placeDallas

7540 Lyndon B Johnson Fwy Dallas, TX 75251

In Person Sunday 9 AM, 11:15 AM, and 4 PM Streaming Sunday 9 and 11:15 AM SERVICIO DOMINICAL EN ESPAÑOL 11:15 AM

Charting Your Course: Words that Bite

Charting Your Course

Our words have tremendous power in our lives and in the lives of others. In many ways, our tongue "charts the course" of our life. James 3:3-5 reminds us that, "If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things." Throughout this series, we are going to see how we can use our tongue to chart the course of our life in a way that honors God and builds up those around us.

Oct 13, 2019

Discussion Questions

PDF Version

  1. Let's quickly recap what we talked about this weekend. Who was at Wake and wants to share what you learned about in our series, "Charting Your Course"?

  2. Read James 3:8. What does James mean when he says that our tongue is a "restless evil, full of deadly poison"? How have you seen that be true in your life?

  3. Read James 3:9-12. What is James trying to tell us through his analogy with the fresh water and the salt water coming from the same spring?
    -It is unthinkable that we could bless God AND curse man all from the same mouth. It shouldn't be a possibility that we would worship God while also tearing down those who are made in His image.

  4. Read Matthew 12:36. How does the idea that you will one day ‘give an account for every careless word you spoke' sit with you? How would that change the way your use your words?

  5. Read Matthew 12:34-35. Your mouth will speak what your heart is full of. What have you been filling your heart with, and how has that impacted your speech?

  6. Read Ephesians 4:29. When was the last time that you let corrupt talk come from your mouth? What led you to do that and how did you respond after it happened?

  7. A way we often mask our hurtful words is by using sarcasm or by saying it was "just a joke" (see Prov. 26:18-19). Have you ever tried to cover up your words by doing this? Why?
    -We are trying to avoid having to take responsibility for our poor use of words and how they have hurt others.

  8. Read Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 18:2, Proverbs 17:27-28, and James 1:19. What do all these verses have in common?
    -The wise person is the one who leads by listening and is slow to speak. This doesn't mean we never talk, but it does mean we carefully consider the words we say when we do talk.

  9. Are you willing to self-sacrifice the urge to say hurtful words for the redemptive good of another?
    -Your words are meant to be a reflection of Christ's sacrificial love for you.

  10. Sunday morning we showed a video of how Brandt Jean used his words to bless and build rather than to bite. How can you use your words to reflect Christ this week?

PDF
Discussion Questions