Fellowship—Relationship with a Purpose

• Are your words more likely to belittle and reduce someone else, or to elevate and inflate yourself? Share an example.

• How do you feel about yourself when you use your tongue to sin?

Growth—Thinking About Spiritual Matters

• Read Proverbs 18:8. Why is gossip so tempting?

• How do you react when people around you start to gossip? What does your reaction say about how sinful you think gossip is?

• When does sharing information become gossiping? What characterizes gossip?

• Think about someone you might label as a “Gossip.” How does their habit of speech impact what you share with them?

• How can you prevent prayer request time from turning into gossip time? Do you spend more time on requests or on prayer?

• Read Proverbs 27:2. Who should praise you? Why?

• Where are you most likely to hear boasting? In your relationships, is boasting overt or subtle?

• When is boasting not a sin? Read Jeremiah 9:23-24.

• How can you reword boasting to instead show a spirit of gratitude to God? Give an example of boasting, then restate it with gratitude.

• What is flattery? Why is it a sin?

• When have you been a victim of flattery and/or seductive words? How did the words impact your resolve to follow God?

• How can you change your speech to keep God more in the spotlight?

• Pray for God’s help to desire His power and glory more than your own.