106 Sermon Illustrations on Kindness

But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. — Hebrews 13:16.

For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another. — 1 John 3:11.

Let the weakest, let the humblest remember, that in his daily course he can, if he will, shed around him almost a heaven. Kindly words, sympathizing attentions, watchfulness against wounding men’s sensitiveness, these cost very little, but they are priceless in their value. Are they not almost the staple of our daily happiness? From hour to hour, from moment to moment, we are supported, blest, by small kindnesses. — F. W. Robertson

Be useful where thou livest, that they may

Both want and wish thy pleasing presence still.

… Find out men’s wants and will,

And meet them there. All worldly joys grow less

To the one joy of doing kindnesses. — G. Herbert

If you look like your passport picture, you probably need the trip.

I was raised in the Brethren/Mennonite tradition. We placed an emphasis on helping folks who were less fortunate than we were. When a natural disaster like a flood struck, the Brethren and Mennonites were always there to help. Unfortunately, our fundamentalist brothers criticized us for preaching a social gospel. They emphasized “believe, believe,” but we knew that it was hard to preach that to someone who has an empty stomach and holes in their shoes.

We were simply trying to emulate the life of Christ as He constantly healed and comforted the needy. Social Gospel? The gospel of Christ is social! If all of our church attendance and Bible study doesn’t make us much more compassionate people, the benefits are introverted and selfish. One very important reason for being a Christian is to uplift and benefit the lives of others, thereby being Christ’s representatives in distributing the grace of God to those who need it. After all, it was Jesus who gave us the story of the good Samaritan. Luke 10:33, 34 records this account: “Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt deep pity. Kneeling beside him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with medicine and bandaged them” — that’s social!

We may be proud of the fact that we can quote the life history of every Old Testament saint and tell the chapter and verse where it is found, but if we don’t have a compassionate heart for those in need, we are like proud Pharisees instead of being Christ-like. When our feet hit the pavement this morning, we’ll soon know if our weekend worship was for show or for real. Let’s put feet on our faith and heart in our actions.

My husband, Hanoch, and I wrote a book, Acts of Kindness: How to Create a Kindness Revolution, which has generated much interest across America. This story was shared with us by an anonymous caller during a radio talk show in Chicago.

“Hi, Mommy, what are you doing?” asked Susie.

“I’m making a casserole for Mrs. Smith next door,” said her mother.

“Why?” asked Susie, who was only six years old.

“Because Mrs. Smith is very sad; she lost her daughter and she has a broken heart. We need to take care of her for a little while.”

“Why, Mommy?”

“You see, Susie, when someone is very, very sad, they have trouble doing the little things like making dinner or other chores. Because we’re part of a community and Mrs. Smith is our neighbor, we need to do some things to help her. Mrs. Smith won’t ever be able to talk with her daughter or hug her or do all those wonderful things that mommies and daughters do together. You are a very smart girl, Susie; maybe you’ll think of some way to help take care of Mrs. Smith.”

Susie thought seriously about this challenge and how she could do her part in caring for Mrs. Smith. A few minutes later, Susie knocked on her door. After a few moments Mrs. Smith answered the knock with a “Hi, Susie.”

Susie noticed that Mrs. Smith didn’t have that familiar musical quality about her voice when she greeted someone.

Mrs. Smith also looked as though she might have been crying because her eyes were watery and swollen.

“What can I do for you, Susie?” asked Mrs. Smith.

“My mommy says that you lost your daughter and you’re very, very sad with a broken heart.” Susie held her hand out shyly. In it was a Band-Aid. “This is for your broken heart.” Mrs. Smith gasped, choking back her tears. She knelt down and hugged Susie. Through her tears she said, “Thank you, darling girl, this will help a lot.”

Mrs. Smith accepted Susie’s act of kindness and took it one step further. She purchased a small key ring with a plexiglass picture frame – the ones designed to carry keys and proudly display a family portrait at the same time. Mrs. Smith placed Susie’s Band-Aid in the frame to remind herself to heal a little every time she sees it. She wisely knows that healing takes time and support. It has become her symbol for healing, while not forgetting the joy and love she experienced with her daughter.