What the Bible says about Gentleness

"Let your gentleness be evident to all" (Phil 4:5, NIV). "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone" (Phil 4:5, ESV). "Let your gentle spirit be known to all men" (Phil 4:5, NASB). "Let your graciousness be known to everyone" (Phil 4:5, HCSB). "Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do" (Phil 4:5, NLT).

Theme: Gentle does not mean weak. It takes real inner strength for one to be gentle toward others. A weak person will not have the inner strength to be gentle, for true gentleness requires power and strength that is under control.

(This is the tentative theme and outline for my sermon on 7/20/2014: G is for Gentleness.)

I. What the Bible says about Gentleness

• Church leaders should be gentle: "...not addicted to wine, not a bully but gentle, not quarrelsome…" (1 Tim 3:3, HCSB).
• Christians should be gentle: "They must not slander anyone and must avoid quarreling. Instead, they should be gentle and show true humility to everyone" (Tit 3:2, NLT). "Always be humble and gentle. …making allowance for each other's faults (Eph 4:2). "…you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (Col 3:12).

Gentleness

Philippians 4:5: "Let your gentleness be evident to all" (Phil 4:5, NIV). "Let your reasonableness be known to everyone" (Phil 4:5, ESV). "Let your gentle spirit be known to all men" (Phil 4:5, NASB). "Let your graciousness be known to everyone" (Phil 4:5, HCSB). "Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do" (Phil 4:5, NLT).

Are Christians gentle? Gentleness, humility, meekness, mildness, kindness, consideration are attributes of Christ and the attributes that are attractive to all people. Yet when we think of Christians these attributes may not stand out prominently as being descriptive of some of us. Might we not sometimes think of Christians as being rude, judgmental, critical, sanctimonious, condescending, arrogant, ungracious, etc.? It is evident that gentleness is not common in the world, and sometimes does not even seem common in the church either.