Welcome to “Hart to Heart,” a space where we connect, reflect, and grow together in our faith journey. As your pastor, I am honored to share insights, stories, and biblical teachings that resonate with our daily lives. This corner is dedicated to fostering a deeper understanding of God’s word and its application in our community.

In “Hart to Heart,” you’ll find weekly reflections on scripture, discussions on pressing spiritual matters, and personal anecdotes that highlight God’s work among us. It’s my prayer that these messages inspire and encourage you, providing guidance and comfort as we navigate life’s challenges together. Let’s embark on this journey of faith, hart to heart, strengthening our bond with each other and with our Lord.

You may click on each of the underlined scripture references, if you wish to view the verse.

Hart to Heart:

9/29/2025

The Fruit of the Spirit – Gentleness

Galatians 5:22-23

Psalm 19:14 Let this be a Guiding Principle.

The fruit of the spirit contains nine wonderful flavors.
“Gentleness.” May Pastor give two simple definitions.

First: Giving soft, sensitive answers to hurting people.

Jesus, publicans and sinners – Mathew 9:9-13
Jesus and Zacchaeus – Luke 19:5-10
Jesus and the Dying Thief – Luke 23:39-43
Jesus and the World – John 3:16-17
Jesus and the Woman At The Well – John 4:39-42
Jesus and the Guilty Woman – John 8:2-11

Historians tell us that gentleness was not considered an admirable trait in the Greek or Roman World.

Neither is gentleness admired today among criminals, thugs and street mobs.

“Gentleness” May Pastor give another definition?

Secondly: Giving honest, hard answers to stubborn people.

“Pastor I can’t believe you said that!”
Friend, I can’t believe I was brave enough to say that!

Psalm 19:14 Let’s be balanced by saying, Gentleness is Fruit of the Spirit for the one speaking, and for the believer that should be listening.

Do you know how to feed chickens?

“Here chick chick! Here chick chick!”

Now suppose a buzzard lands in the chicken yard. Is it any wonder the farmer begins throwing the corn at the buzzard? “Get out of here!”

Friend, The task of the pastor is to protect the chickens from the buzzards.

Sad to say, some see gentleness as softness that feeds the chickens, while the buzzards eat the chickens.

“Gentleness” – Should pastor protect the sheep, while confronting the Billy Goats?

Listen, Buzzards and Billy Goats do not want to be confronted, they want to be in control.

“Pastor, have you ever failed at being gentle?”
YES! Don’t expect me to lie and add another sin to my charge!
– Signed David Hart

Psalm 139:23-24 “Search me o God, and see if there be any wicked way within me”

Deacon Jim Tomblin laughed and said, “The lord wouldn’t have to look very far.”

“Pastor is there anything good in your life?”
YES! It is because of The Lord and the Fruit of the Spirit.

EX: Imagine going to your doctor with chest pains. The doctor wanting to be gentle says, “Oh, it’s just indigestion. Try Rolaids, Tums, or an antacid.”

No! Your doctor should give honest, hard answers.
“Sir you appear to be going into cardiac arrest.”

The spirit of Gentleness gives cold hard facts.

“Doctor, are you telling me I have a bad heart?”
“Yes Sir! That is your condition.”

Allowing A Pastor to speak like that angers stubborn people.
Jeremiah 17: 9

Why anger? Could it be they do not love God’s Word? Psalm 119:165

Chuck Swindoll calls this “Tough Love”.

Did Christ Jesus give honest, hard answers to stubborn people?

Question: How is this gentleness?
Gentleness is giving honest, hard answers to stubborn people. as well as giving soft, sensitive answers to hurting people. Gentleness can still be firm.

The church problems can be described as,

  • Folks don’t want to be confronted, they want to be in control.
  • There are no big problems in the church, just little people.

At the rodeo, consider the bull riding event.
The bull always wins, even if he doesn’t throw the rider.
Some folks are like that, “Bull headed.”

Cowboys at the ranch.
The wildest, bucking horse refuses to be ridden, crashing into the corral fence to throw the rider.
The spurs go deeper, the stubborn horse bucks higher, until the rider is thrown.
The cycle continues again and again until the wild horse is broken.
That stallion is now called gentle.
With additional work the trainer can put a child in the saddle, who tugs softly on the reins, turning the horse at will.

Psalm 51:17

Here’s some tough news and some good news.

If you are saved, here’s the tough news.

  • The Holy Spirit is going to sink his spurs into you until you are broken.
  • The Holy Spirit wants you to receive the Fruit of the Spirit – Gentleness.

Here’s the good news.

  • The very moment you were saved, the Fruit of the Spirit, all of it, was available to you.
  • Soft, sensitive answers to hurting people.
  • Honest, hard answers to stubborn people.

Romans 12:2 – Conformed to the world? No! Transformed Yes! By the renewing of your mind.

Important! None of us can produce the Fruit of the Spirit! Friend there are no fruit factories.
John 15:5-8 Abiding in Christ, we bear fruit, much fruit, more fruit.

Keep Biding in Christ Jesus
Pastor – David Hart

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