Words Have Power of Life and Death

In one paragraph

Steve Landis, one of the elders at First B, filled the pulpit while Ray is away in Costa Rica. He spoke from personal experience about how the Holy Spirit had been convicting him about his own speech, and from there built a case for why believers should surrender willingly to the process of transformation God works in us. Steve explained that the Holy Spirit typically gets a believer's attention...

Read together

1. Matthew 11:28 opening verse about coming to Jesus for rest
2. 1 Peter 1:3 sung about and cited as source of 'living hope' language
3. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 God's will is to rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks
4. John 16:8 the Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgment
5. 2 Timothy 3:16 all scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
6. 1 Peter 3:9-10 do not repay evil for evil but with blessing; keep tongue from evil
7. Ephesians 4:29 no unwholesome talk but only what builds others up
8. James 3:2-10 the tongue compared to a bit, rudder, spark and fire; praise and cursing from same mouth
9. Luke 6:45 out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks
10. John 15:16-17 you did not choose me but I chose you to bear lasting fruit; love each other
11. Ephesians 1:3-8 every spiritual blessing in Christ; chosen, adopted, redeemed, forgiven
12. Hebrews 10:14 he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy
13. 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 new creation in Christ; ministry of reconciliation; God made Jesus to be sin for us
14. Revelation 17:14 the Lamb overcomes because he is Lord of lords; his called, chosen and faithful are with him
15. Titus 2:11-14 grace teaches us to say no to ungodliness; waiting for the blessed hope of Christ's appearing
16. 1 Thessalonians 4:15-18 the Lord's coming, the dead in Christ rising, caught up in the clouds to be with the Lord forever
17. 1 Thessalonians 5:9 God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation
18. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 Jesus rescues us from the coming wrath
19. Romans 5:9 justified by his blood, saved from God's wrath through him
20. Genesis 5:2 God created male and female in his image; the word for male meaning the remembered one
21. 2 Peter 3:1-12 reminder to recall holy prophets' words; scoffers; the day of the Lord coming like a thief; earth destroyed by fire
22. Jude 1:20-23 build yourselves up in faith; be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire
23. 1 John 5:11-12 God has given eternal life in his Son; he who has the Son has life

Talk about it

1. Steve described the Holy Spirit using three things to get our attention when we are sliding into sin: the Holy Spirit, the holy scriptures, and what he called 'holy little-h people.' Which of those three has been most active in your own life, and what did that look like?
2. Steve said the first step whenever the Holy Spirit is convicting us is to stop and listen, and that conviction is actually evidence the Holy Spirit is working in us. How does thinking of conviction that way change how you respond to it?
3. Luke 6:45 says that out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Steve asked: if you want to know what is in your heart, listen to your words. What do you think your words have been revealing about your heart lately?
4. Steve used the image of a full depository or treasury in the heart, saying that if we are depleted we have nothing good to pour out, but that according to Ephesians 1 every person in Christ already has every spiritual blessing. How does remembering that change the way you think about what you have to give to the people around you?
5. Steve pointed to Titus 2:11-14 and said it is grace, not law or judgment, that teaches us to live upright and godly lives. How does that shape the way we ought to come alongside someone else who is struggling?