Orchard Week Nine – Gentleness 10-29-23 – FESCH.TV

Orchard Week Nine – Gentleness 10-29-23 & FESCH.TV:

In the Orchard, Week 9: Gentleness – Dr. Allen Hilton, 10/29/23
1. Where have you experienced places/people that appear more abusive, violent, mean-spirited? Why do you think humanity has gotten more ‘mean’?
2. How do you view gentleness, meekness, and humility as a ‘way of being in the world’? Which of these words imply weakness most? Least?

πρᾳΰτης, τητος – prautés, praus = gentleness

Seeing the crowds, Jesus went up on the mountain, and when he sat down,
his disciples came to him.
And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying…
“Blessed are the meek (PRAUS), for they shall inherit the earth….
Matthew 5.1-5

“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle (PRAUS) and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.”
Matthew 11.28-30

“Say to the daughter of Zion,
‘Behold, your king is coming to you,
humble (PRAUS), and mounted on a donkey,
on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden.’”
Matthew 21.5

3. When have you criticized those that behave in a ‘gentle or meek‘ fashion?
• When have you experienced gentleness as a ‘blessed state’?
4. C.S. Lewis’ character Aslan (Narnia) is referred to as: “[H]e isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.” What does this look like to you?
• Have you wanted our faith, or God, to be more aggressive in terms of a gentle strength? How?

Diving deeper:
• Our Nation Needs Churches. “When neighborhoods are falling apart because of the kind of meanness we’re talking about, and our political polarization has us on the brink of a Second Civil War, churches can’t just choose up sides. We need to become factories that produce the gentleness and the fruit of the spirit.”

• Fruit Takes Work = practice! “We need churches that spend more time cultivating the fruit of the Spirit than training their people to be politically or theologically right.”

5. Dr. Allen Hilton (quotes above) believes there are ways for America to form moral communities who are gentle, kind, and good. How will you participate to help nurture and fulfill these?