Be Gentle As Teachers, Preachers and the Lord’s Servants

Introduction

I. 	Parents, teachers, friends, preachers, elders and others spend much time helping to get two (or more) people back together after they have created problems with their communication.
A. 	Has this happened to any of you?
B. 	If you say it has not, either you are living in an environment totally unlike that which I have been exposed to, or you have closed your eyes to the conflicts around you.
C. 	To make this closer “home,” have you ever been at “odds” with someone else?
D. 	Have you known of divisions in local churches over differences that have not been solved among the saints?
II. 		Yesterday a preacher said to me that he had made more 	enemies than friends from his preaching.
A. 	He said he thought it was good if preachers could just make friends in their preaching, but that he had not been able to do that.
B. 	Janice and I talked about that after I told her what the preacher had said.
C. 	Do you suppose that the problem may have been with the way he preached, rather than what he said?
III. 		Several times in the scriptures we are shown that we should do 	what we do gently or with meekness.
IV. 	 In this lesson, we shall consider the way we ought to teach and 	preach and deal with others in gentleness.

Body
 
I. 	Preachers, teachers and elders must be gentle.
A. 	Paul set the example of being gentle.  
1. 	He had taught the Thessalonians gently. I Thess. 2:1-8     (I Cor. 14:20).
a. 	The Greek word used here in vs. 7 is nepios                       
      (nay'-pee-os), and carries the idea of “babe, child or  
      infant, little child” according to Strong and Thayer.
2. 	Paul indicated that he wanted to go to the Corinthians with gentleness rather than with a rod.  I Cor. 4:14-21;           II Cor. 10:1.
a. 	The word here is prautes (prah-oo'-tace); meaning 
      mildness, i.e. (by implication) humility: meekness; 
		 mildness of disposition, gentleness of spirit, meekness.
B. 	 Paul taught others to be gentle.
1. 	Timothy, as a young preacher, was instructed to be gentle.  II Tim. 2:22-26.
Be Gentle As Teachers, Preachers and the Lord’s Servants, page 2.

		      a.  Gentle in vs. 24 is from epios (ay'-pee-os); 			           properly, affable, i.e. mild or kind; affable, mild, 			 gentle.
		2.   Elders or bishops are to be gentle (ASV).  I Tim. 3:2-3.
3. 	The spiritual are to restore those who fall in a spirit of gentleness (meekness in KJV).  Gal. 6:1-5.
4. 	Gentleness (KJV), (meekness in ASV) is one of the fruits of the Spirit.  Gal. 5:22-23.
a. 	From chrestotes (khray-stot'-ace); usefulness, i.e.
moral excellence (in character or demeanor): KJV-- 	 gentleness, good (-ness), kindness; moral goodness,  	 integrity, benignity, kindness gentle (ASV).
5. 	Titus was to teach others to be gentle.  Tit. 3:1-2.
a. 	Gentle is from epieikes (ep-ee-i-kace'); appropriate,
	  i.e. (by implication) mild: KJV-- gentle, moderation,   	  patient; seemingly, suitable, equitable, fair, mild,  	  gentle.

II. 		Other scriptures also teach the importance of our being gentle.
A. 	James reveals that the wisdom of God is gentle.  Jas. 3:13-18.
		1.  In vs. 17, the word is the same as in Tit. 3:2.
B. 	“A gentle tongue is a tree of life…”  Prov. 15:4.
C. 	“If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for gentleness allayeth great offences.” Eccl. 10:4.
D. 	Jesus can be gentle to us.  Heb. 5:1-10; 2:14-18; 4:14-16.

Conclusion

I. 	All of us need to understand the need of being gentle as we deal with others.  
II. 	We cannot expect others to be moved to believe what we believe if we are harsh and unkind to them.
III. 	We must remember that even when others are unkind to us, “A soft answer turneth away wrath; But a grievous word stirreth up anger.  The tongue of the wise uttereth knowledge aright; But the mouth of fools poureth out folly.” Prov. 15:1-2.
IV. 	Make your decision to obey the Lord today as a believer in Christ, by repenting of your sins and  by being baptized into Christ.  Mark 16:16;  Acts 2:38.

(Note:  In all definitions of words, Strong’s is given first, followed
  by Thayer’s.)

Prepared by:  
   David Arnold
   January 5, 1997