Sermon Notes 5/19/2024

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Street Smarts
Pastor Terry Lewis
The Power of the Tongue

Selected Proverbs

“Wisdom calls aloud in the street. She raises her voice in the public square. At the head of the noisy street, she cries out. In the gateway of the city, she makes her speech.” Proverbs 1:20-21

“Life and Death are in the power of the tongue.” Proverbs 18:21

Ways our words can be used for life

1. Life-giving words of

• Prov. 12:25 “Worry weighs a person down, an encouraging word cheers a person up.”
• Prov. 15:4 “Gentle words are a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.”
• Prov 16:24 “Kind words are like honey; sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.”

2. Life-giving words of

• Prov. 10:31 “The tongue of the godly person gives wise advice.”
• Prov. 15:7 “The tongue of the wise spreads knowledge.”
• Prov. 16:25 “There is a way that seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death.”

3. Life-giving words share with others

• Prov 10:21 “The tongue of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of knowledge.”
• Prov. 11:30 “The fruit of the righteous is a tree of life and the one who is wise saves lives.”

Ways our words can be used for death

• Prov. 10:19 “Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.”
• Prov. 17:28 “Even fools are thought wise when they keep silent; with their mouths shut, they seem intelligent.”
• James 1:26 “If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.”
• James 3:5-10 “A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.” People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises God, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!”

4 ways to help tame the tongue

1. Realize how you are and how God is.

• Prov. 30:1 “The skeptic says, “There is no God! I can do anything I want! I see no evidence of a holy God. The believer replies, “Every promise of God proves true; he protects everyone who runs to him for help.”
• Philippians 4:13 ‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’

2. Speak life giving words to

• Prov. 3:12 “The Lord reproves those whom he loves, as a parent corrects the child they delight in.”
• Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord rejoices over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”
• I am one in whom Christ dwells and delights. I live in the unshakeable kingdom of God. The kingdom is not in trouble, and neither am I. – James Bryan Smith

3. Chose to never speak negative words in .

• Prov 17:9 “Whoever covers an offense seeks love. But he who repeats a matter separates close friends.”
• Matt 18:15 “If your brother or sister sins against you, go and tell them their fault, between you and them alone.”

4. Look for something to in every person

• Prov 16:21 “The wise of heart is called discerning and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.”