Posts Tagged ‘speech’
What Makes America Great?
by Terry Wane Benton It would not be the crimes that many have committed in the past or present, as such are always a blight on even the most remarkable ventures of freedom. It would not be the record of sexual immorality that produces unwanted children who would pay with their lives for the sins…
Read MoreIdle Words
by Morris Norman via Sentry Magazine, Vol. 17 No. 1, 31 March 1991 “And I say unto you that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36). Jesus emphatically…
Read MoreWords Hurt, Words Heal
by Doy Moyer “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing” (Proverbs 12:18). Words can hurt. They can be like sword thrusts, cutting deeply and hurting people in ways we may not even consider. Because “what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart”…
Read MoreAlways with Grace
by David Gibson It was about 4:00 a.m. in the ICU. There had been a change of shifts, and a nurse entered Chub Lambert’s room whom he had not met before. “Good morning!” Chub said. “How are you doing today?” She didn’t respond at first. After a pause, she said, “I don’t know how to…
Read MoreNever Speak Evil
by Doy Moyer Never speak evil. We are not to speak evil of anyone, including those in positions of power. Not even Michael the archangel would bring a railing accusation against the devil, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” (Jude 9) The powers that be are in God’s hands and judged according to His will;…
Read MoreIs the phrase “God forbid” irreverent?
Question: Could using the phrase “God forbid” generally be considered irreverent and vain? Answer: “Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “God forbid it, Lord! This shall never happen to You'” (Matthew 16:22 NASB). This translator chose “God forbid” for a Greek phrase that literally means “not not shall be.” “But God…
Read MoreFinding the Words to Say
by Ross Ward, Jr. “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers” (Ephesians 4:29). Have you spent time meditating on how to address a difficult situation? If you are considerate of the things you say and…
Read MoreWhat can I say to someone who frequently says, “I swear to God”?
Question: What can I say to someone who says “I swear to God”? Thanks Answer: The goal should be to get the person to think about what they are saying. Often, people use catchphrases without much thought. Thus, I would ask, “Do you think so little of the truth of your own words that you…
Read MoreHard Words
by Doy Moyer Somewhere along the line, our culture has been convinced that insulting people is the way to win others to their way of thinking. Harsh words that disparage intelligence coupled with character-destroying insinuations have become embedded in our arguments and disagreements. This is the way of the world, a path lacking grace and…
Read MoreThey Shall Know a Prophet Has Been Among Them
by Jarrod M. Jacobs When Ezekiel was called to be a prophet, God made certain things very clear to him. God made it clear that these people were a “rebellious house” (Ezekiel 2:3). God does not mince words regarding His people! He lets Ezekiel know the kind of people he will be facing. At the…
Read MoreYour Speech Shows It
by Terry Wane Benton “As Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant-girls of the high priest came, and seeing Peter warming himself, she looked at him and *said, “You also were with Jesus the Nazarene.” But he denied it, saying, “I neither know nor understand what you are talking about.” And he…
Read MoreIdle Words
by Craig Thomas “Help, LORD, for the godly man ceases to be, for the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak falsehood to one another; with flattering lips and with a double heart they speak. May the LORD cut off all flattering lips, the tongue that speaks great things; who have said,…
Read MoreReverencing the Name of God
by David Gibson I once overheard an older woman ask a middle-aged man as he entered the post office, “Are they closed?” “Lord, no!” he said. “They ain’t closed.” In a Dallas hospital waiting room, several women were passing the time in conversation. One of them mentioned that a certain man they knew was 38.…
Read MoreSpiritual Wisdom and the Internet
by Matthew W. Bassford The Internet is one of the most powerful inventions in human history. If we use it to seek the Lord, it can accomplish great things for Him. Without the Internet, I certainly wouldn’t be able to blog, and I probably wouldn’t be able to write hymns. This is to say nothing,…
Read MoreControlling the Tongue
https://www.lavistachurchofchrist.org/cms/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/ControllingTheTongue.mp3 by PJ Anderson
Read MoreGod’s Name
by Netagene Kirkpatrick I call the name of Jesus, or Lord God when I pray. The Father, Son, and Holy Ghost are not by-words to say! It bothers me to hear someone who takes God’s Name in vain. If I ever slip and do that, I know I’ll be ashamed. Some things are often cut,…
Read MoreGod Bless You! Bless Your Heart!
by Netagene Kirkpatrick eu’phe-mism, n. (Gr.: well + to speak). The substitution of an inoffensive or mild expression for one that may offend or be unpleasant; e.g: “passing away” for “dying”. ~ Webster’s Dictionary, 1961 Some people say “God bless you”, Or sometimes, “Bless your heart!” I know they mean it all in love, God’s care…
Read MoreIs That What You Meant to Say?
by Steve Klein via The Bulletin of the Church of Christ at New Georgia, March 29, 2009 An insurance agent was writing a policy for a cowboy. “Have you ever had any accidents?” the agent asked. “No, not really,” replied the cowboy. “A horse threw me off and kicked me in the ribs once, and…
Read MoreCurses!
by Steve Klein Today we have experts and scholars on every subject imaginable – from global warming to cotton farming. Timothy Jay is an expert on cursing. He’s made quite a study of it, written two books about it, and talks about it often to his students at the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts where…
Read MoreWhat Comes Out of Your Mouth
by Jeffrey W. Hamilton Text: James 3:1-12 I. People are not known for their consistency II. What we say does not match what we do A. The Pharisees talked about doing the right things, but they did not put them to practice in their own lives – Matthew 23:1-4 B. Claim one thing, do something else – Titus…
Read More