show kindness to Mephibosheth? Has God helped us in some way? How has God been kind to us?

Ask the children if they can think of one way they could show kindness to someone else.

To close the lesson, pray with the children (perhaps that we could learn to serve one another through love) and have all the children read the Lord's prayer together.

Stories:

2 Samuel 9:1-13 [1] David said, “Is there yet any who is left of the house of Saul, that I may show him kindness for Jonathan’s sake?”

King David shows kindness to Mephibosheth, a son of Jonathan and grandson of King Saul.

More Stories and Examples:

Deuteronomy 22:1-4 [1] You shall not see your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely bring them again to your brother. [2] If your brother isn’t near to you, or if you don’t know him, then you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall be with you until your brother comes looking for it, and you shall restore it to him. [3] So you shall do with his donkey. So you shall do with his garment. So you shall do with every lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost, and you have found. You may not hide yourself. [4] You shall not see your brother’s donkey or his ox fallen down by the way, and hide yourself from them. You shall surely help him to lift them up again.

Joshua 2:1-21 [12] Now therefore, please swear to me by Yahweh, since I have dealt kindly with you, that you also will deal kindly with my father’s house, and give me a true token; [13] and that you will save alive my father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters, and all that they have, and will deliver our lives from death.” [14] The men said to her, “Our life for yours, if you don’t talk about this business of ours; and it shall be, when Yahweh gives us the land, that we will deal kindly and truly with you.”

Rahab hid the spies who came to Jericho when they were in danger and needed help. She showed kindness to them.

2 Samuel 2:5-6 [5] David sent messengers to the men of Jabesh Gilead, and said to them, “Blessed are you by Yahweh, that you have shown this kindness to your lord, even to Saul, and have buried him. [6] Now may Yahweh show loving kindness and truth to you. I also will reward you for this kindness, because you have done this thing.

2 Samuel 10:1-2 [1] After this, the king of the children of Ammon died, and Hanun his son reigned in his place. [2] David said, “I will show kindness to Hanun the son of Nahash, as his father showed kindness to me.” So David sent by his servants to comfort him concerning his father. David’s servants came into the land of the children of Ammon.

2 Chronicles 24:17-22 [17] Now after the death of Jehoiada came the princes of Judah, and made obeisance to the king. Then the king listened to them. [18] They abandoned the house of Yahweh, the God of their fathers, and served the Asherah poles and the idols; and wrath came on Judah and Jerusalem for this their guiltiness. [19] Yet he sent prophets to them, to bring them again to Yahweh; and they testified against them: but they would not give ear. [20] The Spirit of God came on Zechariah the son of Jehoiada the priest; and he stood above the people, and said to them, “Thus says God, ‘Why do you disobey the commandments of Yahweh, so that you can’t prosper? Because you have forsaken Yahweh, he has also forsaken you.’” [21] They conspired against him, and stoned him with stones at the commandment of the king in the court of Yahweh’s house. [22] Thus Joash the king didn’t remember the kindness which Jehoiada his father had done to him, but killed his son. When he died, he said, “May Yahweh look at it, and repay it.”

The priest Jehoiada showed kindness to Joash by protecting him as a child, by establishing him as king, and by guiding him in the right way. Joash did not show kindness to Zechariah, the son of Jehoiada.

Acts 28:1-2 [1] When we had escaped, then they learned that the island was called Malta. [2] The natives showed us uncommon kindness; for they kindled a fire, and received us all, because of the present rain, and because of the cold.

Other Verses:

Genesis 40:12-15 [12] Joseph said to him, “This is its interpretation: the three branches are three days. [13] Within three more days, Pharaoh will lift up your head, and restore you to your office. You will give Pharaoh’s cup into his hand, the way you did when you were his cup bearer. [14] But remember me when it will be well with you, and please show kindness to me, and make mention of me to Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house. [15] For indeed, I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews, and here also have I done nothing that they should put me into the dungeon.”

Job 24:21 He devours the barren who don’t bear. He shows no kindness to the widow.

Psalm 109:15-16 [15] Let them be before Yahweh continually, that he may cut off their memory from the earth; [16] because he didn’t remember to show kindness, but persecuted the poor and needy man, the broken in heart, to kill them.

Proverbs 3:3 Don’t let kindness and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.

Proverbs 14:31 He who oppresses the poor shows contempt for his Maker, but he who is kind to the needy honors him.

Proverbs 19:22 That which makes a man to be desired is his kindness. A poor man is better than a liar.

Proverbs 21:21 He who follows after righteousness and kindness finds life, righteousness, and honor.

Proverbs 31:26 [ASV] She openeth her mouth with wisdom; And the law [Or teaching] of kindness is on her tongue.

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap according to kindness. Break up your fallow ground; for it is time to seek Yahweh, until he comes and rains righteousness on you.

Hosea 12:6 Therefore turn to your God. Keep kindness and justice, and wait continually for your God.

Zechariah 7:8-10 [8] Yahweh’s word came to Zechariah, saying, [9] “Thus has Yahweh of Armies spoken, saying, ‘Execute true judgment, and show kindness and compassion every man to his brother. [10] Don’t oppress the widow, nor the fatherless, the foreigner, nor the poor; and let none of you devise evil against his brother in your heart.’

Matthew 5:43-45 [43] “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor, and hate your enemy.’ [44] But I tell you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who mistreat you and persecute you, [45] that you may be children of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the just and the unjust.

Acts 20:35 In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring you ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”

Romans 12:17-21 [17] Repay no one evil for evil. Respect what is honorable in the sight of all men. [18] If it is possible, as much as it is up to you, be at peace with all men. [19] Don’t seek revenge yourselves, beloved, but give place to God’s wrath. For it is written, “Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” [20] Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink; for in doing so, you will heap coals of fire on his head.” [21] Don’t be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

2 Corinthians 6:3-6 [3] We give no occasion of stumbling in anything, that our service may not be blamed, [4] but in everything commending ourselves, as servants of God, in great endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses, [5] in beatings, in imprisonments, in riots, in labors, in watchings, in fastings; [6] in pureness, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit, in sincere love,

Galatians 5:22-23 [22] But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faith, [23] gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

Galatians 6:7-10 [7] Don’t be deceived. God is not mocked, for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. [8] For he who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption. But he who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. [9] Let us not be weary in doing good, for we will reap in due season, if we don’t give up. [10] So then, as we have opportunity, let’s do what is good toward all men, and especially toward those who are of the household of the faith.

Ephesians 4:31-32 [31] Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. [32] And be kind to one another, tender hearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you.

Colossians 3:12-14 [12] Put on therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, a heart of compassion, kindness, lowliness, humility, and perseverance; [13] bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, if any man has a complaint against any; even as Christ forgave you, so you also do. [14] Above all these things, walk in love, which is the bond of perfection.

Titus 2:3-5 [3] and that older women likewise be reverent in behavior, not slanderers nor enslaved to much wine, teachers of that which is good; [4] that they may train the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, [5] to be sober minded, chaste, workers at home, kind, being in subjection to their own husbands, that God’s word may not be blasphemed.

1 John 3:16-18 [16] By this we know love, because he laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers. [17] But whoever has the world’s goods, and sees his brother in need, and closes his heart of compassion against him, how does the love of God remain in him? [18] My little children, let’s not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.