This document discusses living in a Christian community and having healthy relationships. It provides several Bible verses about controlling one's tongue and speaking kindly. It notes that what comes from the heart also comes through the mouth. The document encourages being slow to speak and slow to anger in relationships. It suggests finding "Kingdom responses" when issues arise and lists takeaways about being unoffendable, committed in love, listening well, responding carefully, apologizing if needed, and having no expectations of others.
3. Pro 12:18 Some people make cutting remarks,
but the words of the wise bring healing.
Pro 15:1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but
harsh words make tempers flare.
Pro 16:24 Kind words are like honey—sweet to
the soul and healthy for the body.
Pro 21:23 Watch your tongue and keep your
mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.
4.
5. Mat 12:35 A good person produces
good things from the treasury of a
good heart, and an evil person
produces evil things from the
treasury of an evil heart.
6. 1CO 13:1 IF I COULD SPEAK ALL THE
LANGUAGES OF EARTH AND OF ANGELS,
BUT DIDN'T LOVE OTHERS, I WOULD ONLY
BE A NOISY GONG OR A CLANGING
CYMBAL.
10. JAS 1:19 UNDERSTAND THIS, MY DEAR
BROTHERS AND SISTERS: YOU MUST ALL
BE QUICK TO LISTEN, SLOW TO SPEAK,
AND SLOW TO GET ANGRY.
11.
12. JAS 3:2 INDEED, WE ALL MAKE MANY MISTAKES. FOR IF
WE COULD CONTROL OUR TONGUES, WE WOULD BE
PERFECT AND COULD ALSO CONTROL OURSELVES IN
EVERY OTHER WAY.
JAS 3:8 BUT NO ONE CAN TAME THE TONGUE.
JAS 3:9 SOMETIMES IT PRAISES OUR LORD AND FATHER,
AND SOMETIMES IT CURSES THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN
MADE IN THE IMAGE OF GOD.
JAS 3:10 AND SO BLESSING AND CURSING COME
POURING OUT OF THE SAME MOUTH.
14. Take aways for thought:
• Be unoffendable in my heart
• Be committed in love to the other
person/people
• Never respond in the emotion
• Listen well – take what is said to God – respond
– leave it at the throne
• Apologise if needed
• Don’t have expectations towards the other
person/people
Notas do Editor
Have a chat – mouth was my best friend and my worst enemy
Staff retreat – focus on how we relate to each other in a Christian community (Matthew 18 and Paul’s letters)
Most of Paul’s letters have to do with relationship issues, and quite often disagreements between people as a result of things said.
Our own heart must be right before we utter a word to others
Can you look those in this community in the eye and want to bless them? What about your neighbours, work mates, family?
Are you committed to them, desiring the best for them?
1 Cor 1:9 divisions in church caused by quarreling
Our behaviour Reflects Jesus and bears witness to the world around us
3 verses our of chapter relate to confronting
Our commitment to others without us looking after ourselves
Begins with us being in a place of humility, being committed to others, and having a forgiving heart
Warnings in James about the tongue
Be unoffendable!!!
Poor listener – work hard to listen – why? Keen to give my opinion, an answer, correct…
A still tongue makes a wise head!!!
What grids do I listen through