Talked about disunity; unforgiveness; anger (bitterness & resentment); favouritism.

Now Speech…How is your speech? mouth? talk? words? communication?

IMPORTANCE OF SPEECH

Gift of speech. Separates us from animals. Communication. Recurring theme in scripture; tongue, words; throat, mouth (wash with soap), foul mouthed, clean.

Do not let any unwholesome speech come out of your mouths. Think of communication…how important in relationships; wars; propaganda; interpretation.

Words are Creative

Ps 33:6-9…By the word of the LORD were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth…For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm. Word of faith went too far; “The secret” extreme…thoughts; words.

Either… Speak your way or Think your way into success. Whatever you want to be!!

By our words we are judged

Matt 12:36-37…But I tell you that men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."

They are an index of the heart

Yardstick of Spirituality. The Tongue is the shop window of the soul

Matt 15:16-19…"Don't you see that whatever enters the mouth goes into the stomach and then out of the body? But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.

Why is speech so important? Because it tells us whether we have been changed or not

What we are is expressed in what we say. Not outward religious observance; spiritual gifts; etc.

PATTERNS OF SPEECH

Gossip.

To spread rumours or tell people the personal details of others' lives, especially maliciously.

Gossip magazines; celebrity lives; What is the interest? To help them? Reading all the details of other peoples lives…why not pray for the person?

Prov. 26:20…Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

Prov 26:22…The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a

                       man's inmost parts.

 Prov 16:28...A perverse man stirs up dissension and a gossip separates close friends

Like a fire…James. A world of evil. One of the Devil’s greatest tools…the willing tongue of a gossip.

Innuendo.

Hint of something improper. People are saying…normally that person is saying and gathering others…no direct accusation…raise questions that cast suspicion...(Devil in the garden…did God say?)…I heard such and such…adult form of tattle tales.

Satan master at planting doubts and then skillfully fanning them into raging fires.

Drop an innuendo and watch it race around the church.

Corporate business world…conniving often through innuendo…drop a hint.

In actuality, innuendo is often just a sneaky, indirect (somewhat cowardly) way of attack and gossip. Under the guise of sharing a concern or seeking information.

Slander.

Often accomplished through whispering…I need to share this in confidence.

(get the impression they have shared this with others before)…Always check…are they sharing actual facts or speculation? Have they gone to the person involved?

Make a hurtful statement…Oh I was just kidding!!

DEVELOPING WHOLESOME SPEECH.

• Don’t listen to gossip  Don’t lend an ear. Listening makes us an accomplice. Don’t aid and abet gossip.

Prov. 11:13…A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret. Put the fire out, don’t fan it.

• Let your tongue be bridled. Through the power of the Spirit. Remember who you are. You have been changed. Allow the Lord to put the bit into your mouth. Don’t try to bridle your own tongue, you can’t do it…but He can.

• Speak the truth in love. Often love is covering the truth. Ask the question… Who am I serving in this? Does this build up or break down Eph 4:29.

Discussion Questions

• How prevalent is this problem in the church:-
1.  In general.
2. At EBC.

• Based on God’s Word, how serious is the sin of gossip and slander?

1Cor 5:17; 2Cor 12:20; Matt 15:16-19.

• What other steps can we take to avoid these patterns of speech? Matt 18:15ff.

• How can sharing a “prayer burden” become a subtle way of spreading gossip and rumours.

• Based on Eph 4:3, why is “guarding the bond of peace” the job of every church member? List some ways laymen and leaders can guard the bond of peace.