Pastor Gary Moritz
pastor@cityunited.church
INTRODUCTION
There are some big mouths in our culture today! The words we speak every day shape our life and our culture. Unmasking the nature of our words directly affects our quality of living − positively or negatively. Each of us must decide whether the words we speak will lead to life, success, and positive relationships or death, destruction, and painful memories. It is up to us and our big mouths!
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” —Proverbs 18:21
“My Big Mouth” will teach us how to choose our words wisely to create the life we want through unmasking the power of our words. During these collections of talks, we will learn how the words we speak transform the life we live.
Resource Page for “My Big Mouth” Series.
The topics for this collection of talks are as follows:
Your Words Shape Your Identity
May 17 My Big Mouth - Kick Off Sunday
May 24 Your Words Shape Your Identity
May 31 The Truth Behind Cussing
June 7 Self-Talk that Honors God
June 14 The Deadly Speech in Anger and Conflict
June 21 Speaking with the Right Attitude
June 28 Speaking Lasting Words
Text: James 3:1-12 (CSB, New Testament)
TODAY’S TAKEAWAY:
Your words shape your identity.
MY BIG MOUTH WEEK #2:
Your Words Shape Your Identity
THE POWER OF WORDS
A careless word may kindle strife.
A cruel word may wreck a life,
A bitter word may hate instill;
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way;
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress;
A loving word may heal and bless.
Author Unknown
I. OUR WORDS PRODUCE
(vs 1-12)
A. Our tongues
“The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.” —Proverbs 10:21
“Listen closely, pay attention to the words of the wise, and apply your mind to my knowledge. 18For it is pleasing if you keep them within you and if they are constantly on your lips.” —Proverbs 22:17-18
B. Our tongues
Fires start small and build as they burn. People start fires with a little light of gossip, division and slowly it grows and heats up. Fire burns and hurts. Our words can burn and hurt also.
“Without wood, fire goes out; without a gossip, conflict dies down. 21As charcoal for embers and wood for fire, so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.” —Proverbs 26:20-21
“A worthless person digs up evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. 28A contrary person spreads conflict, and a gossip separates close friends.” —Proverbs 16:27-28
C. Our tongues
“Anxiety in a person’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up.” —Proverbs 12:25
“The tongue that heals is a tree of life, but a devious tongue breaks the spirit.” —Proverbs 15:4
II. OUR WORDS PRODUCE
(vs 6-8)
A. Many sins are
“The Lord hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: 17arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, 19a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.” —Proverbs 6:16-19
B. No one can
“Pride comes before destruction, and an arrogant spirit before a fall.” —Proverbs 16:18
III. OUR WORDS SHOULD PRODUCE
IN OUR IDENTITY (vs 9-12)
A. The
“I say, then, walk by the Spirit and you will certainly not carry out the desire of the flesh. 17For the flesh desires what is against the Spirit, and the Spirit desires what is against the flesh; these are opposed to each other, so that you don’t do what you want.” —Galatians 5:16-17
B. The
“Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech.” —Psalm 34:13
The Bible tells us to be consistent and not inconsistent.
SPIRITUAL GROWTH SHAPES THE CONTROL OF YOUR WORDS
“For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.” —James 3:2
“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. “ —2 Peter 3:18
• Let’s use our mouths to proclaim that Jesus Christ is Lord.
“If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” —Romans 10:9
• Let’s use our mouths to share this collection of talks.
“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, 25not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging each other, and all the more as you see the day approaching.” —Hebrews 10:24-25
• Let’s use our mouths to talk through the weekly Deep Dive questions and live out the principles with those close to you.
“The righteous thrive like a palm tree and grow like a cedar tree in Lebanon. 13Planted in the house of the Lord, they thrive in the courts of our God. 14They will still bear fruit in old age, healthy and green, …” —Psalm 92:12-14
• Let’s use our mouths to dialogue in a group.
“Every day they devoted themselves to meeting together in the temple, and broke bread from house to house. They ate their food with joyful and sincere hearts, …” —Acts 2:46
Go to www.cityunited.church/groups to sign up
Conclusion:
What do your words say about you?
Remember -
YOUR WORDS SHAPE YOUR IDENTITY
[Click here for this week’s Group Guide]
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