The Power of What You Say
Words have power. Power to build up or power to destroy. Armed with any other weapon as strong as words, you might be required to be trained and certified. That’s not a bad idea. God’s word is filled with instructions about how to skillfully speak life into others while avoiding the destructive consequences of harmful speech. No wonder God says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
Read Proverbs 18:21. Words can be powerfully life-giving or destructive. Think of examples of each. When were you built up by the words of another? And when did someone speak destructive, poisonous words toward you?
Why would a person speak hurtful or destructive words to someone else? What perspective must a person embrace to speak words of life to someone else?
Read Proverbs 15:4 and 16:24. How do words promote life?
James spends much of his letter explaining the power of our words. Read James 3:1-12. How does the tongue release disproportionate power for good and bad?
Funerals usually include words of praise and gratitude for the person who has died. But why wait to speak words of life after someone has died? Who in your life could benefit from your words of life? Make it a point to write a note or speak words of life and encouragement to someone who needs to hear what they mean to you.
Searching for the Generous Life
Just like modest investments can grow over time, our investment into God's kingdom generates growth and produces eternal dividends. The apostle Paul presented the Macedonian believers as an example of generous giving to the Corinthian church and to us. Let's explore...
Searching for Reconciliation
Confronting others concerning biblical/theological compromise is never easy or pleasant. Such encounters must be handled with sensitivity to the needs of others, directed by spiritual wisdom and the Scriptures, and guided by the Holy Spirit. Paul closed chapter two of...
Searching for Courage
On the surface, hearing God and following His commands seems straightforward. However, when God calls us to do something that generates fear in us and feels daunting, second-guessing His call becomes reasonable. Finding the courage to obey such a call is overwhelming....
Searching for the Abundant Life
Jesus explicitly explained his purpose when He said “…I came so that they would have life, and have it abundantly” (Jn 10:10). He said similar things many times, and these ideas are repeated, over and over again, by those who wrote the New Testament. Yet many people,...
Searching for Real Friendship
Some relationships may imitate friendship, but there’s no substitute for the real thing. Exploring the relationship between David and Jonathan in the Bible, we’ll identify some distinguishing features of friendship that are often overlooked and discover how to infuse...