“Kindness & Boundaries"
Limits
It is a “Kind” thing to set “Proper Boundaries”
Q: Why, when you tried to be kind, did someone think of you as “Unkind”?
A: When someone thought that you went too far, or not far enough.
Satan disagreed with God’s Boundaries.
If you eat you will not die.
Crossing over that line will not hurt you.
Biblical Boundaries are GOOD.
Too Strict ………………….. Too Lenient
It was you who set the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter.
Psalm 74:17
Remember this when you do not understand
why God has set certain boundaries.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; His understanding has no limit.
–Psalm 147:5
“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
–Psalm 90:12
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
-Proverbs 4:23
Who/What I Am
Verses
Who/What I Am Not
Jesus was NOT just a miracle worker.
Jesus was NOT a political pawn.
Jesus WAS the Son of God, Messiah
You are “Not a nobody”!
“I’m a nobody, trying to tell everybody
about somebody who can save anybody.”
-Adrian Rogers
That’s what God calls a special person.
Set Christian Boundaries
Boundaries will let others know
Who you are and who you are not.
What You're For
Verses
What You're Against
Jesus was FOR:
1.People/Life/Building up
“I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”
-John 10:10
Jesus was FOR:
2. Showing Love to people
[Unconditional Love]
“As I have loved you, so you must love one another.”
-John 13:34
HOW we love our neighbor is defined in terms of BOUNDARIES
“You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
–Romans 13:9
Jesus was FOR:
3. Being Peaceful
“Prince of Peace”
-Isaiah 9:6
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”
-Romans 12:18
Jesus was FOR:
4. Truth
“I am the way, the truth and the life…”
-John 14:6
“Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.”
-1 Corinthians 13:6
“Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”
-Ephesians 4:15
Boundaries with Sin
“Do not love the world or anything in the world… For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”
-1 John 2:15-16
Additionally, Jesus had clear boundaries within his relationships. He did not entrust himself to unbelievers, though he loved them and came to save them (John 2:23-25). Amongst his disciples, he seemed to even have sublevels of boundaries, meaning he kept most of the disciples in one relational area, but he allowed Peter, James, and John into a different area of his life.
Jesus even seemed to take it a step further and had boundaries around each individual relationship, for when Peter wanted to know intimate knowledge about John, Jesus reinforced his boundaries and told Peter, in essence, that he was crossing a line he was not to cross:
When Peter saw him, he asked, “Lord, what about him [John]?” Jesus answered, “If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me.” (John 21:21-22)
In other words, Jesus was reminding Peter to focus on himself and leave John’s and Jesus’ relationship to John and Jesus. Peter was crossing a relational boundary and Jesus helped him return his focus to where it belonged – following Jesus in his own life.
Often times we will need to reinforce boundaries for people like Jesus did here to help others respect our lives and relationships.
(James 4:4, 2 Corinthians 6:14-18, Matthew 17:1)
Jesus had clear boundaries within his relationships.
“…while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name. 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people.” -John 2:23,24
Jesus was FOR:
5. Helping People
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
-Mark 10:45
Jesus was FOR:
6. Forgiveness
“Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us.
-Luke 11:4
Q: What unhealthy Boundaries have been placed upon you?
[By you or by others]
Q: What healthy Boundaries do you need to set?
[On yourself or on others]
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.”
-Proverbs 4:23
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