Series: The Beautiful Tongue., Sermon 3. "A Beautiful Tongue is an Appreciative Tongue!"

 Introduction:

 A.   What causes a person to not have an Appreciative Tongue?

 

B.   Is it merely a lack of awareness of the need to be appreciative, or is it a lack of awareness of things to be appreciative for?

 

C.   I think the problem is deeper than all of these!

 

Trans:

I want to look this morning at, "A Beautiful Tongue is

an Appreciative Tongue."

 

                            Prayer

                          Rom. 1:21-25

 

I.   Look at Paul's description of humankind.

 

A.   Notice, as Paul described the sad state of humankind,

          the first two wrongs he listed that they had

committed had set the rest in motion.

 

1.   They had failed to glorify God as God.

 

2.   They had failed to be thankful toward God.

 

B.   Paul considered being appreciative very important; he started out a lot of his letters with words of thanks.

 

II.  Failure to be thankful can set other sins in motion because

it is more than a tongue problem: it is a heart problem.

 

A.   We don’t want to get too hung up on the list of sins

Paul gives as a result of God giving them up. Things

we should note:

 

1.   Some of the sins are cultural and what Paul

“thinks” are a result of God giving them up. The

 list of sins are at most Paul’s opinion of sin.

 

          2.   Covetousness, envy, strife, deceit, craftiness,

gossips, haughty, boastful, rebellious to

parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, and

ruthless are all given equal condemnation with

the others sins he lists.

 

          3.   Some of these we have probably all been guilty

of!

 

          4.   The point is not for us to point fingers and try

to figure out who is doing what, but we are to

realize that because of their failure to

recognize God as God and to be thankful or

appreciative, God didn’t do something to them,

but God gave them up and let their sin take its

toll.

 

          5.   We don’t want God to give us up, so we should

recognize God as God and be thankful or

appreciative! That is the point of this passage!

 

B.   Again, it is more than just a tongue problem but also

a heart problem! It reveals an unappreciative

attitude!

 

C.   If we have an appreciative attitude, we won't be able

to help but express it.

 

D.   On the other hand, if we have an unappreciative

attitude, it won't be too important to us whether or

not we thank people or God for things they have done.

 

1.   Oh, it's just their job!

 

2.   They weren't doing it for me; they did it just because they had to!

 

3.   God didn't get me this job; I found it myself!

 

4.   They just teach because it gives them a sense of  authority!

 

III. An appreciative attitude will give us a better home life.

 

A.   The wife of Prov. 31:10-31 is a remarkable lady, but notice a very important part in vs. 28, "Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." (NIV)

 

B.   Her family had an appreciative tongue.

 

1.   We want to help our family life?  We want to help our family members grow and be better?  We need to show appreciation for the things they do right!

 

2.   We want things to get worse and them give up on

ever being anything worth while?  Then run them

down every time they make a mistake!

 

IV.  An appreciative tongue will change our whole perspective on life!

 

A.   Do we see life for the good things that are there and express appreciation?

 

B.   Or do we see life for the bad things that are there and would express appreciation, but we do not see much to be appreciative about?  Then we are not appreciative! If we were we would see a lot of things to be thankful for!

 

C.   Illustration: (from Beauty Care for the Tongue by LeRoy Koopman)

 

1.   A vulture and a hummingbird fly over the same desert.

 

2.   The vulture will find a decaying dead body

     because that is what he is looking for.

 

3.   The hummingbird will find a beautiful flower

because that is what he is looking for.

 

4.   We will find what we want to find!

 

D.   An appreciative person will                                               and not the:

        notice:

 

1.   friendly bag-packer                                         1.   grumpiness of the

check-out person

 

 

2.   The good yield of                                               2.   a lot of weeds

tomatoes, squash, etc.

 

3.   The smile of a babies                                        3.   the dirty diapers

first accomplishments.

 

4.   The good in the church                                    4.   the bad in the Church

 

5.   The good in a person                                       5.   the bad in a  Person

 

          6.   Good things to respond                                                  6.   Bad things to

                 to online!                                                                                respond to online!

