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May 20, 2018

Every word requires wisdom

Every word requires wisdom

Passage: Proverbs 10:6

Speaker: Patrick Lafferty

Series: Proverbs, Searching for Wisdom

Few things are as capable of working both immeasurable good and immeasurable harm than our words. What wisdom must govern ours?

Order of Worship

Call To Worship: Psalm 96: 1-4
Sermon Title: Every word requires wisdom
Central Text: various passages from Proverbs

Proverbs 10:6, 19, 21
Proverbs 12:13, 18, 19, 22, 25
Proverbs 15:23
Proverbs 16:21, 23, 24
Proverbs 18:6, 20, 21
Proverbs 21:23

Corporate Confession of Sin: Lord, you who spoke all things into existence, whose words are truth and by them make us holy--we acknowledge how, like all sin, our words fall short of truth, and fall short of the love with which you have spoken. For where our words bear witness more to our darkness than to your light, we ask your forgiveness. But more than your pardon, we ask your power: to see, by the Spirit, the truth in love as was manifest in your Son, that we might then at all times speak the truth in love.
Assurance of the Pardon of God: 1 John 1:8, 9
Response: Communion
Benediction: 2 Peter 3:18

 05.20.18 Song Lyrics

 05.20.18 Sermon Slides

Illustrations

King's Speech - A Voice

YouTube - Why We Gossip

King's Speech - Words of Music

Readings & Scripture

Pre-Service Text: Proverbs 16:24
24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Call To Worship: Psalm 96: 1-4
LEADER: 1 Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth!

ALL: 2 Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day.

LEADER: 3 Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples!

ALL: 4 For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.

Central Text: Various passages
10:6 Blessings are on the head of the righteous,
but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking,
but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.

21 The lips of the righteous feed many,
but fools die for lack of sense.

12:13 An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,
but the righteous escapes from trouble.
18 There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts,
but the tongue of the wise brings healing.
19 Truthful lips endure forever,
but a lying tongue is but for a moment.

12:22 Lying lips are an abomination to the LORD,
but those who act faithfully are his delight.

12:25 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.

15:23 To make an apt answer is a joy to a man,
and a word in season, how good it is!

16:21 The wise of heart is called discerning,
and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
23 The heart of the wise makes his speech judicious
and adds persuasiveness to his lips.
24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

18:6 A fool’s lips walk into a fight,
and his mouth invites a beating.

18:20 From the fruit of a man’s mouth his stomach is satisfied;
he is satisfied by the yield of his lips.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.

21:23 Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue
keeps himself out of trouble.

Corporate Confession of Sin:
Lord, you who spoke all things into existence, whose words are truth and by them make us holy--we acknowledge how, like all sin, our words fall short of truth, and fall short of the love with which you have spoken. For where our words bear witness more to our darkness than to your light, we ask your forgiveness. But more than your pardon, we ask your power: to see, by the Spirit, the truth in love as was manifest in your Son, that we might then at all times speak the truth in love.

Assurance of the Pardon of God: 1 John 1:8, 9
If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Benediction: 2 Peter 3:18
Leader: 18 (May you) grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity.

ALL: Amen.

Post-Service Text: James 1:19
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Related Scriptures:

  • Prov 6:16-19
  • James 1:19, 3:1-18

Discussion Questions & Applications:

 

  1. What might qualify as the sweetest words you’ve ever heard? What about the most toxic?
  2. Are you more likely to regret what you said or what you failed to say? Why do you think so?
  3. How can you let the gospel influence the words you speak, and the words you hold back?
  4. How does the gospel help you think about the words you wished you’d said, or the ones you wish you hadn’t?

Quotes:

  • I consider looseness with words no less of a defect than looseness of the bowels. - John Calvin
  • Words are the physicians of a mind diseased. Aeschylus
    In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. - Martin Luther King, Jr
  • Words can sometimes, in moments of grace, attain the quality of deeds. - Elie Wiesel
  • The bitterest tears shed over graves are for words left unsaid . . . . - Harriet Beecher Stowe
  • Lying to God
    is like sawing the branch
    you're sitting on.
    The better you do it,
    the harder you fall. - Frederick Buechner
  • Kind words do not cost much. They never blister the tongue or lips. They make other people good-natured. They also produce their own image on men’s souls, and a beautiful image it is. - Blaise Pascal

 

 

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Inview Media Album 5.20.18