Proverbs 18:21
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.”
Q: How are death and life in the power of the tongue? Does your mouth produce good fruit or bad fruit?
Death comes when we hurt others with our words, and life comes when we encourage others. Example: “My mouth is constantly producing bad fruit because I’m not good at holding my tongue.”
Psalm 141:3
“Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth;
Keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Q: Do you struggle with your mouth? Have you prayed and asked God to help set a guard over your mouth?
Example: “Yes, I struggle with putting others down. I have never prayed that God would put a guard on my mouth but know that He can help me be more encouraging to others.”
Picture
Matthew 12:36-37 – “But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Q: What are some careless words that you use? How do these affect your testimony?
Example: “I sometimes curse when I play sports. This hurts my testimony because others see me and do not take me very seriously as a Christian.”
James 3:4-6 – “Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.”
Q: How is your tongue like a boat’s rudder? How is your mouth like fire?
Boat’s rudder = what I say can either direct my ship (my life) in a good direction or a bad direction.
Fire = it only takes a few words to create an out-of-control wildfire of rumors and lies
Paul
Ephesians 4:29 – “Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.”
Q: What does this verse say about your speech? Are your words encouraging to those around you?
Everything that I say should be encouraging and edifying to others. Example: “I try to be encouraging, but honestly, most of the time I fail and get caught up in gossip.”
Peter
1 Peter 3:10 – “The one who desires life, to love and see good days, must keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”
Q: Why is taming your tongue and putting it under the Lordship of Christ so important?
My tongue can either bring me life or death; the words I say are a reflection of my heart, and if my words are hurtful, that reflects on my sinful nature.
APPLICATION: How do these passages relate to me today? What changes do they bring to my life?
LOCKER ROOM: Is there anything this week that you have been enslaved to, and how we can help you?