 

     E.   An appreciative tongue doesn’t feel that they deserve

all the good things in life, so when good things

happen, they are appreciative!

 

1.   They don’t feel they deserve blessings because

they are a Christian or so good!

 

2.   They don’t feel they deserve blessings because

they are Americans!

 

3.   They realize bad things are a part of life!

 

4.   When they are blessed, they are appreciative!

 

V.   An appreciative Tongue will not only change our perspective

on life, but will do something about it!

 

A.   An appreciative Tongue will speak words of

appreciation to those who have blessed them!

 

     B.   An appreciative Tongue will look for things to

appreciate! It will be the outflow of a positive life!

 

     C.   An appreciative Tongue will write encouraging words to

people online!  It will not only see the bad, but it

will look for the good and encourage it!

 

     D.   A heart that is filled with appreciation will respond

with words of appreciation!

 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

A.   Do we have appreciative tongues?

 

B.   If we haven't it is because we do not have an    

appreciative heart (attitude).

 

1.   God expects an appreciative heart!

 

2.   We don’t want God to give us up!

 

C.   There is no need to try to clean up the outside with a tongue that expresses thankfulness that we don't mean!

 

D.   As we encounter Christ at the table this morning,

let's ask God to give us an appreciative heart   

(attitude).

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

Beautiful Tongue Series: Sermon 2 "A Beautiful Tongue is a Silent Tongue!"

 

Introduction:

A.   Which would you rather be?

 

1.   A person who always has a fast answer?

 

2.   A person who has to think for a moment before answering?

 

B.   Which one would be more apt to be left out of the conversation today?

 

C.   Are we really left out if we are listening and the conversation keeps going?

 

D.      In our Society of instant everything, we have been left with the impression that we must have instant words! If we do not, we feel left out or that we do not fit in!

 

Trans:

The Bible has much to say about this!  Let's look this morning at what it has to say!

 

                            Prayer

 

                       Read from the NRSV

                        Proverbs 10:19,

                          Ecc. 3:1&7,

                          Psalm 4:4, &

                         James 1:19-20

 

I.   Let's look at these scriptures:

 

A.   Proverbs 10:19 tells us, when words are many sin is not lacking but when we keep our mouth shut we are wise.

 

B.   Ecc. 3:7 says, there actually is a time to be silent!

 

C.   Psalm 4:4 instructs us, when we are angry don't say a

lot of things that will hurt, but think about it (talk to ourselves in bed) and be silent until we have just the right, Christian thing to say!

 

D.   James 1:19 says we should be, “quick to hear and slow

to speak.”

 

1.   Too many times today, we do just the opposite of  this one!

 

2.   We don't listen to what someone says, but

instead, we are thinking of what we are going to say next!

 

3.   LeRoy Koopman in his book Beauty Care for the

Tongue says of this situation, "If both

individuals are going through the same little

ritual, we have the ludicrous situation of two

people talking to themselves together."  Sounds

funny doesn't it?  But it happens!

 

4.      This must of been what the Bible is speaking of

in Pro. 18:2, "A fool finds no pleasure in

understanding but delights in airing his own

opinions." (NIV)

 

E.   The Bible gets pretty practical doesn't it?

 

II.  There are 4 reasons that, "The Beautiful Tongue is a Silent Tongue."  They are:

 

A.   Silence at the right time eliminates gossip.

 

1.   If we think about what we are about to say and

how it is going to effect other people, much of what we are tempted to say will go unspoken.

 

2.   But what happens too much of the time is we gossip before we know what we are doing because we fail to be silent and think before we speak.

 

3.   Also, if we think before we post something, we might decide it is best not to post it!

 

B.   Silence at the right time promotes harmony with others.

 

1.   When we are angry, if we will be silent, it will promote harmony!

 

a.   We speak most impulsively when we are angry.

 

b.   We speak most rapidly when we are angry.

 

c.   We speak without thinking when we are angry.

 

d.   We post things we shouldn’t when we are

angry!

