Sermon Recap
The power of words is put on full display throughout God’s Word. In the creation story God spoke and life blossomed, Satan spoke and death occurred. However, God reclaims the power of the Word when John 1 tells us of the new Genesis. When the Word, Jesus, becomes flesh to bring life. This so clearly illustrates that words have the ability to give life or cause destruction.
In fact, Mother Teresa said “Words which do not give the light of Christ increase the darkness.” This quote serves as a powerful reminder that our words matter…a lot! The words we say, the words we hear, and even the words that we allow to live rent free and take root in our minds, they all matter. Jesus, Himself, said the way the world will know we belong to Him is by the way in which we love. Loving God and loving others as we have been called to also matters, because what fuels our words will determine not only what we speak but what we will listen to. As Christ followers, it is the agape love of God that should fuel our words. But living in a world inundated with words, a culture where everyone has an opinion and demands a voice, what we often see are words that flow out of our flesh rather than sourced by the Holy Spirit. When James, the brother of Jesus wrote his letter he called the tongue “a flame of fire.” He stated that if we could get our tongues under control everything else would fall into place. Therefore, as pursues of Jesus and followers of Jesus we must make a choice. What will fuel our words? What words do we choose to listen to? What words do we choose to repeat? And would our choices be the same if Jesus was sitting right next to us…because He is.
Key Scripture
Read through these passages together:
Discussion Questions
Discuss together, pushing yourself toward transparency. The more we are authentic and humble with one another, the more we can grow in Christ.
As we unpack the idea of developing a sacred rhythm of words why do you think it’s so important to have a correct understanding of God’s love
When you think of Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 13 how do you see the connection between love and our words?
How are the power of words on full display in the Genesis story and then again John 1?
When James says that our tongues are like a “flame of fire”, what do you think he means by that? How have you seen words bring life or destruction in your own experiences?
Talk about a time when someone’s words profoundly impacted you whether positively or negatively. Do those words still reside in your mind? Do they align with God’s truth?
Talk about a time when your words profoundly impacted someone else, whether positively or negatively. Did those words honor God well? Did they display the light of Christ? Did they align with God’s truth?
Is there a manner in your speech that you know is not life giving or God honoring?
How can you better control your tongue or even the words you surround yourself with?
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Our prayer is that your love would be the motivation for all that we do and say. Would your Holy Spirit source the words that flow from our mouths so that they may be life giving. Father, would you convict us when we speak in any way that is not pleasing to you or does not honor you well.
Life Application
At the end of each day this week take inventory of your words. Did they give the light of Christ? If yes, how? What words did you choose? Did they increase the darkness? If yes, how? What words did you choose and what was your motivation behind them?
Take time to confess any words spoken that did not give the light of Christ. Ask the Holy Spirit to guide your words and to control your tongue.
Don’t Forget!
Double Tithe Sunday, December 10th. For our Costa Rica Partners. Click to Give Online
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