Proverbs 15:1 (Adrian Hodder)

·21 min·1 clip

Adrian Hodder asks how you'd react if someone knocked over your Lego tower or posted an unflattering photo of you online.

Adrian Hodder opens the sermon by engaging the congregation with hypothetical situations that provoke anger, such as a child's Lego tower being knocked over or someone cutting in line. He uses these to introduce Proverbs 15:1: 'A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.' Hodder explains that 'harsh' means causing pain, and even a single harsh word can escalate conflict, likening it to pouring water on an oil fire. He defines 'wrath' as a deep, seething anger, referencing the 'Anger' character from the film Inside Out to illustrate its buildup. The sermon then explores 'gentle answer' as soothing, like aftersun on sunburn, and contrasts it with passive-aggressiveness. Hodder cites the biblical story of Abigail from 1 Samuel 25, who used gentle words to calm King David's anger. He expands on speech wisdom with other scriptures, such as Proverbs on guarding the tongue and Ephesians 4:29 on building others up. A practical filter for speech is introduced: 'Is it kind? Is it helpful? Does it need to be said? Is it true?' Hodder acknowledges the difficulty of change and links it to human sinfulness, using an acronym for sin: 'Shove off, gods. I'm in charge.' He explains that Jesus, described as gentle and humble, bore the punishment for all harsh words on the cross, citing Isaiah 53 where Jesus remained silent during suffering. The resurrection and Jesus' ongoing intercession are highlighted as sources of help. The sermon concludes by encouraging reliance on the Holy Spirit to speak gently and build others up, praying for transformation in church, home, and work contexts.

As heard by us

A practical sermon on using genuine, gentle words to cool anger before conflict spreads.

Proverbs 15:1 anchors a practical look at what words can do as anger rises. A congregation exercise sets up the contrast between a harsh reply that deepens conflict and a gentle answer that turns wrath away.

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Why you'd press play

You'll reconsider your next angry reply through the vivid image of gentle words acting like after-sun.

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