Sermon and Announcements May 25

 

May 25, 2025

THE DAILY DOUBLE

GALATIANS 5:22

 

This morning's message title is about the fact we are going to look at 2 of the fruits of the spirit today. I believe these 2 have some similar applications in our lives. The 2 we are looking at are kindness and goodness. When I got thinking about these two, I was led to think of it this way. Kindness is something you do or show to others and goodness is, ideally, what naturally flows out of you.

 

As I was thinking what it means to be kind or to exhibit kindness, I think of how we help each other in times of need. James 1:27 says this “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after widows and orphans in their distress.” In this verse we can see both the fruit of kindness and the fruit of goodness in action. It is truly an act of kindness when we act when we see others in need. What most often motivates some one to show kindness however is a goodness that is flowing out of that person as well.

 

I am sure that everyone of you can think of times when you showed kindness to someone who was going through tough times or could use some sort of encouragement. Each time you have done that it shows that the Holy Spirit led you to meet a need because it was the right thing to do. I’m sure you weren’t looking for anything in return just the joy of knowing you could help. When the fruit of the spirit, kindness, is flowing through us we find the most satisfaction when we realize God has led us to meet a need for others.

 

As we continue to grow in the Lord we are led to the understanding of what God needs us to do and be. In Colossians 3:12 we read this “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” To look at what we are considering today we are reminded to clothe ourselves with kindness. When you clothe yourself, you cover for the most part your entire body. That’s how much kindness is to be part of who we are in Christ.

 

Now let’s look closer at goodness. To begin with I said kindness is what we do and goodness is what we are. When the fruit of the spirit, goodness, is flowing through us as God intends that will be true. When we think about what it means to be good or to exhibit goodness what exactly is that like? We often describe someone as being good at this or that but what does it mean to be good as implied in Galatians 5:22? What makes a good person a good person?

 

Each of us may describe what a good person is like a little differently but we probably all have the same overall thought of what that person is like when we get right down to it. Being good and exhibiting goodness isn’t something you have to think about it just naturally flows from a man or woman of God.

 

When we recognize God for who he is he has even made a promise to us about goodness. In the 23^rd Psalm we are reminded of what God will do for us. We all know how the 23^rd starts out “The Lord is my shepherd I shall not want.” If we fast forward to the 6^th and last verse we are promised this “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” If we begin each day acknowledging the fact the Lord is my shepherd we are saying to God, we Love you and trust you, in return God is saying to us goodness and mercy are yours to claim.

 

Why should goodness be a part of who we are? Because God has shown us goodness in ways we can’t even comprehend in return, he has given us the ability to have goodness flowing through us by the Holy Spirit. When we consider kindness and goodness, we know we are to be Gods witnesses to a world in need. Jesus Christ has given us everything we need to experience Gods kindness and goodness for ourselves. He has also given us the ability to have kindness and goodness flowing through us to others. As we continue to look at all of the fruits of the spirit we have been given, may we look at more and more ways to share these with not only our families and friends but also with a hurting world in need of kindness and goodness.

Pastor Larry

Announcements:

Sunday School 9:00

Tuesdays 9:30 Bible Study

 

May 31 9:30 Stem strawberries and then set up tables

June 1 Strawberry Festival 4:00 - 6:00

June 8 Heifer International special offering—to be matched by Witness Commission—more information next week.

 

Are you willing to be on a search committee for a pastor to succeed Larry? Please let Carol know if you feel called to be on this committee. It needs to get started soon.

 

First Sundays: Food Bank donations

Pastor Larry Traxler (217) 454-2362

 

 

Keep in Your Prayers

Vallen (Tracy’s granddaughter); Pat Creviston; Stacie Warren; Nancy Fansler; Ruth Siburt; Dorthea Wood; Mike and Kathy Gentry; Steve Needham; Larry Traxler; Nancy Gorrell; Nora Hanaver; Ron and Kathleen Petersen; Doug Larrick; Louis & Carol Sulwer; Shirley & Carroll Clarkson; David and Jan Bower; Debbie Garvey Leibrock; Adiline Young; Mayo and Darlene Hanaver; many unspoken requests; victims of shootings and of natural disasters; shut-ins; the Nigerian church; the Haitian church; the CoB in the Democratic Republic of Congo; those in the middle of war and violence; military and other services and their families; Brethren Volunteer Service workers; Disaster project workers; immigrants

District Prayer Calendar: Pray for all the historic cemeteries cared for by our churches, including the Coal Creek cemetery maintained by the Canton congregation.