Dr. Jim Tillotson addresses students at the end of the school year, acknowledging the many church problems he has encountered in his travels and emphasizing the importance of not becoming arrogant after graduation. He focuses on the destructive nature of bitterness and the biblical alternative of kindness, tenderheartedness, and forgiveness.
Scripture Text
Ephesians 4:31-32
Main Points or Ideas
- Put Off Bitterness - Bitterness is harbored hurt that becomes a smoldering resentment and brooding, grudge-filled attitude. The Bible commands us to put away all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking with all malice.
- Put On Kindness - Kindness involves thinking of others before ourselves and doing something for someone when we won't get anything back, as demonstrated by students' care for the Stearns family during Robin's illness.
- Put On Tenderheartedness - Being moved with compassion rather than just having sympathy, which always moves us to action to help those who are hurting.
- Put On Forgiveness - Forgiving others as God in Christ has forgiven us, making a choice to remember it no more and not judging motives but only responses.
Conclusion
Students must choose to live by verse 32 rather than defaulting to verse 31, as this will help them have great marriages, great church experiences, and great lives by avoiding the destructive power of bitterness.