 

e.   Words fly, and the damage is done.  The hurt that is left is not from the fact we disagreed but what we said when we disagreed!

 

f.   So if we can learn the virtue of being silent until we have cooled down and are thinking rationally, we will be able to avoid hurting other people.

 

2.   Another way this promotes Harmony with others:

 

a.   If we are a good listener, people will want

to be around us.

 

b.   People may grow tired of hearing us talk, but they will love a good listener!

 

C.   Silence at the right time can give us an opportunity

for ministry to others!

 

1.   People "need" someone to listen to them!

 

2.   The books I've read on Counseling say that a large part of counseling is listening.  Many times people will discover the answer to their own problems if they can just find someone to listen to them objectively.

 

3.   Many times Marriage problems can be solved by the couple involved learning to "listen!"

 

4.   The world needs some good listeners!  We as the people of God need to be just that!!

 

 

D.   Silence at the right time is important in our relationship with God.

 

1.   Elijah expected God to be revealed in the great windstorm, in the earthquakes, and in the fire.  Instead, God was revealed with a still, small voice (I Kings 19:9-18).

 

2.   Too many times we don't listen for the still,

small voice!  We expect God to hit us with

something while on the run!

 

3.   We pray God give me this, God give me that, and thank you for this - amen.  We never listen for God to speak to us!

 

4.   Prayer should be two-way!  Let's give God a chance to speak to us!  Let=s give God some Silence when we pray and listen!

 

III. A word about being friendly and speaking!

 

A.   We need to. There is a time for friendly chatter.

 

B.   But there's a time to speak and a time to listen!  We

all need to learn that!

 

Conclusion:

A.   Does this message hit home for us?

 

B.   Remember what we said last Sunday.  The Bible says we

can't control our tongues by ourselves!

 

C.   We need the help of the Holy Spirit to do that!  The

Holy Spirit can help us be silent at the right time if

we ask and then listen to the prodding and guiding of

the Spirit.

 

D.   Do we need to yield to the Holy Spirit today so we

can grow in this virtue?

 

E.      As we encounter Christ at the table today, let’s yield

to Christ’s Spirit!  Ask Christ to help you with a

silent tongue.

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

Series: The Beautiful Tongue. Sermon One: "The Importance of a Beautiful Tongue!"

 Introduction:

A.   Have you ever stuck your tongue out and looked in the mirror at it?

 

1.   If you haven't, go home and look at it!

 

2.   You will probably find that it isn't very pretty.  It will probably have lumps, bumps, cracks, and etc.

 

B.   Yet, we don't see ways to beautify our tongues advertized!

 

1.   I've never seen a tongue beautician.

 

2.   Avon doesn't sell cosmetics for it to my knowledge.

 

3.   I've never seen a diet to get your tongue into  shape!

 

C.   Yet, there are ways to Beautify our tongues, and it is very important that we do!

 

Trans:

For the next few weeks, I will preach a series on The Beautiful Tongue, and today specifically I want to talk about "The Importance of a Beautiful Tongue!"

 

                            Prayer

 

                          James 3:1-5

 

I.   James realized the power of the tongue.

 

A.   v.2  "Anyone who makes no mistakes in speaking is

 perfect, able to keep the whole body in check

 with a bridle."

 

B.   He compares the tongue to little objects doing great things:

1.   Small bit controls a horse.

 

2.   Small rudder controls the direction of a ship.

 

3.   Small fire sets ablaze a great forest.

 

II.  Our Tongue too is small, but it can do a lot of things!

 

A.   The tongue can make a plain person into a beautiful person by the proper use of it.

 

B.   The tongue can soothe an agitated temper.

 

C.   The tongue can point the way to God.

 

D.   The tongue can make or break our marriages.

 

Communications -    perhaps one of the greatest tools

to making a marriage work; yet, the lack of it has destroyed many

marriages!

