1. FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:22, 23

2. 22. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law..

3. Love Joy Peace Longsuffering Gentleness Goodness Faith Meekness Temperance

4. Gentleness defined Usefulness, excellence Goodness, kindness Gracious, kind History of this word Useful, effective Precious stones Ethical - compassion

5.  Brutal  Harsh  Hurtful  Rude

6. Descriptions of Gentleness Benignity = genial and kindly, favorable, not harmful Affability = good natured and sociable

7. Descriptions of Gentleness Kindness – in 2 Cor.6:6  Mildness of temper  Not ill-tempered ~ sour  Politeness Sweetness of temper

8. Various Translations Gentleness – KJV Kindness – NKJV, ASV, ESV Kind Acts - BBE

9. Thoughts about Kindness Sweetness of disposition 1 Cor. 13:4 Love is kind  Courtesy - sympathy Similar to meekness

10. Thoughts about Kindness Desire to help others Kindness of God – Tit.3:4 We also should be kind Col. 3:12 Eph. 4:31-32

11. 32. And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you. Eph. 4:32

12. 20. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

13. Gentleness in Speech “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Pro. 31:26 Beauty, favor, merciful Pity – loving-kindness

14. Gentleness in Speech Open mouth with wisdom No improper talk Discreetly Law of Kindness Not provoking Friendly

15. Gentleness in Speech Tongue is very small Can cause big damage Control with gentleness

16. Gentleness in Speech Words of kindness are not optional Kindness is not weakness Kindness begets kindness

17. Gentleness in Speech Kindness of speech would heal or avoid church problems It would eliminate gossip

18. Lovingkindness Ps. 17:7 Ps. 107:43 “Revive me according to Your lovingkindness, So that I may keep the testimony of Your mouth.” Ps. 119:88

19. Power of Kindness Philadelphia Gave His Room John Jacob Astor Manager Waldorf-Astoria

23. “This Christian kindness is a lovely thing, and its loveliness comes from the fact that Christian kindness means treating others in the way in which God has treated us.” (Barclay)

24. FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT Galatians 5:22, 23

25. Sermon by Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ 515 Gibbs Road Evans, Ga. 30809 706-855-1249evanscoc@bellsouth.netwww.evansgachurchofchrist.org Sunday Evening June 21, 2009