Message—Loving With your Words
Week of January 25, 2009

Thematic Focus
Expressing love through what we say is one of the most powerful relationship tools we possess. Learn how to choose words that heal and build others up.

Main Points
The powerful influence of words:
1. Words determine the direction of our lives.
2. Words can destroy what we have in our lives.
3. Words make a display of our lives.

The types of words we can love others with:
- Wise words, Proverbs 12:18
- Kind words, Proverbs 12:25
- Gentle words, Proverbs 15:1
- Pleasant words, Proverbs 16:21
- Honest words, Proverbs 24:26

Summary Points
Words overflow from what is in our heart and can either build up or tear people down.

Scriptural Lenses:
· 1 Corinthians 13
· James 3:1-12
· Ephesians 4:17-32
· Ephesians 5:1-21

Pursuing clarity
Use the following structure to guide your discussion:

Opening Prayer
Take a moment to recognize Christ’s presence among you.

Opening Question
What situations cause the most difficulty for us when it comes to using loving words throughout the day?

Scriptural Focus
Select a Scripture you would like to focus on.

Group Discussion
Use these questions to begin your discussion:

1. What happens to a person who changes their words to be kind, but not their heart?
2. Why is it sometimes hard to tell the truth to someone you love?
3. Discuss the difference between gossip and other conversations. What motivates us to gossip?
4. What does it mean to build someone up with words?
5. What are some of the benefits of holding your tongue? Are there examples where not speaking could cause harm? Explain.
6. How do we fill our hearts and minds with thoughts that will help us speak loving words?
7. Since God desires to help us control our tongues, what would be the best ways to gain His assistance?

Adjusting Focus
Take time to assess how you are doing with your love. Think about the different kinds of situations these types of words could be applied to:

Wise Words: Heal broken hearts. Apply to a situation.

__________________________________________

Kind Words: Transform worry to joy. Apply to a situation.

___________________________________

__________________________________________

Gentle Words: Break through anger. Apply to a situation.

__________________________________________

Pleasant Words: Encourage learning. Apply to a situation.

__________________________________________

Honest Words: Make us feel loved. Apply to a situation.

__________________________________________

Choose one of the five kinds of words noted above to focus on this week.

Maintaining Focus
How is God's Spirit prompting you to understand and view love differently? Given your time of reflection or group discussion, identify a step you would like to take to advance in your faith journey:

____________________________________________

___________________________________________

____________________________________________

Closing Prayer
Take time at the close of your time together to pray for God’s assistance in the journey. Depending on how comfortable group members feel, here are some ways you could pray:

· Write out a personal prayer.
· Have the group facilitator or a designated member of the group pray.
· Have members of the group get into a smaller group to pray for one another.
· Have several members of the group pray aloud and then conclude.

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