Foundation or Destruction

Don’t Argue About Words

2 Timothy 2:14 HCSB

Remind them of these things, charging them before God not to fight about words; this is in no way profitable and leads to the ruin of the hearers.

Arguing about words is NOT Profitable

1 Timothy 1:3–4 HCSB

As I urged you when I went to Macedonia, remain in Ephesus so that you may instruct certain people not to teach different doctrine or to pay attention to myths and endless genealogies. These promote empty speculations rather than God’s plan, which operates by faith.

What does teaching false doctrine promote? Empty Speculation

1 Timothy 6:3–5 HCSB

If anyone teaches other doctrine and does not agree with the sound teaching of our Lord Jesus Christ and with the teaching that promotes godliness, he is conceited, understanding nothing, but has a sick interest in disputes and arguments over words. From these come envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement among people whose minds are depraved and deprived of the truth, who imagine that godliness is a way to material gain.

1 Timothy 6

What comes from false teaching? envy, quarreling, slander, evil suspicions, and constant disagreement

Arguing about words Leads to Ruin

James 1:26 HCSB

If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, then his religion is useless and he deceives himself.

James 3:4–6 HCSB

And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites. And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.

What does James compare the tongue to? Ships Rudder, Fire, World of Unrighteousness, Pollutant

Study God’s Word

2 Timothy 2:15 HCSB

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who doesn’t need to be ashamed, correctly teaching the word of truth.

Study = Set Your Heart Upon

Workman = A Diligent Worker Who Toils and Labors to the Point of exhaustion

What is the work we are to set our Heart’s upon? We are to study the Word of God and Right dived it.

Acts 17:11 HCSB

The people here were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, since they welcomed the message with eagerness and examined the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so.

1 Peter 2:2 HCSB

Like newborn infants, desire the pure spiritual milk, so that you may grow by it for your salvation,

The words rightly divide (orthotomounta) mean to cut straight.

Words of Destruction

2 Timothy 2:16–18 HCSB

But avoid irreverent, empty speech, for this will produce an even greater measure of godlessness. And their word will spread like gangrene; Hymenaeus and Philetus are among them. They have deviated from the truth, saying that the resurrection has already taken place, and are overturning the faith of some.

What are some examples of talk that is godless and empty? false teaching, worldly philosophy, cursing, theological theories, immoral suggestions, off-colored conversations, indecent insinuations, criticism, gossip, suggestive enticements

• false teaching

• false teaching

• worldly philosophy

• worldly philosophy

• cursing

• cursing

• theological theories

• theological theories

• immoral suggestions

• immoral suggestions

• off-colored conversations

• off-colored conversations

• indecent insinuations

• indecent insinuations

• criticism

• criticism

• gossip

• gossip

• suggestive enticements

• suggestive enticements

Over the past week I have been Listening to the Speech that was around me and I can tell you it is quite offensive at times

foul language is becoming more of a norm, more and more people use curse words as everyday words and you know what your free to do it, but let me tell you scripture is clear as to what it produces

nothing like your stomach turning as you hear someone drop F bombs and you just cringe every time you hear it

But let me just insert one thing here there are many good Christian People that would never use those types of words and are quick to point out how disgusting it is yet they well talk about those people all day long, gossip and rumors are just as disgusting and vile as curse words and foul language and they should make us cringe too

Note that such talk is not only ungodly and empty, it leads to more and more ungodliness. Such talk actually increases ungodliness in the heart and life of a person. In fact, the picture could be no more descriptive: ungodly talk eats away at a person just like a cancerous growth.

or as the HCSB puts it Gangrene

William Barclay: Here then is the test. If at the end of our talk and discussion, we are closer to one another and closer to God, then all is well. But if at the end of our discussion, we have erected barriers between each other and we have left God more distant and our view of Him befogged, then all is wrong. The aim of all Christian discussion and of all Christian action is to bring a man nearer to God.

Which is worse Using Foul Language or Gossiping about Someone? They Both Will Bring Destruction

God’s Word Stands

2 Timothy 2:19 HCSB

Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, having this inscription: The Lord knows those who are His, and Everyone who names the name of the Lord must turn away from unrighteousness.

What are some examples of talk that is godless and empty? There is such talk as …

The Lord Knows Those Who are His

Everyone Who Names the Name of the Lord Must Turn Away From Unrighteousness.

• false teaching

• worldly philosophy

• cursing

• theological theories

• immoral suggestions

• off-colored conversations

• indecent insinuations

• criticism

• gossip

• suggestive enticements