Salty Words!

 

Introduction:

 

Let me share some interesting facts about salt from Funk & Wagnalls Encyclopedia.

 

A.      Salt - Chemical name is Sodium Chloride NaCl.

 

B.      Most widely used as a food and seasoning, as such is an essential part of the human diet (although we don't need as much as we as American's usually consume).

 

C.      Widely used as a preservative for meats.

 

     D.   Is used in some refrigeration processes, in dyeing,              and in the manufacture of soaps and glass.

 

     Trans.    Today we will look at it as a preservative.

 

                            Prayer

                          Col. 4:2-6

 

For the purposes of this message, I want to concentrate on vs. 6.

 

“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer everyone.”

 

I.   Let's look at some ways our speech is not seasoned with salt.

 

     A.   Gossiping - telling something bad on someone!

          1.   It could be true, but if it isn't necessary, it

is still gossip.

          2.   Gossip tears down another's reputation!  Just the                opposite of preserving!

 

     B.   Have you ever saw people that liked to use their

Speech to ag people on?

          1.   Someone tells them about something that happened!

          2.   They respond with, "Boy, I wouldn't let them push

me around that way; I'd give them a piece of my mind! They think they know it all!  They think they are better than you!" etc.

          3.   Before you know it, unless the first person is                   really disciplined, he/she will get worked up to

the point of doing something, but it might be the

wrong thing to do!

          4.   Again speech has been used to destroy and not                    preserve!

 

     C.   The negative tongue!

          1.   "You can't do anything right!"

          2.   "You can't do that; you'll mess it up!"

          3.   "Your stupid!"

          4.   Children's ability to learn and confidence in                    themselves to achieve are greatly reduced if they                have parents that are negative toward them!

          5.   Adults are affected also!

              a)   If we have a boss that is an encourager, we                     will try hard to please, but if our boss is                      negative we will figure what's the use;

he/she won't be happy anyway!

 

              b)   One goal of marriage should be to help our                      partner to become the best he/she can be for                     God and for themselves.  We can't do that if

we are negative!

          6.   If we are negative about people, again, our

speech has been used to destroy and not preserve!

 

II.    Let's look at some ways our speech can be seasoned with salt!

 

     A.   By trying to always find something good to say about             someone or not say anything about them at all!

          1.   Unless it is to someone that can help the

situation and with the intent of helping.  90% of the tmei it is not!

          2.   This way our speech has been used to preserve                    someone's reputation and not to destroy!

          3.   I'm talking about idle talk, not when someone

asks for a reference, etc.

 

     B.   By being a peacemaker!

          1.   Matt. 5:9

              "Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be                  called the children of God."

2.   Instead of trying to ag someone on, we try to bring peace and help them to put themselves in the other persons shoes, so they can understand why the other person acted the way they did!

          3.   This way our speech has been used to preserve a                  friendship!

 

     C.   By being positive.

          1.   By helping people realize they can do things! By                 being an encourager!

          2.   Remember and remind others of Phil. 4:13.  "I can

do all things through Christ who strengthens me!"

 

     D.   Be ready to preserve people's souls by pointing them

To Christ!

          I Peter 3:15b  "... be ready always to give an answer

to every [person] that asks you a

reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear."

 

III. Our speech seasoned with salt can be the best witness we

can have! 

A.   It can help our personal ministry!

     1.   What we say. Like I’ve said before, we may be the

Only Bible some people read.  What are they

reading about God or God’s love because of our

speech?  Is God wanting to bring peace? Is God

loving?  Is God hateful?  Is God Judgmental?  Is

God positive or just wanting to get them for

whatever they have done?  Does God want

to have a relationship with them and include

them?  

     2.   Another way we speak today is online.  What does

What we post say about God?

          3.   Does our speech draw people to God or push them

away?

 

B.   It can help the ministry of our church and our witness in the community, because our church is not a building.  It is us, and the church is reflected through each of us!

 

Conclusion:

 

A.   Is your speech usually seasoned with salt?

 

B.   Is it used to preserve or destroy?

 

     C.   As we encounter Christ at the table this morning, do

you need to ask Christ to help you with this one?

 

                      Prayer of Confession

Service of Communion