“The Tongue (As it is Addressed in
the Book of Proverbs)”
Small Group Lesson March 23, 2014
(Outline of this lesson is from Lifeway's Explore the Bible Series. Questions are my own.)
Introduction: God’s own
words are able to perform great tasks. He spoke the universe into existence.
When He speaks, legions of angels are able to spring into action to carry out
His every command. His words never “return void, but will always accomplish the
purpose for which [He sends] them out” (Isaiah 55: 11). His words bring eternal
life, wisdom, healing, comfort, reproof and correction to us, but also judgment
to the wicked and unbelievers. Jesus is, Himself, “the [very] Word made flesh.”
We need His words continually to
maintain our spiritual lives: “…man
shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth
of God” (Deuteronomy 8: 3). Also, the Word of God is "living and active...discerning the thoughts and intents of [our] hearts" Hebrews 4: 12). Psalm 119 is entirely about the necessity of the Word to our spiritual lives.
Because we are
created in His image, our words, also, are vitally important and powerful,
either for good or for evil. We can destroy another person’s self-image, hope
or happiness with our words. We can
deceive, mislead or cause another person to lose faith. On the other hand, we
can encourage, build-up or counsel another person for good. With our words we
can become followers of Christ or invoke God’s aid or guidance. A few words can begin a war or conflict or
bring about peace, unite two people in matrimony or dissolve a marriage, make a
life-long enemy or begin a life-long friendship, seal a business deal or cause
a lawsuit or criminal proceeding, cause a multitude to panic or restore peace,
destroy or tear down another person’s public reputation and start a vicious
rumor or rescue a person from slander. In short, our words are NEVER without
consequence, and God holds us directly accountable for our words: “By
your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned
[judged] (Matthew 12:37). Judging from the volume and content of scripture
devoted to this topic, our words are a really big deal to God. He even tells us
that our religion is worthless if we (habitually) fail to control our tongues. “This
is especially true when we are under stress” (Kent Hughes, Disciplines of a Godly Man, 142). One reason this is reasonable on
God’s part is that our words reveal what is in our hearts, and God looks upon
our hearts to judge us (Matthew 12:33-34). Psalm 15: 1—2 also connects our
hearts with our words.
I. Recognize the Power of Words (Proverbs 18: 19—21; also, read James 1:26,
3:1—12 and 4:11)
(Illustration of the Boxer Rebellion in China.)
(Just be thinking about these questions for the time being. We will
return to them in a moment.)
1.
Think of a time when you were wounded, deceived or discouraged by
someone’s words.
2.
Think of a time when you were encouraged, comforted or given needed
direction by someone’s words.
3.
Which of your own words have you come to regret? When have your own
words accomplished great good?
II. Think Before You Speak
(or Write/ Tweet) (Proverbs 17:27—28
21:23; also Ephesians 4:29, I Peter 3: 8—9, Colossians 4:6, Psalm 141: 3)
1. How might this admonition be
especially important in a digital age?
2. What is the standard set by
Ephesians 4: 29 for thinking before speaking?
3. How might the Holy Spirit be
involved in this?
III. Guard Against Gossip (Proverbs 11:13; 26:20—24)
1. What is the definition of
gossip? What is the distinction between gossip and “sharing concerns about
other people”?
2. How should we react when
someone approaches us with gossip?
3. How might it be possible to spread gossip using non-verbal forms of
communication, such as innuendo?
4. What negative effects does
gossip have upon the purveyors, the victims, non-believers and the body of
Christ?
5. How can we shut it down?
IV. Guard Against Falsehood (Proverbs 10:18—19; 12:17—19)
1. How is slander falsehood?
2. What is duplicity?
3. What is integrity? What are some common provocations for
compromising our integrity with our words?
4. Might insincere flattery be
lying?
V. Use Words to Help and to
Heal (and be Open to Correction)
(Proverbs 25: 11-13, 31: 8—9)
1. When does Biblical admonishment
become contention? (Romans 15: 13—16)
2. When is it sin NOT to speak
up? How is the concept of “Social
Justice” misused in today’s Christian culture?
a. False means of salvation
b. Social justice vs. egalitarianism and “when
helping hurts”; the “radical” fallacy
3. Might healing involve
wounding? (Proverbs 27: 6; James 5:
19—20)
(1)
Ask God to cauterize our lips
(Isaiah 6: 1—8)
Conclusion: (2) Maintain on-going prayerfulness (From Kent
Hughes)
(3) Resolve to discipline ourselves
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