Speech

PRAY

There are around 240 verses in the book of Proverbs that have to do with our speech, with the words that we use. The way we talk and communicate with other people. It’s kind of a big deal…

Proverbs 18:21 ESV

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Proverbs 21:23 ESV

Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble.

God has put great power in our ability to communicate and we must honor Him and love others with how we use it.

Bad Words

These are things that you shouldn’t do and you should watch out for.

Do funny examples of these with students as you go.

Fighting Words

We talked a lot about this a couple weeks ago when we talked about friends, that good friends don’t stir up trouble, arguments, and fights between people.

Gossip and Slander

We also talked about this a couple weeks ago.

Deceptive Words

Words that are meant to confuse, mislead, or hide the truth from someone. Knowingly or not, it’s still bad.

So yes, lying. But not just lying. Anyone else guilty of saying, “well, I didn’t technically lie”?

Speech that calls sin a good thing.

Proverbs 24:24 ESV

Whoever says to the wicked, “You are in the right,” will be cursed by peoples, abhorred by nations,

Speech that pretends to be sinless.

Proverbs 30:20 ESV

This is the way of an adulteress: she eats and wipes her mouth and says, “I have done no wrong.”

Whether we know what we are doing or not, when we tell others or ourselves that there is no sin when there truly is, we are leading people towards destruction.

Dishonesty, trying to lead people to a certain conclusion with lies, half-truths, or intentionally leaving out important information.

Proverbs 19:9 ESV

A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who breathes out lies will perish.

There’s an aspect of this that y’all need to be aware of. Every time you turn in work or take a test at school, there’s an assumed statement with that: I followed the rules, this is my work, and I know the info I’m presenting. It’s dishonest

This includes lies that we think are to make other people feel good. If we don’t tell people the truth because we think we are sparing their feelings, there’s a good chance we are just setting them up to get hurt worse later as they go on from us believing a lie.

Flattering Words

Proverbs 26:28 ESV

A lying tongue hates its victims, and a flattering mouth works ruin.

Praising others, complementing them or being nice to them, to get what you want. It may be true, may not be. But your goal is to get something you want, not to make someone feel good and encourage them.

And hey, I know some of y’all are doing this the really mean way in school and flirting with people that you aren’t ever going to thing about dating so you can get stuff from them! Don’t do that!

Bragging Words

Nobody wants to hear how great you are from you. I’m just being honest with you.

Proverbs 27:2 ESV

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; a stranger, and not your own lips.

Nobody wants to hear me talk about how great it is to be an Alabama fan…

I tell our kids, “Don’t talk about how good you are, show me. If you’re really that good, people will notice without you having to tell them.” Our world tells us we need to self promote…

We brag, I think, because we are either prideful or because we are insecure. Could be both. But the answer to both is found in looking to our Creator, not seeking the adoration of other creations.

Hasty Words

Proverbs 29:20 ESV

Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.

You ever pop off and speak before you think about what you’re saying and get into trouble?

Plenty of instruction in Proverbs about ways that we shouldn’t communicate, words that are hurtful. So what does it tell us about what we should say!?

Good Words

These are things you should do and be glad to receive!

Have students turn to each other and do these as is appropriate.

Gentle Words

Proverbs 15:1 ESV

A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Do you need to be more thoughtful about the way you talk to people? It’s really easy to mess this one up with the people closest to us.

Forgiving Words

Proverbs 17:9 ESV

Whoever covers an offense seeks love, but he who repeats a matter separates close friends.

Is there anyone you need to forgive?

Encouraging Words

Proverbs 12:25 ESV

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Honest Words

Proverbs 24:26 ESV

Whoever gives an honest answer kisses the lips.

Side note; there’s a good Bible pick-up line here. Just walk up to your crush and say, “[verse] , and I just want you to be honest with me.”

Do you use honest words? Is there someone or somewhere that you struggle with honesty? Have you been dishonest with someone and you need to go make it right?

Helpful Words

Proverbs 15:23 ESV

To make an apt answer is a joy to a man, and a word in season, how good it is!

Correcting Words

Proverbs 28:23 ESV

Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue.

To my surprise, there is more about this in Proverbs than anything else it seems like. More saying that a sign of wisdom is to receive correction from the wise. That wise people receive instruction and fools refuse it.

Are you wise or a fool? Are you open to correction? Are you humble to receive it? Glad to have someone looking out for you?

Is there someone you need to, in love, go to and gently, honestly encourage to make a correction in their life? How could you do that?

Jesus knew all this wisdom about communication. He embodied it and perfectly set an example for us of what to do. He communicates with us perfectly, in perfect love…