Bible Study Notes November 3rd, 2011

Led by Brandon (BigHeart)

Key Verses:

Ephesians 4:29-32, "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."

James 3:1-12, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.

When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt[a] water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."

Hebrews 4:12, "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

Proverbs 12:18,25, "Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing... An anxious heart weighs a man down, but a kind word cheers him up."

Notes from the Study:
Our words matter, and they reveal what is really in our hearts
If we as a people are to be used by God to accomplish His work, we must learn to use our words properly
We can miss many opportunities to share the gospel because we misuse our words
We can use our words to encourage and support one another, thereby accomplishing God's work
God has given us freedom to use our words to build up or tear down because He wants us to be a part of His work
The tongue is a VERY powerful things, and should not be ignored when it comes to our spiritual growth
It is with the tongue that ultimately will share the gospel, so it is of CRITICAL importance to dedicate to God
We cannot strive hard enough to "fix" our tongues, we need it to be sanctified by God, nothing else will work
The Word of God is powerful and capable of making us more like Jesus and bringing people to Him
When we have the Word of God in our hearts, it is easier for it to come out of our mouths and change lives
When we have the Word of God in our hearts, we can more easily overcome our struggle with our words and attitudes
We remember the people in our lives who have helped or hurt us with their words, it sticks with us
We need to be placing good memories in people's minds through the words that we use
What do we gain from using our mouths to tear people down? NOTHING
What do we gain from using our mouths to draw people near to the love of God? EVERYTHING

Thanks for sharing. It was very encouraging!