Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Greeting & Welcome

We have been working through a series on the Fruit of the Spirit, which we find in Galatians 5...

So far we have studied love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness.

This morning we will look at gentleness, as we try to understand how to take on more of the character of Christ as we live our daily lives.

We have read previously from this sermon from 1 Peter, where the Apostle Peter addressed the slaves and stressed the importance of submission.

We return to this passage looking for some insight into the character of gentleness...

[pray]

We referred to this passage a few weeks ago when we talked about kindness and goodness.

It’s no great surprise that gentleness would be included alongside these other traits.

And as we reflect on the ministry of Jesus Christ, we can certainly find examples of these traits as he walked alongside his disciples and ministered to people in need.

Paul used the words meek and gentle to describe Christ’s character and applied the terms to himself, along with the word humble to describe the way that he interacted with the believers.

However, Paul also knew when to adopt a gentle character and when to be bold, as we can see in this warning in 2 Corinthians 10...

Paul uses the Greek word πραΰτης (prautēs), which we translate as “meekness” in English and ἐπιείκεια (epieikeia), which is translated as “gentleness.”

For “humble” he uses the Greek word ταπεινός (tapeinos.

All of these words are so closely related, that they almost seem to be interchangeable within scripture.

Before we dig into our text, let’s get a sense for what these words mean.

Meekness - πραΰτης (prautēs) - this word seems to be almost interchangeable with gentleness and humility.

It carries a sense of “acting in a manner that is gentle, mild, and even-tempered.”

There is also a sense here that the person who is meek is considerate of others.

Gentleness - ἐπιείκεια (epieikeia) - this word is closely connected with kindness and fairness.

It carries a sense of gentle clemency, that is to say, a leniency and compassion toward those who have given offense.

Humility - ταπεινός (tapeinos) - this word essentially means “lowly” though it is often extended to mean “lowly in spirit.”

This means that it applies to the way that one views self or interacts with others.

It carries a sense of meekness or modesty and lacks any appearance of arrogance or pride.

When we look at these traits in comparison with each other, we get a fuller sense of the character that we have within us because we have Christ.

However, we live in a world that does not promote these traits.

In our culture, we value the person who is bold in both character and speech.

We value the person who has a sense of self-pride.

Beyond teaching our small children to be gentle with others, there is very little character training that goes into humility.

This is precisely the character that we can see in Jesus.

We can look at Jesus’ encounter with the adulterous woman in John 8...

This incident is a perfect example the way that Jesus practiced these characteristics in him ministry.

Jesus was kind, gentle, humble, and compassionate with the adulterous woman.

While we have at times been trained in our culture to look at Jesus’ response to the Pharisees and cheer for him like we cheer for the lead character in a movie when they get a verbal win against their arch rival.

In fact Jesus’ response was gentle and humble, instructing them toward a gentle and humble response toward the woman’s sin.

We can also see these traits being taught by apostles.

Paul teaches the Colossian church to put on these characteristics like we would put on a jacket...

These traits are required in the elders and deacons as well as other leaders in the church...

And they are required of any who would seek to pastor within the church setting...

Principle: The church is no place for ego and arrogance or strife among the body.

With that being said, there are times in the church for boldness and times for gentleness.

We should always be gentle and mild with each other until there comes a time that we must be bold.

I often see in the church that there are times that the leadership must make a bold decision that sometimes ruffles feathers in the membership.

At times I have heard bold proclamations against the leadership for making this or that decision.

I have even seen people choose to leave the church over decisions that have been made.

This kind of behavior is not acting in the character of Christ but in a spirit of opposition.

I don’t want to belabor this point, but I will say that there are times that church leadership has to make unpopular decisions, but they are acting in the best interest of the larger body and attempting to do it in a way that should be clear and above reproach by the entire church.

If you are a member of FBC Pharr, you have the right to ask any questions of leadership and you have a voice in church business meetings (but you have to show up to have your voice heard).

While the leaders in the church are not always at liberty of discussing the fine details of certain situations, we can certainly answer questions and maintain accountability before the church membership for any decisions that are made.

Let’s return to our core text in 1 Peter...

I. Peter on Submission During Suffering

While Peter is addressing the believing slaves here, we can draw certain parallels in our daily lives.

While we may not be beaten by our supervisors at work, we are still in submission to them as they hold authority over us.

I have found that submission is core to this characteristic of gentleness.

While we may not have never been physically beaten by a supervisor at work, many of us can certainly recall having been mistreated at some point in the workplace.

I can recall several business upsets or workplace injustices or even church decisions that I felt were unfair at the time.

I can’t say that I always acted with humility and meekness in these cases.

In fact, there are a few instances that I sometimes wish I could have a do-over.

But I think that might be true of all of us if we really understand these principles and try to practice them in our lives.

So Peter is advising the slaves to endure any injustice so that God might be glorified through their longsuffering.

This takes patience and peace, as well as humility.

While gentleness requires great humility and vulnerability, it also requires great strength when one is purposefully choosing gentleness.

II.

Christ’s Own Gentleness Is Our Example

Paul points back to the gentleness of Christ, urging the believer to “follow in his steps"...

This should be our ambition as believers in Christ.

Rather than ambition toward success or power or getting our own way, we should desire to have this gentleness of Christ on display before the world.

In fact, gentleness might just be one of the most important characteristics that set us apart from the world.

It should be buried so deep within our character as to define us in the eyes of the world.

Look at Paul’s words in the letter that we call Ephesians...

He echoes a closely connected message in his letter to the Philippian church...

Jesus taught his disciples to be humble and gentle servant leaders.

As James and John grasped at power and authority for the right hand of Jesus Christ, the disciples grew jealous and began to quarrel...

Servant leaders require a sense of humility, compassion and gentleness.

It also requires a resolve that speaks to our strength of character.

III.

Christ’s Gentleness & Submission Led Him to the Cross

Jesus gentle and humble spirit was on display as he went to the cross to be slaughtered.

In fact, Jesus submitted himself unto his death on the cross...

Paul encourages us to be like sheep under the Great Shepherd, Jesus Christ.

There are paradoxes here that ripple throughout the Christian life:

We die to self so that we might be glorified in Christ.

We die to sin so that we might live in righteousness.

By Christ’s wounds, we find healing.

We lead in humility, so that we might find the power of Christ.

IV.

Another Example of Gentleness & Submission

I want to look briefly at the following section, one that is controversial, but full of meaning for us as we seek this humility.

Peter switches from speaking to the slaves to speaking to married couples.

There is advice here for wives and husbands.

Let me start with the wives, not because women deserve special instruction in this area, but because that is where Peter starts...

A. Wives Submit to Your Husbands

I want for you to think about these passages in the context of the household habits of Peter’s day and in the greater context of Peter’s discussion about power and authority.

I know some women who bristle against the advice in this passage and I know a few women who embrace it and live it out daily.

Our culture teaches women to be strong and independent and to strive for power and authority.

I’m certainly not against women.

After all, I’m married to one of the great ones.

And my wife is strong and empowered.

She runs a successful counseling practice and has been my strength and, at times, my shield.