James 4:11-12

Intro: Welcome my Friends

BIBLE TEXT: James 4:11-12

Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?

Sermon Title:

Joke: How to stop the church gossip

Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed monitor of the church's morals, kept sticking her nose into other people's business. Several members did not approve of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence. She made a mistake, however, when she accused Frank, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his old pickup parked in front of the town's only bar one afternoon. She emphatically told Frank (and several others) that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing! Frank, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just turned and walked away. He didn't explain, defend, or deny. He said nothing. Later that evening, Frank quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred's house ... walked home ... and left it there all night.

Title Points:

Outline 1

Bible Text :James 4:11 “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

By speaking the Truth to someone you can still be unkind.

Or we spread Gossip

We may be questioning someones authority

Or back bitting behind someones back

Rememember the 9th commandment

Exodus 20:16 ““You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”

It also violates the more fundamental law of Christ, “Love your neighbor as yourself

Matthew 22:39 “And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Jesus called this the second greatest commandment

Mark 12:31 “And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.””

Cross Reference: 1 Peter 2:1 “Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking,”

1st Point:

One Application:

Personal Story:

Outline 2

Bible Text

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

Cross Reference:

2nd Point

One Application:

Personal Story:

Outline 3

Bible Text :

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

Cross Reference:

3rd Point

One Application:

Personal Story: