GOODNESS

1. WHAT MAKES GOD GOOD?
• His character, His attributes, His actions

Exodus 34:6-7 (NIV) 6And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, 7maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.”

• God is moral perfection. He is good because He is a perfect God.
• He is generous; He never gives to get. He gives because He is loving and good.

Without goodness and severity together,

we have “the Santa Claus theology.”1

• We cannot remove God’s justice from His goodness. He is both good and just.

2. GOD’S GOODNESS IS SACRIFICIAL AND GENEROUS.

John 3:16 (NIV) For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
• This is the ultimate in goodness. God sent His best at the greatest cost!

Romans 3:21-24 (NLT) 21But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. 23For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.

• When we place our faith in Jesus, we are declared innocent (justified) because He has freed us from the penalty of our sin. This is the goodness of God!

The Holy Spirit wants to cultivate this same goodness, generosity, and sacrificial giving in us to work through us.
• Our part is to do good, not for God’s love and approval, but because of His love and approval for us.
• We simply cannot justify ourselves by being good. We cannot make ourselves righteous.

Luke 10:25-37 — The Parable of the Good Samaritan

GOODNESS INVOLVES MERCY AND COMPASSION.
• Notice: the Samaritan took pity on him. Pity is to be moved by compassion. Compassion drives us to kindness and goodness.

Isaiah 30:18 (NIV) Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

GOODNESS INVOLVES GOING OVER AND ABOVE.
• The Samaritan bandaged his wounds, pouring oil and wine on them. He met him where he was and gave practical and needed help.
• He paid for his additional care. Being good to others costs us something.

Proverbs 3:27-28 (NASB) 27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it. 28Do not say to your neighbor, “Go, and come back, and tomorrow I will give it,” when you have it with you.

GOODNESS REQUIRES OUR TIME.
• The good Samaritan interrupted his journey and took care of the man at the inn overnight.

3. THE HOLY SPIRIT IS WORKING HIS GOODNESS IN AND THROUGH YOUR LIFE.

Philippians 2:13 (NIV) For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose.

• The Holy Spirit uses our life situations and opportunities to produce more of His character in us.

Psalm 119:68 (NIV) You are good, and what you do is good; teach me your decrees.

APPLICATION: GROWING IN GOODNESS

1. Remember you are saved by grace through faith, not by works!
2. Abide in Jesus—He embodies goodness.
3. Recognize the Holy Spirit wants to give you a kind and benevolent heart.
4. Pray for opportunities to meet others’ needs.
5. Act on opportunities to do good, especially when it makes you uncomfortable.
6. Practice goodness.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:
1. Do you avoid opportunities to do good because of fear of the unknown?
2. Who is God showing you right now who needs the mercy and compassion of God?
3. How will you allow God to use you as a good Samaritan?

LIFE GROUP QUESTIONS TO REFLECT AND DISCUSS:
Passages to consider: Romans 8:5-11;

Icebreaker: What makes a good burger or sandwich?
1. Share what was impactful to you from the sermon.
2. Read Psalm 23 and Exodus 33:18-19, 34:5-7. What do these passages tell us about God and goodness?
3. Who or what comes to mind when you think of goodness? How would you describe goodness?
4. When it comes to goodness, how do you relate to it? (Draw from things shared in the sermon.)
5. Read Luke 10:25-37. What stands out about the Samaritan? A) What did doing good cost him? B) What tensions or challenges may he have felt? D) When is easy to do good? Where is doing good challenging?
6. What conversations do you want to have with the Holy Spirit or others about this fruit in your life?

Try it!
1. Memorize Philippians 4:8.
2. Look for ways to extend goodness in your workplace, home, and community this week.

Passages to prepare for next week: Cultivate! Week 8, Faithfulness
This week, read Proverbs 3:3; Psalm 1:3; 3 John 1:3; and Matthew 23:23