Gentleness
In the flesh - life apart from and in rebellion to God - we become marked by harshness….The parent who responds not with loving discipline, but in anger and ungodly frustration with their child. The friend who doesn’t overlook or forgive the offensive but responds in malice seeking to “get even”. The spouse who doesn’t bear with the frustrating habits or tendencies of their husband or wife, but lashes out, critiques, or belittles. Those of us who justify a coarse word with excuses like “I was just speaking my mind” or “they needed the honest truth” - when in reality we were hoping to not correct but to harm.
And yet the answer in our flesh to a time of harshness is not Biblical gentleness but passivity. We step back, we don’t engage, we self protect and never speak up or say the right corrective thing.
But the call to Biblical gentleness is altogether different. The Biblical idea of gentleness is that of stewarded or tamed strength. It’s not giving up your strength or the over-assertion of that strength, it’s stewarding your strength for love.
Practice Guide
Below you will find a practical guide to help you cultivate the fruit of gentleness in your life as you seek to become like Jesus. This guide can be worked through as an individual, couple, family, or Community Group.
Sermons
Blog Posts
*Coming Soon*
