Here's the video and discussion guide for part 6 of our New Discipleship tool
Image Bearers 6 ‘Voice’
Feedback on how you got on with the tongue assignment of only building people up?
Read Matt 12:36, and discuss for a couple of minutes (how does it make you feel? How important is it to say the right thing? How easy is it to say the right thing? How long does the Tongue assignment really last for?)
Read Eph 4:15
What are we supposed to speak?______________
How are we supposed to speak? ________________
What will the result be? _______________________________________
Your mouth is your most useful tool for making disciples (helping people become more like the image of Christ).
Read Luke 6:45
According to this verse, what’s going on when we don’t speak the truth lovingly to others?
So the real problem with our voices is our heart!
Tick the boxes for ways that you often use your voice. Circle the corresponding verses, and add them to your armoury of truth to pray through them during the week.
How you often use your voice
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What’s in your heart
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Replace with the good (meditate on these verses)
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Speaking more than listening. Giving lots of advice ☐
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Pride: What I have to say is more important than what you have to say
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Prov 3:7
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Not sharing gospel truths with people ☐
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Fear: I can’t do this. Fear of man: They’ll think badly of me. Pride: They don’t matter enough for me to share God’s word with them.
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Prov 29:25-26; Rom 1:14
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Speaking in a harsh tone ☐
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Fear: I need to protect myself
Anger: I’m fed up with you
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2Tim 4:18; Eph 4:29-32
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Not encouraging people ☐
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Pride: They don’t deserve encouragement. Selfishness: All that matters is if I’m encouraged
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2Cor 13:11; 1Thess 5:10-11; Heb 3:13
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Gossip ☐
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Pride: I know all the information about that person, let me be your guide about that person
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Prov 11:13; 16:28; 20:19; 26:20; 2 Cor 12:20
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Flattery ☐
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Selfishness: I want you to like me, or to do something for me
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1Thess 2:5; Rom 16:17-18; 1Tim 3:8 (NET)
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Criticism ☐
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Pride: I know better than everyone else
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Prov 3:7; Jas 3:13-18;
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Not giving ☐ constructive criticism
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Fear: I might lose this friend if I correct them.
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Eph 4:15
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Accusing people ☐
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Pride: I’m all knowing and you are definitely wrong.
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Zech 3:1-4; Rom 14:4; Rev 12:10
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Defensiveness ☐
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Self-righteousness: Its impossible that I did anything wrong
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Rom 3:23-24; 1John 1:8; 1Tim 1:15
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Complaining ☐
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Pride: I should be treated better than this
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Phil 2:14; 1 Pet 4:9; Phil 2:3-11
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Not speaking out on injustice ☐
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Selfishness: I don’t want to get caught in the cross fire
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Prov 31:8-9
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Self promotion ☐
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Pride: I want you to know how good I am, to win your approval.
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Acts 5:1-10; 2 Cor 12:6
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Putting people down (even with jokes) ☐
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Pride: I am putting myself in a superior position to you
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Eph 4:29
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Arguing ☐
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Self-righteousness: I must be right.
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Jas 3:17 ‘submissive‘ here means ‘open to reason’
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Condescending ☐
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Pride: I’m better than you
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Prov 29:23; Jas 4:6
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Blaming ☐
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Pride, self-righteousness
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Gen 3:12; Prov 28:13
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Not owning up to sin ☐
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Pride, self-righteousness
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Jas 5:16; 1 John 1:9
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Read John 1:14
If we want to be like Jesus, our words need to contain ____________ and ___________
a) How can your words contain truth?
1) Listening to God’s word (so that it informs your words)
2) Listening to the person your speaking to (to avoid misunderstanding them)
a. HUG without RESQ
Why do both these things require humility?
b) How can your words contain grace?
By exposing the hardened parts of your heart to God’s word. As the heart becomes softer, the more grace we will give others (Heb 3:12-13). Preaching the Gospel to ourselves each day.
So we need to be constantly:
1) Hearing God’s word.
2) Applying it to our hearts
3) Hearing other people
4) Passing on God’s words to them
There’s an interplay here of relationship, assessment, and voice:
a) To know the right way to use your voice with someone, you first need to assess where they are at.
b) To be able to use your voice in a patient way, you need to assess where you’re at and remove the log from your eye, and fill your heart with God’s love through his word.
Read 1 Thess 5:14, How can you know which category someone is in? ____________
If they’re weak – don’t speak, instead patiently _____________
If they’re disheartened, patiently ______________
If they’re idle or disruptive, patiently _____________
Memorize Eph 4:29
Pray
