Sermon Tone Analysis
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Last week I begin a series called Ugly Christmas Sweater.
We are looking at the some of the ugly things that happen this time of year.
Last week we looked at our ugly thoughts.
It is in the mind where thoughts begin and sometimes those thoughts can lead to action and motives and today’s topic, ugly words.
It is time for us to stop using our words against each other and begin to use our words to build one another up.
The words that we say are very powerful.
We can say a word and instantly we can have a reaction to that word.
Here let’s try it.
I’m going to say a word and I want you to blurt out the first thing that comes to your mind.
Please don’t cuss.
Ready.
Here are the words...
Snow
Hot Chocolate
Christmas Lights
Eggnog
Mistletoe
Each and everyone of these words evoke a response.
Some words made us excited.
Some words made us disgusted.
Does anyone really like eggnog?
When I heard mistletoe it reminded me of the Christmas movie, Four Christmas’ with Vince Vaughn and Reese Witherspoon.
Anyway.
Words carry meaning and it matters how and when we use them.
Look at what Proverbs tells us.
God gives each of us a huge responsibility in the way we speak to each other.
Our words hold the power of life and death.
How we speak to one another can be life giving.
Think about over the years.
There are still some things that people have said to me that hurt me and I can still remember them.
Then there are also words of encouragement that people have said to me that I remember.
Some of the words said to me were life changing.
The saying sticks and stones may break my bones but words can not hurt me is absolutely false.
The truth is words can hurt.
We can say things that give life and we can say things that bring death.
And many times we just simply overlook the words that we are saying and we just blow them off as if they don’t matter.
And there could be possibly things that we will say this Christmas season that will hurt someone we love.
And if we are not careful those words can do real damage to our family.
It can bring harm to those relationships.
If I was to stand up here and tell you that 2020 and 2021 was no big deal, I would be lying.
Those two years were very difficult years for people.
And then there is this year 2022.
We have experienced one of the worst economies in our life time.
That is why it is so important that we watch the things that we choose to say to one another.
People are hurting and now more than ever, Christians need to act like the Christian that God intended us to be and that begins with speaking life to those around us.
That doesn’t mean that we need to avoid sharing truth or difficult conversations.
But it does mean that we can find a more positive way to convey the truth to other people.
If you have your bibles, go with me to the book of James.
It is one of the last books of the bible.
James is a great book to go to and have someone tell you to straighten up.
That is what he is telling us to do here.
He is giving us extensive warnings about the kind of damage our speech can cause.
He is addressing the early church as they were learning how to interact with one another in ways that helped move the cause of Christ forward.
Everything that this church was working so hard for could easily be undone by careless words.
Go to chapter 3 and let’s begin at verse 3.
James doesn’t hold back does he.
He is teaching us to not use ugly words, we have to learn to control our tongue.
We have to make a conscience effort to control the words we say.
That is why it is so important that we have the Holy Spirit working in our life.
At the beginning of his book, James challenges us to...
If we are not careful and if we do not learn to control it then our tongues and control us.
How many times have you received an email at work that makes you angry?
How many times have you received a frustrating text?
Too often our first response is to want to shoot back with a quick email or text and express our anger or frustration.
Slowly, I’m learning how to take time before I ever respond to a situation like that.
When I take time to consider what I want to say, I am able to control my words and keep from causing more harm or causing a situation to escalate.
Without restraint, our words can lead us deeper into conflict.
It’s kind of like this scene from A Christmas Story.
Take a Look.
Video - A Christmas Story Triple Dog Dare Clip HD Edited
When the words were spoken, “I triple dog dare you.”
Flick could not resist the dare.
He had to do it.
Schwartz’s words led Flick to doing something that was stupid and he ended up suffering the consequences.
Look at verse 7 of chapter 3.
Controlling your words is not easy.
James is telling us that all kinds of wild animals are tamed by humankind and it is easier to tame them than it is the tongue.
We can’t tame the tongue on our own.
We need the power of the Holy Spirit to empower us.
Real quick: Here are three questions to ask yourself before you speak.
1.
Will what I am about to say honor God?
The true test of our words is the way that they reflect on our creator.
We were made by God to be agents of love in the world, and we have a choice in participating in that purpose.
2. Will what I am about to say honor the person I am saying it to?
Honoring someone else means that we express respect and admiration in the way we speak to them.
We can ask ourselves how we might receive these words if they were being spoken to us.
How we treat the creation says something about how we feel about our creator.
3. Will what I am about to say be something I will regret?
If we can lay our head down at night and not wish we could take back something we said, then we have been choosing our words wisely.
Ugly words sometimes cause damage that cannot be reversed.
we are wise to ask ourselves these questions in order to control our tongue because our words hold power.
What is Christmas truly about?
It is about the birth of our savior.
It is about God sending his son Jesus to come to this earth and become a living sacrifice and take away the sins of the world.
That is what we celebrate.
That is a joyous reason to celebrate.
But when we use ugly words during this season or any season we sabotage what Christ has come to do.
We are the representatives of Christ.
Look at how James finishes up our text.
We come together every year for Christmas and celebrate the birth of our savior.
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