Question 1

In what ways is God gentle?

Accepted Answer

1 Kings 19:12And after the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire there was the sound of a gentle whisper.Although God has the power of the universe at his fingertips, he often speaks most eloquently in whispers.Psalm 18:35You have given me your shield of victory. Your right hand supports me; your help has made me great.Psalm 103:13-14The Lord is like a father to his children, tender and compassionate to those who fear him. For he knows how weak we are; he remembers we are only dust.Isaiah 42:3He will not crush the weakest reed or put out a flickering candle. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.God is loving and he treats us gently because he knows that is what will draw us to him.

Question 2

In what ways did Jesus demonstrate gentleness?

Accepted Answer

Isaiah 40:11He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.Matthew 9:36When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them because they were confused and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.Matthew 11:28-30Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”Mark 6:34Jesus saw the huge crowd as he stepped from the boat, and he had compassion on them because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.We can see the heart of Jesus best through the images he gave us through his ministry, like that of a shepherd (who holds us like little lambs), his compassion for crowds of hurting people, his lifting heavy burdens, and his representing sinful people before Almighty God. These are the marks of gentleness.

Question 3

What does gentleness accomplish? Won’t everyone walk all over me if I am gentle?

Accepted Answer

Genesis 33:3-4, 10Then Jacob went on ahead. As he approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept. . . . But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!A friendly smile given in a tense moment can be a gentle reminder to others of our love and support.Colossians 3:12-13Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.Gentleness is often connected to other spiritual qualities like mercy, kindness, humility, patience, and forgiveness, all of which demonstrate a desire to be like Jesus.Philippians 4:5Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do..1 Peter 3:4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.A gentle and quiet spirit has lasting beauty, which never grows old.James 3:17The wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.Gentleness goes hand-in-hand with wisdom. Through gentleness, we can be loving, humble, and thoughtful in our actions.Galatians 6:1Dear brothers and sisters, if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path.When we need to confront someone about his or her sin, a gentle approach is usually most effective. A gentle response shows we care about the person; a harsh response implies we care only about their behavior.2 Timothy 2:24-25A servant of the Lord must not quarrel but must be kind to everyone, be able to teach, and be patient with difficult people. Gently instruct those who oppose the truth. Perhaps God will change those people’s hearts, and they will learn the truth.When teaching God’s Word, gentleness and patience are most effective in getting across the message, especially when dealing with difficult people.Proverbs 15:1, 4A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. . . . Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.A gentle response to an angry person usually defuses an argument.Colossians 3:12-13Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.Gentleness opens the door to forgiveness.Galatians 5:22-23The Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!1 Timothy 6:11You, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness.1 Peter 3:4You should clothe yourselves instead with the beauty that comes from within, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is so precious to God.Gentleness does not make us doormats, letting others walk all over us. God is the perfect example of gentleness; yet he is also a mighty warrior, able to defeat the powers of hell. In God’s eyes, gentle people are the most powerful and influential in the world because they make an impact without a corresponding conflict or war. Gentleness may be the most powerful weapon in our arsenal. We accomplish more by gentleness than by coercion.1 Peter 3:15-16Instead, you must worship Christ as Lord of your life. And if someone asks about your Christian hope, always be ready to explain it. But do this in a gentle and respectful way.Gentleness is especially important when we are witnessing or defending the faith. While being confident and informed in what we believe is valuable, winning arguments is not our goal. Our ultimate goal is to bring people to Christ. If we revert to harshness and ridicule for the sake of winning an argument, we are in danger of losing what really matters: our listeners’ hearts.