Introduction:
A. We are continuing the series
on the tongue this morning. Most of the
subjects we’ve covered thus far have had a positive aspect about them: silent,
appreciative, witnessing, clean, and kind.
I want to talk to you about a subject around the tongue that the only
way to be positive about it is to not do it.
B. It is usually preceded by phrases such as:
1. "I don't mean to talk about her but . .
. ."
2. "Don't tell anyone else about this . . .
."
3. "Have you heard about . . . ?"
C. We might say, "We don't gossip; we don't tell anything that isn't true! If it is true, we haven't gossiped. We haven't hurt them; they have hurt themselves!"
D. But is this true? Is gossip only gossip if it is
untrue? A
lot of people think so!
Trans.
Let's look at
"A Beautiful Tongue is a Tongue That
Does Not
Gossip" this morning and see what we can learn about gossip.
Prayer
I. Webster Def. Gossip: Idle talk about other people's affairs; one who discusses the private affairs of others. To tell idle tales about others.
Read Prov. 11:13; Phil. 4:8; and Ecc.
10:20
A. This sounds like it is talking about things
that are true!
B. Maybe we could define it as: Idle talk about someone that
doesn't serve to help them or build them up!
1. Idle in that it doesn't serve any useful
purpose.
2. Doesn't seem to help; it isn't
gossip if we are telling someone who can help the situation and for that
purpose!
3. Build them up; it isn't gossip if we are
telling good things on people!
C. Maybe it would be good to put what we are about to say to the test of Philippians 4:8.
1. Is it true?
2. Is it honorable?
3. Is it just?
4. Is it pure?
5. Is it lovely?
6. Is it of good report?
II. Gossip is irretrievable.
A. Once we start Gossip, it is almost impossible
to stop
and the damage
is hard to repair.
B. We may be sorry about it; we may be forgiven
by God,
but we can't
undo the consequences of our gossip.
C. It will usually always eventually get back to
the one we've talked about!
Ecc. 10:20 The writer here has an odd way of putting it but is saying it always seems to mysteriously get back to the person we've talked about!
D. And it can destroy a friendship.
Prov. 17:9 NIV
"He who
covers over an offense promotes love, but
whoever repeats
the matter separates close friends."
III. Gossip is unloving.
A. We can't Love someone and spread Gossip about them at the same time!
B. I Cor. 13:6 NIV "Love does not delight in evil ...."
C. So if we are delighting in telling evil on
them, we aren't loving them.
D. Gal. 6:1 NRSV gives
us some instruction here.
"My friends, if anyone is detected in a transgression, you who have received the Spirit should restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness."
E. We are to go to that person and show them
gentle love! If we can't do this, by
all means, we aren't to go and spread it all over town."
IV. Four reasons why we Gossip.
A. We gossip because we lack self-confidence and
self-respect.
1. Somehow, we self-consciously feel that if we can bring others down it raises us up.
2. We are special to God.
a. God sent Christ to die for us.
b. God has prepared a special place for us to live in eternally.
3. We need to love ourselves.
Matt. 22:39 says, "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus assumes we will have a healthy love of self!
B. We gossip because we haven't
filled our minds with more important things!
Quote: Charles Allen in God's Psychiatry.
"Those of
great minds discuss ideas, people of mediocre minds discuss events, and those
of small minds discuss other people."
1. Study the truths of the Bible.
2. Read good thought provoking books.
3. Watch talk shows (at least some talk shows),
documentaries,
and news on T.V.
C. We gossip because we are idle.
1. We often gossip because we have run out of
anything constructive to do!
2. Visiting is important, but let's not make our
visits into
times to talk about other people.
D. We gossip because we are in the habit of gossiping. Let's ask God to help us become more aware and to be able to stop this destructive habit.
V. Gossip destroys!
A. It destroys our reputation as well as the one
whom we
are gossiping
about. We will be known as the gossip!
B. It drives people away from the church.
Conclusion:
A. Let's look again at Phil. 4:8.
1. This is what our speech needs to be.
2. Motivated by love.
B. Prov. 26:20 "For lack of wood the fire goes out;
and where there is no whisperer, quarreling ceases."
C. There is no room in God's work for a gossip!
D. Do we need to yield to the Spirit of God in
this area
of our lives as
we encounter Christ at the table this
morning?
Prayer
of Confession
Service
of Communion
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