Scriptures that shaped this sermon: John 20:19-23; Ephesians 2:14-18; Genesis 2:7; Romans 6:23; John 15:13

1. Jesus Brings Humility To Chaos (vs. 1-7)

2. Jesus Brings Hope To Chaos (vs. 8-11)

Jesus is approached by a wealthy man who refers to him as a good man and asks a question about eternal life. Instead of talking about eternal life, Jesus challenges the man to consider what it means to be good. Jesus reminds him that no one is good but God. We tend to think of goodness as established by being better than others, or at least most of them. Goodness is God-like-ness. The good shepherd in John 10 lays his life down for the sheep. The fruit of the Spirit which is goodness is grown in the garden of need. We tend to experience need or want or lack as a wilderness. Often we use our money to stave off the difficult experience of need. However, God grows goodness in the garden of need. The coronavirus offers us a unique opportunity to grow in goodness as we tell God about our need and see him meet us at our point of need with his goodness.

Kindness seems to be a human trait that can be found in everyone, everywhere. However, the supernatural characteristic of kindness is very different from the kindness that the world most often presents. Biblical kindness is generous, self-effacing mercy. Unfortunately, there is a counterfeit – mixed-motived nicety. While we think they are the same, they are very different. Jesus illustrates the world’s version of kindness. He then describes the true characteristic of kindness. Kindness grows in the garden of our guilt. When we recognize that our guilt is a call to turn to Jesus to repent and receive his forgiveness, God takes the wilderness of debilitating guilt and transforms it into a garden where he cultivates the fruit of his Spirit which is kindness.

Following Jesus requires:

1. A willingness of Engagement