SPEAKER: Adam Johnson (ANC)
Walking By the Spirit Series: Gentleness
• Gentleness is the Bible’s forgotten fruit just as pawpaw is the forgotten fruit in America
• Gentleness was and is central to the character of Christ
• In 1 Corinthians 4:21, Paul asks if the people would rather him come with a rod of discipline or gentleness
• Gentleness is not hard, loud, or harsh
• 1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
• Tones of anger or loudness will hardly ever advance the kingdom or the gospel
• To be gentle is to be respectful, it is to have a quiet answer for our adversaries, a loving response for our enemies
• It is so easy to substitute outer vigor for inner devotion
• Gentleness is soft
• Galatians 6:1 – Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness.
• Gentleness actively reaches out and touches a hurting and broken world
Areas we struggle in with gentleness
• For brothers, on the basketball court we become obscenely worldly, we need to be more gentle on the court
• For sisters, your beauty shouldn’t come from outward adornment; rather it should be that of your inner self. The unfading beauty of a gentle spirit should never be replaced.
APPLICATION
• How can we be more gentle people?
• Instead of always asking the Lord to help us be more faithful, passionate, we should remember to also ask for gentleness
• Let us not be hate-spewing preachers
• Who are the gentle people you know in your lives? What makes them so gentle? What is it about their behavior and demeanor that makes them so gentle?
• In what situations do we need to show more gentleness?