 

E.   The tongue can make our home a paradise or a battlefield.

 

F.   It can draw our children to us in Love and affection,  or it can drive them away in hate and disgust.

 

G.   It can help us make friends and keep friends, or it can drive people away.

 

H.   It can protect another person’s reputation, or it can destroy it.

 

I.   On the job, it can get us hired, and it can get us fired!

 

J.   It can heal a church, or it can kill a church.

 

K.   It can attract people to Christ, or it can drive them away!

 

L.   Words are hard to take back once they fly!

 

 III. I think any discussion today about the tongue would not be

complete without a word about online communication!  When

we are online, we can easily write or post before we think! 

It is like the unbridled tongue!

 

A.   James didn’t know about that in his day, but today,

much of what he says about the tongue can also be

applied to what we write online!

 

B.   Are we careful that what we write is true or do we

just pass on any juicy gossip that we see? This

includes political gossip!

 

     C.   Is what we write meant to help or destroy?  Do we word

it that way?

    

     D.   Do we write to inflame tempers or to sooth tempers?

 

     E.   Do we encourage or do we just rant and rave?

 

     F.   Do we teach or do we create false truth?

 

     G.   Everything I say about the tongue can also apply to

our online presence today!

 

H.   Just like our tongue, things said online are

     easily taken back!

 

IV.  What people think of us will be controlled greatly by the

     use we make of our tongues!

 

A.   Will they consider us a gossip?

 

B.   Will they consider us a peacemaker?

 

C.   Will they consider us a positive person or negative?

 

D.   Will they consider us a complainer?

 

E.   It affects our witness!  Will we draw people to God or

     push them away?

 

V.   So it is very important that we beautify our tongues!  But how?

 

A.   The Bible tells us we can't do it!  The tongue no one

can tame (James 3:7&8).

 

B.   Then why did James go through this long discourse

about how we needed to tame it?

 

C.   The only way we can is through a stronger power even

than our tongue!  The Holy Spirit!

 

1.   Jesus promised, "You shall receive power when the  Holy Spirit has come upon you" (Acts 1:8).

 

2.   When the Spirit came to the church at Pentecost,  what was the first thing it made use of and controlled?  The tongue!  The disciples spoke in  other languages that could be understood by people from different countries. That us what our Acts scripture shows us!

 

3.   So God can help us control ours today!  We just

need to tap into the power of the Holy Spirit!

 

Conclusion:

 

A.   What kind of things do we do with our tongues?

 

B.   Has it got a habit of getting us in trouble?

 

C.   As we encounter Christ at the table, let's commit

to letting the Holy Spirit mold our tongues into what

God would have them to be (a beautiful tongue) in the

weeks ahead!

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion

 

Series: The Church: "God's Arm of Evangelism!"

Introduction:

A.   What does it mean, The Church is the body of Christ?

 

B.   Doesn't it mean we are God/s hands, feet, etc.

 

C.   But have we really thought about what that means?

 

                            Prayer

                Rom. 12: 4-8 and Matt. 28:18-20

 

I.   What do these scriptures tell us?

 

A.   We are one body in Christ.

 

B.   We have many different jobs.

1.   Some pastors

2.   Some teachers

3.   Some singers & musicians

  4.   Some encouragers

5.   Some prayer warriors

6.   Some trustees

7.   Some treasurers

8.   Some ushers and greeters & etc.

 

C.   We are all a part of one another!

 

     D.   We are to go into all the world with the gospel!

 

II.  Let's look at the significance of the church being the body

of Christ!

 

A.   We are Christ's bodily temple on Earth now!  We are the embodiment of Christ!

 

B.   We are "the plan!

 

1.   There is the story of a fictional discussion in  Heaven between Christ and St. Peter.

 

2.   In this discussion, Christ tells of how he plans

to reach out to the world and show them he loves

them; he tells how he wants to tell them how he

wants to have a relationship with them.  He shares how his desire is that all should come to

repentance.  He shares how he plans to show all of this to the world through his followers.

 

3.   Peter says, "Lord this plan sounds good, but what

if it fails, what is the backup plan?

 

4.   The Lord looks very seriously at him and replies,

"There is no other plan."

