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Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD
INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In his message this weekend, Andy Saperstein talks about the power of words to hurt and to heal. The bible takes lot of time to deal with how we use our words. And our relationships are greatly affected by our communication. He first addresses the harm that we can do in our communication by going through James chapter 3. James says that the tongue is beyond our control and that it can do great harm. Then he talks through the passage in Ephesians where we learn how we can use communication for the building up and encouragement of others. With God’s help we can get control of our words and use them for his Kingdom work. In the end, communication comes down to a matter of where our hearts are. Only God can change our hearts, so our hope is in Him to change our hearts and help us speak the truth in love.
In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
• What are one or two things from this weekend’s sermon that really stood out to you?
• Do you have any funny stories of miscommunication from your life?
SCRIPTURE STUDY
• VV. 33-35 Take a closer look at these three verses. How are they the same? How are they different? (observation) What is the Jesus saying with these three verses? (interpretation)
• V 34: “out of the heart the mouth speaks” (application) How does this phrase make you feel about yourself? Do you feel you can “tame the tongue” (James 3:8).
• Read Romans 7:21-25a. What encouragement can we take from Paul’s struggle? (application)
• V. 36 What do you think is meant by the phrase “empty word”? (interpretation)
• VV. 36-37 Take a look at the larger context of this admonition from Jesus. Who were these words addressed to? (VV. 22-32) (Observation) (The Pharisees who were observing Jesus casting out demons)
• VV. 22-24 What were the Pharisees trying to do with their words? How were they guilty of Jesus’ condemnation of their speech? (Interpretation) (The Pharisees were using their authority to bring doubt to those observing Jesus casting out demons. They may have been intimidated or jealous of his authority and power and they were attempting to change people’s attitudes towards Jesus by putting him down.)
• “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Proverbs 18:21a. Take a look at a few Proverbs in chapter 18 and discuss the different themes addressed. (Perhaps break into even smaller groups and each group take a passage. You can give them a question to consider to help with interpretation. The each group share your thoughts with the whole group.)
• Proverbs 18:4 What is the difference between “deep waters” and a “rushing stream”?
• Proverbs 18:6-7 What is the effect our words have on our well-being?
• Proverbs 18:8 How does gossip effect our hearts?
• Proverbs 18:13 Why is it so important to be a good listener?
• (Application) What are some ways in small group we can be good listeners to each other? What about good encouragers?
MINISTRY APPLICATION
• Take some time to confess. Wait on the Lord and allow Him to bring some things to the surface. Then in groups of 2-3, discuss ways that you have misused your words in the last couple weeks. Pray for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God and take heart from Paul’s own struggle with not living up to God’s standards in Romans 7.
• Share how someone has hurt you with their words (or lack of words) in the last couple weeks and pray for each other to receive healing from words spoken over you.
• A great activity to try with this topic is a compliment circle. Go around the circle to each person and open it up for 3-4 people to share something encouraging that they see in them. You as the leader may need to speak up often to set the example and prime the pump for others. Give brief observations of qualities of their character or actions you admire in them. This can take awhile with a larger group, but is well worth it.
Click here to download the Study Guide in WORD
INTERACTING WITH THE SERMON
SYNOPSIS OF THE SERMON
In his message this weekend, Andy Saperstein talks about the power of words to hurt and to heal. The bible takes lot of time to deal with how we use our words. And our relationships are greatly affected by our communication. He first addresses the harm that we can do in our communication by going through James chapter 3. James says that the tongue is beyond our control and that it can do great harm. Then he talks through the passage in Ephesians where we learn how we can use communication for the building up and encouragement of others. With God’s help we can get control of our words and use them for his Kingdom work. In the end, communication comes down to a matter of where our hearts are. Only God can change our hearts, so our hope is in Him to change our hearts and help us speak the truth in love.
In 5 minutes or less, briefly give a synopsis of this week’s sermon. What insight, principle, or observation from this weekend’s message did you find to be most helpful, eye-opening, or troubling? Explain.
GETTING THE CONVERSATION STARTED
These questions can be used as ice-breakers in the beginning OR interwoven between the questions below to draw the group into the discussion.
• What are one or two things from this weekend’s sermon that really stood out to you?
• Do you have any funny stories of miscommunication from your life?
SCRIPTURE STUDY
Read Matthew 12:33-37 (TNIV):
33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 Good people bring good things out of the good stored up in them, and evil people bring evil things out of the evil stored up in them. 36 But I tell you that people will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
• VV. 33-35 Take a closer look at these three verses. How are they the same? How are they different? (observation) What is the Jesus saying with these three verses? (interpretation)
• V 34: “out of the heart the mouth speaks” (application) How does this phrase make you feel about yourself? Do you feel you can “tame the tongue” (James 3:8).
• Read Romans 7:21-25a. What encouragement can we take from Paul’s struggle? (application)
• V. 36 What do you think is meant by the phrase “empty word”? (interpretation)
• VV. 36-37 Take a look at the larger context of this admonition from Jesus. Who were these words addressed to? (VV. 22-32) (Observation) (The Pharisees who were observing Jesus casting out demons)
• VV. 22-24 What were the Pharisees trying to do with their words? How were they guilty of Jesus’ condemnation of their speech? (Interpretation) (The Pharisees were using their authority to bring doubt to those observing Jesus casting out demons. They may have been intimidated or jealous of his authority and power and they were attempting to change people’s attitudes towards Jesus by putting him down.)
• “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Proverbs 18:21a. Take a look at a few Proverbs in chapter 18 and discuss the different themes addressed. (Perhaps break into even smaller groups and each group take a passage. You can give them a question to consider to help with interpretation. The each group share your thoughts with the whole group.)
• Proverbs 18:4 What is the difference between “deep waters” and a “rushing stream”?
• Proverbs 18:6-7 What is the effect our words have on our well-being?
• Proverbs 18:8 How does gossip effect our hearts?
• Proverbs 18:13 Why is it so important to be a good listener?
• (Application) What are some ways in small group we can be good listeners to each other? What about good encouragers?
MINISTRY APPLICATION
Below you’ll see some options for ministry time with your group. We always encourage you to reserve time in your group to pray for one another and wait on the Holy Spirit.
• Take some time to confess. Wait on the Lord and allow Him to bring some things to the surface. Then in groups of 2-3, discuss ways that you have misused your words in the last couple weeks. Pray for your heart to be changed by the Spirit of God and take heart from Paul’s own struggle with not living up to God’s standards in Romans 7.
• Share how someone has hurt you with their words (or lack of words) in the last couple weeks and pray for each other to receive healing from words spoken over you.
• A great activity to try with this topic is a compliment circle. Go around the circle to each person and open it up for 3-4 people to share something encouraging that they see in them. You as the leader may need to speak up often to set the example and prime the pump for others. Give brief observations of qualities of their character or actions you admire in them. This can take awhile with a larger group, but is well worth it.
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