A Good Offense and DefenseMatthew 11:28-30; Proverbs

25:28

“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:22-25

always keeping my commitments.Self-control

Gentleness: controlling your power

• Our culture is harsh and offensive.

• Exchanges power for love.

• Treats people as fragile.

Matthew 11:28-30

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

Hebrews 5:1-2

“Every high priest is selected from among men and is appointed to represent them in matters related to God, to offer gifts and sacrifices for sins. 2 He is able to deal gently with those who are ignorant and are going astray, since he himself is subject to weakness.”

Self-Control: Your wall against attack

“Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.”

Proverbs 25:28

• Is active defense against temptation.

• Guardrails to keep us from disaster.

“Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25

“So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Galatians 5:16 TNIV

“No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”

1 Corinthians 10:13

Low Hanging Fruit

“Let your gentleness be evident to all.” Philippians 4:5

• Use words with gentle love.

“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” Ephesians 4:29

1. Evaluate: We can assess and offer judgment.

2. Instruct: We can tell the person what she

should have done or could do. 3. Support: We can express affirmation and

care. 4. Probe: We can ask questions and draw

out other information or feelings. 5. Understand: We can repeat and

summarize things said, showing how we have caught what was said and encourage the person to share more.

Low Hanging Fruit

• Use words with gentle love.

• Pursue sexual purity.

“But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people.” Ephesians 5:3

Low Hanging Fruit

• Use words with gentle love.

• Pursue sexual purity.

• Practice a gentle faith.

1 Peter 3:15-16

“Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect, 16 keeping a clear conscience, so that those who speak maliciously against your good behavior in Christ may be ashamed of their slander.”

Galatians 6:1

“Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted.”

always keeping my commitments.Self-control

Challenge: Who are we imitating?