 

C.   The Church is the body of Christ, "The Plan," the "only Plan."  The Church is God's arm extended to our world!

 

     D.   We are the Evangelistical arm of God into the world!

 

III. To see the importance of the Church as God's arm extended,

let's look at a world where this extension of God has ceased to exist.

 

A.   It would be a world where the Bible was lost; could

happen one of two ways!

 

1.   Satan would see to it that the existing Bibles

were destroyed.  No one who would see to it that it was ever printed again.  We would resist this one something fierce, I think!

 

2.   Satan would create an indifference to the Word;

there would be no one who realized the importance

of the Bible and the message it contains inside.

We are dangerously close to this today!

 

              a.   Many people never read the Bible; many do

                   not even have Bibles in their homes.

 

              b.   Christians rely on what they hear read to

                   them on Sundays and seldom read it

                   themselves through the week!

 

              c.   Nobody is trying to take our Bibles away; if

                   they did, we would be upset, but yet, we let

                   them sit unused in our homes all week!

 

B.   It would be a world where hatred and bitterness reigned instead of Love, and there would be no one to try to change it. 

 

C.   It would be a world where greed and jealousy were prevalent with no signs of generosity and trust.  Making money would be the gauge by which everything is measured rather than dignity, justice, and love!

 

D.   It would be a world where no one cared for the other  person, only for themselves!

 

1.   When someone was hurt, there would be no shoulder

to cry on!

 

2.   People would be fulfilling their own desires

with no concern for right or wrong.

 

E.   There would be no spiritual guidance!  There would be

no lights to shine in the darkness!  Nobody to tell the world that God loves them and has sent Christ for them!

 

1.   The church was here before Democrats or

     Republicans.

 

2.   The church was here before the United States ever

     came to be!

 

3.   So no matter who is in charge of the Judicial or

Legislative branch of our government, no matter how well the United States does, the church is to be the light shining in the darkness!

 

          4.   We are to be holding up the hope that is found in

              Christ!  Christ is the answer!  Christ is what

              the world needs!

 

F.   Any good would eventually be gone! That would be a world without the church: God=s arm of evangelism!  It has been said we are only one generation away from a world that doesn=t know God! Think about that!

 

IV.  But that isn=t the way it is; there is still Hope! That Hope

is in the Church!

 

A.   God has given us an awesome responsibility!

 

B.   God has confidence that we can do the job.  God has put all trust in us; there is no other plan.  God has

placed all the eggs in one basket!

 

C.   The way we can do it is by giving our all to Jesus and  letting God live through us.  We then become God's

body, God's arm extended:

 

1.   To show those on the outside that God loves them and desires a relationship with them

 

a.   through daily opportunities. AWith all people@ & AAs we go.@

 

b.   through intentionally making opportunities

either individually or as a church.

 

1)   individually: plan a time!

     a)   Ask someone over.

     b)   Plan a shopping date.

     c)   Help someone with a task around

          their house!

 

2)   Church: activities like the chicken BBQ! Anything we do to bring those on the outside into the church building to give us a chance to talk to them!

 

2.   To show the hurting that God cares because we

care, and to tell them that God cares!

 

3.   To show “all” people that God loves them and that there is a place for them in the church!

 

4.   To be a light shining in the darkness.

 

Again:    AGo therefore and make disciples of all nations,

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of   the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you.  And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.@   Matt. 28: 19-20

 

5.   We do not go out alone!  That is what the flame

     represents that we carry out at the end of the

     service!

 

 

 

Conclusion:

 

A.   Church are we accomplishing our part of that task?

 

B.   Christians, how about us as individuals?  The Church is made up of individuals.  As we all grow in Christ and do our part (whatever that is), we will see results! We will make a difference!  The Church, God's arm extended to a lost and dying world; that is the plan!  We are the light shining in the darkness!

 

You know what?

 

I believe the Church is alive and well in our world today, and it is making a difference.  Is it because God is making a difference through you??

 

                      Prayer of Confession

 

Communion