The Weight of Your Words
Measuring the impact of what you say.
Joseph M Stowell
5. Expletives Deleted
1. Are there any names that you particularly hate - names you swear you wouldn’t give to your children? Why do we often hate a particular name?
Using God’s Name in Vain
2. What do you classify as swear words? (no examples please!!) Why do you think people swear?
3. Read Exodus 20: 7. What do you think it means to “misuse” the name of the Lord or to use the name of God “in vain?”
4. Why does God’s name have value and worth?
The expression the “name of the Lord” is common in the Bible. However, if is clear that these verses are talking about more than just a simple word.
Read and discuss the following verses for more insight.
Isaiah 30:27
Malachi 3:16
Matthew 6:9
Matthew 7:22
Matthew 28:13-20
John 14:13-14
Romans 10:12-13
Philippians 2:9-11
5. Read Proverbs 18:10. When has God’s name been a strong tower for you - when you’ve employed it for protection, comfort, growth or evangelism? How has that caused you to revere His power and majesty?
6. Why is it important to recognize all that the name of the Lord means? If Christians are misusing God’s name what does that reveal about their walk with God?
7. How should we handle it when non-Christians around us misuse God’s name?
Sensuous Speech
8. In what ways have our sensitivities to course speech been dulled? Why?
9. Read Ephesians 5:3-12
What qualifies as filthy speech, foolish talk, or course joking? If Christians aren’t suppose to exhibit even a hint of impurity why have we become so entrenched in these verbal sins?
10. What will be the harmful results if we allow this to continue?
11. How can we become better at abstaining from these speech patterns? How does following Ephesians 5:1-2 point us in the right direction?
12. What would cleaning up our speech in both of these areas reflect to those around us? How do we not come across as “holier-than-thou” while maintaining God’s very high standard?