John Lloyd - Gentleness: Responding God's Way

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Strengthen Your Core Series

Gentleness: Responding God’s Way

February 9, 2020

Pastor John Lloyd

 

Our physical bodies are made up of several core muscles.  If kept in shape through exercise, they will function properly.  God’s goal for followers is to make us more like Jesus.  This happens when we think like Jesus, CORE beliefs, act like Jesus, CORE practices, and be like Jesus, CORE virtues.   We need to exercise our CORE in order to glorify God.  The journey of becoming like Jesus begins by thinking like Jesus. When we start thinking like Jesus, we are well on our way to becoming like Jesus.  Today, we will consider the virtue of gentleness.  We pray for love, purity and self-control.  Let us also consider praying for the fruit of gentleness.  The apostle Paul told Timothy to pursue gentleness, I Timothy 6:11.  May God bring this virtue to fruition in every follower of Jesus.    

 

Virtues covered so far:  Love, joy, peace, self-control, hope, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and today gentleness.

 

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

Memory Verse: Philippians 4:5. Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. 

 

Key Question:  How do I demonstrate thoughtfulness and considerateness toward others? 

 

What is it about this particular virtue that gives us fits? As a society, and even in the church, why are we so uptight? Tense? Stressed out? Why is gentleness such a stranger to so many? A greater question to ask is this: If Christ is present in our lives, why aren’t Christians markedly gentler than those who do not follow the gentle Healer? As we open the Bible, we find insight into how we can become more like Jesus for the sake of those God has placed in our lives. Frazee, Randy. Think, Act, Be Like Jesus

 

Key Idea: I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in my dealings with others.  I am responsible for my response. 

 

I. Living on earth is rough; ___________________ is needed.

 

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (John 16:33)

 

I Timothy 6:11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.

Psalm 130:3 If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand?

 

Colossians 2:14 By canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. 15 He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.  Ephesians 2:16. Killing the hostility between us and God

 

I Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.

 

Matthew 11:28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Matthew 12:20, Acts 4:12

 

Jesus, our Messiah is gentle to all who come to Him.  We turn to Jesus and confess our absolute need for salvation from Him.

 

Nothing kills a family, a friendship, a neighborhood or even a church like pride, arrogance, anger, closed ears and raised voices. Since God is all about community, he calls his followers to be gentle. The New Testament word for “gentleness” comes from a medical word and is associated with a mild medication. Essentially, we might say a gentle person is someone who is easy on our stomachs. The person who lacks gentleness causes our stomach to double up in knots. God wants us to be healing agents in the lives of those around us. So how do we learn how to demonstrate thoughtfulness and consideration to others? Frazee, Randy.

 

I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in my dealings with others.

I am responsible for my response. 

 

II. Gentleness is a fruit of remaining ___________________ to Jesus.

 

Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 

 

John 15:5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.

 

Gentleness developers:  Prayer, Bible study, meditating and memorizing scripture, small group fellowship and accountability. 

 

Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. (See Ephesians  4:1-3 4:26, 27 and 29)

 

For the follower of Jesus: Jesus lives in you and He is gentle!

 

 

III.  Displaying gentleness will strengthen my ________________  in my relationships.

 

Matthew 11:30 “For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”

 

I Corinthians 4:21 What do you prefer? Shall I come to you with a rod of discipline, or shall I come in love and with a gentle spirit? 2 Cor. 10:1

 

Philippians 2:3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.  (Gentleness comes from valuing others better than ourselves by looking up not down)

 

James 3:17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

(Real wisdom is considerate of others.  It is gentle and sown in peace)

 

2 Timothy 2:24 And the Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, 25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth, 26 And they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. Galatians 6:1

(Correction done with gentleness is powerful medicine to those who err)

 

Proverbs 15:1 A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.  (I am responsible for my response)

 

Philippians 4:5. Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near. 

 

I 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,

 

I Thessalonians 2:7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

 

Gentleness is rooted in our belief in humanity. When we see people the way God sees them, we are compelled to treat them well. A gentle person, according to God’s vision, is thoughtful. They think before they talk or act. A gentle person is considerate. They consistently put themselves in other people’s shoes and act accordingly. A gentle person is calm. They are known for their even temper and positive energy. Jesus modeled this for us in so many of his relationships in the Scriptures, John 4 woman at the well, John 8, 9 blind man, 21 with Peter.  Frazee, Randy.

 

I am thoughtful, considerate and calm in my dealings with others. 



Spiritual Growth Questions for February 9, 2020

(take one question each day and grow deeper in Bible study)

 

Use a scale of 1-6 to rate how your life fully demonstrates the statements listed below: (1 = does not demonstrate at all, 6 = demonstrates fully)

 

___  I consider my own shortcomings when faced with the failures of others.

___  I am known as a person who is sensitive to the needs of others.

___  I am known for not raising my voice.

___  I allow people to make mistakes.

 

1.     Read Isaiah 40:9-15.  What stands out to you about the greatness of God?  What verses also speak on the gentleness of our Savior?  Why were these words a comfort to the people in Isaiah’s time? 

 

2.     Read Matthew 7:1-5, Romans 2:1-4.  How does judgment cloud our ability to be calm, considerate and thoughtful?   How can it be helpful to recognize our own shortcomings when dealing with the shortcomings of others?

 

3.     Read I Timothy 3:1-4, Psalm 18:35. Why do you think the Bible instructs authority figures to be gentle with those under their care? What was David referring to when he said, “God’s gentleness made him great?”

 

4.     Read Philippians 4:1-5.  What does Paul tell Euodia and Syntyche to do?  Meditate on our memory verse Philippians 4:5. Read it 3 times.

How could gentleness and reasonableness be known to everyone?  What type of witness could this be to those around us?

 

5.    Read James 3:13-18.   If judgment leads to anger and quarreling, what does gentleness produce?  What type of harvest could come to those who sow peace and gentleness in their relationships?

 

6.     Read Galatians 6:1, 2 Timothy 2:24-25. What takeaways can we learn about confronting others?  When, or when not, should we confront?  How should we confront? 

 

Personal reflection: Are there certain circumstances in your life that make gentle conduct nearly impossible?  How could your relationship with God empower you to alter your reaction to this situation?

 

In what ways can Jesus’ life be a guiding example of gentleness as we face difficulties of our own? 

 

Memory Verse:  Philippians 4:5. Let your gentleness be evident to all.  The Lord is near.