Kindness: Reaching Out to Others (Paperback)

Chapter One

Psalm 103

There are a lot of parallels between being children in a physical sense and being a child of God. One of the most blatant similarities is gratefulness-or the lack thereof. Children are often self-centered and at times are hardly aware of the kindness that is extended to them by their parents.

As God's children, our awareness and appreciation of his kindness should be as natural as breathing fresh air. Yet that is not always the case. We need eyes that see and hearts that believe that God's kindness extends to us. As you look closely at God's kindness in Psalm 103, ask him to open your eyes to all that is there.

Warming Up

1. What do you think it would be like never to have experienced God's kindness?

Digging In

2. Read Psalm 103. According to verses 2-5, what kind and loving things has God done for us?

3. In this first paragraph (vv. 2-5), how does God's loving-kindness meet our physical, emotional, and spiritual needs?

4. Which of the Lord's "benefits" have you experienced this week? Explain.

5. As you read the psalmist's description of God in verses 6-14, what kind of portrait emerges?

6. How are God's kindness and love demonstrated in his treatment of the oppressed (vv. 6-7)?

7. How is God's loving-kindness revealed in the way he treats those who sin (vv. 8-12)?

8. In what ways do you struggle with accepting God's forgiveness?

How can these verses help you to live in the freedom of his forgiveness?

9. How does God respond to our frailty and mortality (vv. 13-19)?

(Continues...)