## Cultivating gentleness / Cultivando mansedumbre Note: - Share about yourself and your involvement in the mexican church/ministries (3 minutes) - Intro sharing about today’s workshop (1 minute) ---  --- ## GUIDING PRAYER O God, who wonderfully created and yet more wonderfully restored, the dignity of human nature: Grant that I may share the divine life of him who humbled himself to share our humanity, your Son Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. *From the Book of Common Prayer, adapted by Phyllis Tickle, The Divine Hours, Doubleday - 2000* Note: 1 minute Guiding Prayer (speaker invites group to pray) Oh Dios, que maravillosamente creaste y aún más maravillosamente restauraste la dignidad de la naturaleza humana: Concede que compartamos la vida divina de quien se humilló para compartir nuestra humanidad, tu Hijo Jesucristo; que vive y reina contigo, en la unidad del Espíritu Santo, un solo Dios, por los siglos de los siglos. Amén. --- WHAT DOES GENTLENESS LOOK LIKE TO US? HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE THE WORD “GENTLE”? Note: 3 minutes - ¿Cómo luce la mansedumbre? - ¿Cómo defines la palabra manso? --- #### Gentleness is a trait we tend to assign to big things and big people. There are “gentle giants” we work with, shop with, and watch on TV. Maybe the appearance of a greater-than-average sized person simply not using their power for manipulation or violence evokes a sense of “gentleness.” Note: SCRIPT (Continue to next slide up and read script)(1 minute) ... Tal vez la apariencia de alguien más alto que una persona promedio que simplemente no usa su poder para manipular o ser violento evoca un sentido de “mansedumbre” ----  Note: Para el escultor, Víctor Hugo Yáñez, el motivo de que ‘Pepito el terrestre’ se muestre sentado, representa al gigante amable, que lo hace más atrayente con los niños. https://www.milenio.com/cultura/pepe-el-terrestre-el-gigante-de-tampico --- WHOM WOULD YOU DESCRIBE AS GENTLE? WHAT TRAITS MAKE THEM GENTLE? Note: ASK AUDIENCE TO CONSIDER AND ANSWER THE FOLLOWING IN LARGE GROUP SETTING (5 minute) : Take some time to reflect prayerfully on the following questions in your notebook or favorite note-taking application. - ¿A quién describirías como alguien manso? - ¿Qué rasgos lo hacen gentil? --- #### “As an ethical grace in the believer’s life, 'gentleness' may be described as a humble and pliable submission to God’s will which reflects itself in humility, patience, and forbearance towards others, regarding even insult and injury.” *(Fung, Ronald, NICNT The Epistle to the Galatians, p. 270)* Note: SCRIPT (Read following script and ask audience to read)(1 minute): "… a pesar del insulto y el daño." --- # ¿Mansos, pero no *mensos*? Note: ¿por qué es tan imposible ser manso? --- HOW IS THIS DEFINITION THE SAME OR DIFFERENT FROM YOUR UNDERSTANDING? Matthew 11:28-30 Note: Discuss (5 minutes): ¿Qué tan diferente o parecida es esta esta definición de la tuya? 1. How is this definition the same or different from your understanding? ---- #### “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” *Matthew 11:28-30* Note: Transition Slide (1 Minute): »Vengan a mí todos ustedes que están cansados y agobiados, y yo les daré descanso. Carguen con mi yugo y aprendan de mí, pues yo soy apacible y humilde de corazón, y encontrarán descanso para su alma. Porque mi yugo es suave y mi carga es liviana». Mateo 11:28-30 --- ISAIAH 42:1-8 1 Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations. 2 He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets. Note: INTRO (4 minutes): The group will read ISAIAH 42:1-8. Invite two audience members to read 1-4 and 5-8: ---- 3 A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice; 4 he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his teaching the islands will put their hope. ---- 5 This is what God the Lord says— the Creator of the heavens, who stretches them out, who spreads out the earth with all that springs from it, who gives breath to its people, and life to those who walk on it: 6 “I, the Lord, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles, ---- 7 to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness. 8 “I am the Lord; that is my name! I will not yield my glory to another or my praise to idols. --- 1:1 Break Out Reflection - Read the passage again, making a list of all that the servant accomplishes. - Who benefits from the servant’s work? - Identify all the words or phases that describe how the servant goes about his work. - What does it mean to be a “bruised reed” or “smoldering wick”? - What is significant about the fact that Jesus will not break or snuff them out? - How has God shown you gentleness in your life? Note: 1:1 Break Out Reflection (12 minutes) - Lee de nuevo el pasaje y haz una lista de los logros del siervo / Read the passage again, making a list of all that the servant accomplishes. - Quienes se benefician de lo que ha hecho el siervo? / Who benefits from the servant’s work? - Identifica todas las palabras/frases que describen como el siervo hace su obra / Identify all the words or phases that describe how the servant goes about his work. - Que significa ser una “caña quebrada” o una “mecha que apenas arde” / What does it mean to be a “bruised reed” or “smoldering wick”? - Cuál es el significado acerca del hecho de que Jesús no los rompera o apagará? / What is significant about the fact that Jesus will not break or snuff them out? - Cómo Dios ha mostrado su mansedumbre en tu vida? / How has God shown you gentleness in your life? --- Proverbs 15:1 A sensitive answer turns back wrath, but an offensive word stirs up anger. Proverbs 25:15 A commander can be persuaded with patience, and a tender tongue can break a bone. Note: Reflection on Gentleness (22 minutes) Move group from 1:1 break out groups to personal reflection. Before breaking out, have the group read the following texts from the Bible that reflect the fruit of the spirit, Gentleness: --- Isaiah 40:10-11 Here is the Lord God, coming with strength, with a triumphant arm, bringing his reward with him and his payment before him. Like a shepherd, God will tend the flock; he will gather lambs in his arms and lift them onto his lap. He will gently guide the nursing ewes. --- Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are struggling hard and carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest. Put on my yoke, and learn from me. I’m gentle and humble. And you will find rest for yourselves. My yoke is easy to bear, and my burden is light.” --- Philippians 4:4-5 Be glad in the Lord always! Again I say, be glad! Let your gentleness show in your treatment of all people. The Lord is near. James 3:13 Are any of you wise and understanding? Show that your actions are good with a humble lifestyle that comes from wisdom. --- James 1:19-21 Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry. This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness. Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very word that is able to save you. --- Personal Reflection 1 Where does gentleness come from? 2 What is the effect of gentleness? 3 In what ways do these verses describe the gentleness of God? Note: Personal Reflection (7 minutes): De donde viene la mansedumbre? / Where does gentleness come from? Cúal es el efecto de la mansedumbre? Qué produce? / What is the effect of gentleness? En que maneras estos versículos describen la mansedumbre de Dios? / In what ways do these verses describe the gentleness of God? --- - What questions about gentleness remain or have been raised for you from these passages? - What in these Scriptures encourages you? - How do these passages challenge or influence the way you live, think, or feel? Note: Move group from personal reflection to small group breakout for the following reflection (10 minutes): - Que preguntas acerca de la mansedumbre quedan o surgieron de estos pasajes? - A que te anima la escritura? - Cómo estos pasajes retan o influyen la manera en la vives, piensas o te sientes? --- #### Therefore, as a prisoner for the Lord, I encourage you to live as people worthy of the call you received from God. Conduct yourselves with all humility, gentleness, and patience. Accept each other with love, and make an effort to preserve the unity of the Spirit with the peace that ties you together. *(Ephesians 4:1-3)* Note: Reflection (5 Minutes) -Bring group back together to share interesting points found in their small group participation. -Share scripture memorization of the week: