Our flawed human nature, that’s basically selfish.

When we see someone overcome that nature, and do something selfless and gentle like this, it can bring tears to our eyes because it’s so rare and beautiful.

A call to gentleness was counter-cultural in Paul’s time and it still is today.

We think of gentle people as timid and weak and that’s not impressive to us. We like assertiveness and strength.

Paul is pointing to a road less traveled and we should listen because the road our world is on isn’t a good one.

Isaiah says God is like a shepherd who loves and cares for his flock with gentleness.

He doesn’t force his way into our lives and make us love and serve him.

Although He doesn’t spare us from the consequences of our sin, He doesn’t reject us, instead in gentleness, He continues to love us and call us to repent and do better.

What Jesus says here is the opposite of what we might think. We’d guess forceful, aggressive people would end up in charge.

Jesus calls us to a better way, to God’s way, not to force or aggression, not pride or arrogance. We’re not to use and abuse people; we’re to treat them with gentleness. And we need to be clear that gentleness is not weakness, it’s actually strength under control.

With v. 1 the question the disciples ask Jesus might seem innocent at first. But what they're really asking is, after God, which one of them will be the greatest.

Jesus understood what they were asking and in order to illustrate how far off they were, with v. 2, He called a child to come and stand among them.

Jesus was saying that putting yourself over others and feeding your ego wasn’t greatness in God’s eyes. Instead, the meekness and gentleness of a child, of those who were small and had low status, that’s the disposition that pleases God.

Jesus calls us to be ripe with gentleness not just for the sake of others, but also for ourselves because it’s a key ingredient in knowing Jesus!

Jesus is contrasting the arrogant and prideful with the gentle and meek once again using the image of children. And the truth is, arrogant and prideful people often do have a hard time seeing the truth of God.

Meekness, gentleness is the way of Jesus. Jesus calls us to be ripe with gentleness because He and His Father are!

Proverbs 15:1 points out that if we’re aggressive and abrasive with others, then that’s most likely what we’ll get in return.

Proverb 25:15 - There’s power in gentleness that we often miss. Gentile words have power, they can break through heard harts and break down walls between people.

It’s for this same, God almighty, came to us not in strength or with force, but in gentleness and meekness, and he laid down his life to prove his love and show His grace so that He might win our hearts.

Jesus was tender and gentle with children, as well as weak and fearful adults. In our deepest need, Jesus puts our minds at rest with His personal care and attention. And Jesus not only forgives our sins, but He also restores our lives and souls by stitching up our brokenness too.

The real challenge of gentleness is to practice it with those that we don’t love, that we don’t like, that we don’t agree with, those that we just don’t believe deserve it.

And it’s right there that I want us to remember something…everything single thing that God has ever done for you, or given to you- you did not deserve.

Today's Music
Orchard's Streaming and Song Select CCLI# 160190

Worship Options

We are excited to be able to worship under the Tent together. If you are not wanting to be under the Tent, feel free to sit in the front row of parking spots of the Orchard Parking Lot your car and tune your radio to 100.1 FM to listen to the service.

1. Masks must be worn while on the Orchard Campus (both inside and out)
2. Please maintain the Social Distance
3. Sunday Morning Children's program. Children are always welcome in the service and we do not mind the noises that come with children. Children are a healthy sign of a healthy congregation.

Orchard Kids Sunday School (For preschool through 5th grade)
We encourage families to bring your own blanket and beach chairs and distance on the lawn as much as you like. Children will worship with their families and be dismissed following the kids’ message, escorted by our Orchard Kids’ Leaders to our beautiful outdoor classroom space in the children’s play yard. We will have our Bible story, activities, crafts, and games in a specially designed format following current health and safety guidelines. Parents, please come to the children’s area immediately following the worship service and find all of your children in one place. Each family will receive a “My Church Bag” to be brought each week with basic supplies already included plus items from home: water bottle and mask for each child and a blanket for all siblings. Our team is so excited to see your family! See you Sunday!

Nursery care for children birth to 3 years old is available by RSVP only to Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.

Interested in being a Volunteer? Middle school through adult, please contact Melinda Hoyt at melinda@orchardventura.org.

While we understand that some may not feel comfortable coming back in person or having to wear masks while on the Orchard campus, we encourage you to stay home and join us online with our Live Stream.

Office Hours
Monday – Thursdays from 10 am to noon.
Masks and social distancing are required.
If you are unable to make it in during our office hours, please send an email to info@orchardventura.org and or leave a message at (805) 647-3757.