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First message in the series "Sticks and Stones?"

This morning we start a new series on the words we use and the ways that we speak. All of us know that words are important, but we don’t always realize how powerful they are. The Bible tells us that words have the power of “life and death.” Do we really believe that?

Scriptures:

James 3:1-12 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Mark 10:24-27 The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! 25 It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” 26 The disciples were even more amazed, and said to each other, “Who then can be saved?” 27 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but not with God; all things are possible with God.”

Mark 10: 26-27 (the Message paraphrase) That set the disciples back on their heels. “Then who has any chance at all?” they asked. 27 Jesus was blunt: “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off by yourself. Every chance in the world if you let God do it.”

1 Peter 3:8-12 Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble. 9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing. 10 For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from deceitful speech. 11 He must turn from evil and do good; he must seek peace and pursue it. 12 For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”

Proverbs 6: 16-19 There are six things the LORD hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

Proverbs 18: 21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Digging Deeper

1. Jerry talked about the power of our words. Do you agree with Proverbs 18:21? That they contain "life and death?" What about "sticks and stones my break my bones, but words will never hurt me?" Has there ever been a time in your life when someone said something that hurt you deeply? Proverbs 12:18 compares words to a sword. In what ways do we (or those we know) use words like weapons? Like healing instruments of healing?

2. Read Matthew 12:33-37, also Matthew 23:25-28. Do you agree that the things we say reveal the condition of our heart? Why would that be true? Can you change your speech habits without changing your heart? How would we go about changing our heart? (Hint: Read Psalm 51:10; Ezekiel 36:25-27; 2 Corinthians 15:7). How hard is it do change the ways in which we speak? Can we control our speech? (see James 3:1-12)? What hope do we have? (Luke 1:37; Mark 10:26-27).

3. What can you do if you have wounded someone with your words? Can you take them back? Can you undo the hurt that your words may have caused? What CAN you do? (Hint: read Matthew 5:23-24; Luke 17:3-4; Colossians 3:13; Luke 19:8 – Zacchaeus made amends, how could we do so for the hurt caused by our words? Example: publicly apologize if the words were stated publicly; if we told a lie go back and tell the truth - can you think of others?)