A Gentle Touch
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Never go to a gun fight with a skateboard.
Kyle Rittenhouse is the 17 yo who is accused of homicide on Kenosha.
He ended up killing Anthony Huber, who was chasing him down .
Huber was videoed earlier taunting Rittenhouse and others saying: “Go ahead and shoot me.”
This attitude ended up getting him killed.
Xians are called to be different: Filled with Gentleness
NT - Gentleness (6); Meekness (4) - Humility
Christians are called to put on this quality
12 Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience,
It is a quality of our Master whom we follow:
1 I, Paul, myself entreat you, by the meekness and gentleness of Christ—I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!—
Gentleness only takes root when we are oriented correctly
Humility
Toward’s God
Pharoah did not humble himself
3 So Moses and Aaron went in to Pharaoh and said to him, “Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, ‘How long will you refuse to humble yourself before me? Let my people go, that they may serve me.
James concerning living a life like the world verses living a life unto God:
5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”? 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Toward’s fellow man
5 “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
Jesus practices both of the these:
Humility
7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Jesus humbled himself before the Father - to the death
Jesus humbles himself before others - to the death: Garden, Pilot, crucifixion
Gentleness only takes root when we are oriented correctly, humble before God and before our fellow man.
Gentleness only takes root when we are gospel centered
The gospel is the good news that Jesus has died for us and our sin, giving us eternal life in his work: death, burial and resurrection
6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— 7 not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.
10 For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ.
11 For I would have you know, brothers, that the gospel that was preached by me is not man’s gospel.
A part of this right orientation
understanding what God has done for us - reconciliation
so that we may turn to him as our refuge
our source of salvation - justified by faith
The gospel is something we believe and is essential to the Christian life
10 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, “Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them.” 11 Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for “The righteous shall live by faith.” 12 But the law is not of faith, rather “The one who does them shall live by them.” 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”— 14 so that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promised Spirit through faith.
Once we believe and understand the gospel and its centrality to the Christian life then we act in response to it
We then treat our fellow man out of this understanding
When we interact with the gospel we realize that without Jesus and God’s work of salvation that we would be no different than the rest of the world
Humility and the gospel are essential to Gentleness
The gospel is the only balm for the wounds of our nation that we see and are experiencing right now.
RC church in New York:
The pledge asks whether Catholics “support justice, equity, and compassion,” and affirm that “white privilege and the culture of white supremacy must be dismantled wherever it is present.” It also asks whether Catholics commit “to help transform our church culture to one that is actively engaged in seeking racial justice and equity for everyone,” and affirm “the inherent worth and dignity of every person.”
This has no place in the liturgy of the church. No, what is essential to the church is the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If the gospel is embraced then there is no need for us to express that these things are wrong.
Gentleness only takes root in the heart of a Christian when they embrace the gospel and apply it to their actions.
Application
Application
We should daily experience the Gentleness of God the Father in our life
in all provisions - invited daily to work in his Covenant Redemptive work in the world
in salvation in us
We should daily experience the Gentleness of God the Father in the life of others
With our fellow Christians
21 What do you wish? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love in a spirit of gentleness?
1 Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted.
2 with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love,
With the world
25 correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may perhaps grant them repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth,
15 but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect,
What would the world be like if out of our experience of God’s gentleness we then turned and showed this to others in our life.
Sanctuary
A place where criminals used to be able to seek refuge
Teacher in college who placed his hand on the shoulder of a student and simply let him know he cared.
Student approached the teacher a few days later. He had planned on committing suicide that very day. The teachers hand of gentleness was simple. It was without words. It was a gesture of the gospel that said someone cares. It saved a life.
Gentleness is a quality that we are given to share the love of God with ourself and the world.
Rest in his Gentleness. And then share that gentleness with those around you. Let’s see God heal our nation with a gentle hand and the love of Jesus Christ.