In Pursuit...of Gentleness
In Pursuit • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsAs Christians we are to pursue gentleness. This does not mean absolute tolerance as the world demands, but it does mean that seek to submissive to Christ when confronting people with truth. This message explores Jesus' gentleness and helps us to see what we can do to pursue it.
Notes
Transcript
INTRO
INTRO
Gentleness vs. Tolerance
Definition of “mild-spirit”. Now brow beating, but gentle yet firm truth.
11 But as for you, O man of God, flee these things. Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.
53 They went each to his own house, 1 but Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2 Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him, and he sat down and taught them. 3 The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery, and placing her in the midst 4 they said to him, “Teacher, this woman has been caught in the act of adultery. 5 Now in the Law, Moses commanded us to stone such women. So what do you say?” 6 This they said to test him, that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7 And as they continued to ask him, he stood up and said to them, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.” 8 And once more he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9 But when they heard it, they went away one by one, beginning with the older ones, and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
1) BE FIRM IN THE TRUTH. (vs. 1-6)
1) BE FIRM IN THE TRUTH. (vs. 1-6)
Jesus is teaching, presenting truth.
The Pharisees are seeking to manipulate truth for their own purpose.
2) DON’T REACT THOUGHTLESSLY. (vs.7-8)
2) DON’T REACT THOUGHTLESSLY. (vs.7-8)
What Jesus wrote is not important and not for us to speculate. That Jesus was writing in the dirt is the lesson for us to convey.
He was disengaging from the Pharisees and interacting based on their terms, but on His own terms, which were grounded in truth and pure motive.
3) DO NOT TOLERATE SIN, YET SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE. (9-11)
3) DO NOT TOLERATE SIN, YET SPEAK THE TRUTH IN LOVE. (9-11)
Sin is sin, but we do not condemn people and declare them to be beyond redemption and forgiveness. They make that own choice themselves.
Our job as Christians who are pursuing gentleness means that we warn people of judgment and call them to life in Jesus.
Those who are drawn by the Spirit of God will also respond in gentle submission to God.
CLOSING
CLOSING
Godly Gentleness is a very much needed in the Church today.
Too many are being tolerant and accepting sin as just fine, while others are foaming at the mouth to brow beat the lost into submission to Christ.
What we need are people who will be firm in the truth while being compassionate in sharing God’s message of repentance.
Remember, as the world grows further from truth, they grow into being an angry mob. Don’t react…respond in gentleness.