The Weight of Your Words
Measuring the impact of what you say.
Joseph M Stowell
3. Maliciously Speaking
How have you been doing over the last week? Has God convicted you of any of the things we spoke about last week?
Gossip - idle chatter, demeaning another’s integrity and reputation.
Slander - intentional, malicious communication of bad reports.
Our society seems to promote gossip and slander as acceptable forms of entertainment. Give some examples.
Look at the following verses, what do they tell you about gossip:
1 Tim 5:13
Prov 11:13
Prov 20:19
Prov 26:20
Prov 16:28
Look at the following verses, what do they tell you about slander:
James 4:11-12
Prov 25:9-10
Prov 13:10
There are certain myths that surround gossip and slander, can you think of any?
If gossip and slander focus on someone else entirely, how can they be vehicles to promote self? Why do many insecure people suffer from these sins?
Gossips often fail to keep secrets. Under what circumstances are you tempted to betray confidences and rationalize it?
In what situations do you find it hardest not to participate in gossip or slander?
What should we do with damaging information?
How does the account in Genesis 9:20-27 relate to the above question?
How do we incorporate the following verses into how we speak about others?
Eph 4:29
Gal 5:13-15