Worldliness

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Worldliness
Credit Given to Don McClain for some of the
material in this lesson. See his sermon on The
Undercurrent of Verbal Poison at
http//www.w65stchurchofchrist.org/Sermon_Outline.
html
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Worldliness
Misuse of the Tongue
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Christians Are To Speak Differently Than The World

• Matthew 513-16
• You are the salt of the earth but if the salt
  has become tasteless, how can it be made
  salty again? It is no longer good for anything,
  except to be thrown out and trampled under foot
  by men. You are the light of the world. A city
  set on a hill cannot be hidden nor does anyone
  light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on
  the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are
  in the house. Let your light shine before men in
  such a way that they may see your good works, and
  glorify your Father who is in heaven. 

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Many Misuses of the Tongue
Lying Cursing Casual Oaths Angry
Words Gossip Flattery Grumbling Complaining
How We Misuse Our Tongues In Dealing With One
Another
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Talebearer

rakiyl ???? 7400 - 1) slanderer, talebearer,
informer (Brown, Driver Briggs)
Leviticus 1916 You shall not go about as a
talebearer among your people nor shall you take
a stand against the life of your neighbor I am
the Lord. Proverbs 2019 He who goes about
as a talebearer reveals secrets Therefore do not
associate with one who flatters with his lips.
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Talebearer
• nirgan, - H5372 ????? 1) to murmur, whisper
  1a) murmurer 1b) backbiter, slanderer,
  talebearer (Brown, Driver Briggs)

Proverbs 188 The words of a talebearer are
like tasty trifles, And they go down into the
inmost body. Proverbs 2620 Where there is no
wood, the fire goes out And where there is no
talebearer, strife ceases.
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Slanderer

diabolos 1228 to accuse falsely to be given
to finding fault with the demeanor and conduct of
others, and spreading their innuendos and
criticisms in the church (Vines)
Titus 23 Older women likewise are to be
reverent in their behavior, not malicious gossips
nor enslaved to much wine, teaching what is
good
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Slanderer

katalalos 2637 to speak evil of, to speak
against, to slander (Strongs)
James 411 Do not speak against one another,
brethren. He who speaks against a brother or
judges his brother, speaks against the law and
judges the law.
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Reveals
• galah, ???? Hebrew 1540, gaw-law' a primitive
  root to denude (especially in a disgraceful
  sense) advertise, disclose, discover, open,
  publish, reveal, tell, uncover. (Strongs)

Proverbs 1113 A talebearer reveals secrets,
But he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a
matter. Proverbs 259 Debate your case with
your neighbor, And do not disclose the secret to
another
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Busybody periergazomai 4020 verb
  periergos 4021 noun
• 1) to bustle about uselessly, to busy ones self
  about trifling, needless, useless matters. 1a)
  used apparently of a person officiously
  inquisitive about others affairs (Thayer)

2 Thes. 311 For we hear that there are some
who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not
working at all, but are busybodies.
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Busybody periergazomai 4020 verb
  periergos 4021 noun
• 1) to bustle about uselessly, to busy ones self
  about trifling, needless, useless matters. 1a)
  used apparently of a person officiously
  inquisitive about others affairs (Thayer)

1 Tim. 513 And besides they learn to be idle,
wandering about from house to house, and not only
idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying
things which they ought not.
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Busybody
• allotriepiskopos - 244
• 1) one who takes the supervision of affairs
  pertaining to others and in no wise to himself, a
  meddler in other mens affairs (Thayer)

1 Peter 415 But let none of you suffer as a
murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody
in other people's matters.
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Bible Words For Gossip

• Tattler (Gossips NKJV)
• phluaros - 5397
• 1) of persons uttering or doing silly things,
  garrulous, babbling
• 2) of things, foolish, trifling, vain (Thayer)

1 Tim. 513 And besides they learn to be idle,
wandering about from house to house, and not only
idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying
things which they ought not.
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I. Its Great Influence

• James 33-5 (NKJV)
• Indeed, we put bits in horses mouths that they
  may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look
  also at ships although they are so large and are
  driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very
  small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so
  the tongue is a little member and boasts great
  things. See how great a forest a little fire
  kindles! 

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I. Its Great Influence

• Three illustrations of small items that
  yield great influence
• A small metal bar in a horse's mouth is able to
  completely control that large, muscular and
  majestic animal.
• One small bit of a word can often control the
  destiny of a man a program of work or even a
  congregation of the Lord's church.

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I. Its Great Influence

• A preacher once asked a young man if he was a
  Christian. The young man said No. The preacher
  gently responded, That's a shame, you are such a
  fine looking gentleman to be lost and going to
  hell. (That's all that was said).
• Years later, that same young man looked up the
  preacher to tell him that he had become a
  Christian because the words he had spoken to him
  on that day would not let his mind rest.

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I. Its Great Influence

• Three illustrations of small items that
  yield great influence
• A small rudder can turn a giant ship even in the
  midst of a storm.
• In the good-ole-days when denominations would
  to try and defend their faith in public debates,
  often 50 baptisms would result when a gospel
  preacher would unbendably speak the truth in love.

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I. Its Great Influence

• Three illustrations of small items that
  yield great influence
• Behold how great a matter a little fire
  kindleth.
• In Chicago in 1871, a cow kicked over a lantern
  and started a little hay on fire. By the time
  they were able to put out the fire, 250 people
  had been killed, and 17,450 buildings had been
  destroyed.

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I. Its Great Influence

• In one congregation a preacher labored for more
  than 5 years and was doing a great work --- one
  day he said something that offended a lady. With
  her tongue, she started a mud-slide toward that
  preacher and his family that within six weeks
  drove him clear out of the state!
• That was nearly 15 years ago. The congregation
  has had a series of preachers since then, but
  because of the animosity developed by that
  incident, none have stayed over two years. The
  congregation has since split, and today is barely
  existing in an atmosphere of brotherly
  skepticism ... not conducive for growth.
• A strong foothold for the gospel was destroyed,
  and it can all be traced back to an unbridled
  tongue!

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II. Its Great Iniquity

• James 36-8 (NKJV)
• And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity.
  The tongue is so set among our members that it
  defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the
  course of nature and it is set on fire by
  hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of
  reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has
  been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the
  tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly
  poison. 

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II. Its Great Iniquity

• Romans 128-31
• God gave them over to a debased mind, to do
  those things which are not fitting being filled
  with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality,
  wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness full of
  envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness the
  y are whisperers. backbiters, haters of God,
  violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil
  things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning,
  untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving,
  unmerciful... 

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II. Its Great Iniquity

• A. B. Simpson once wrote
• Id rather play with lightning than speak a
  reckless word against a servant of Christ.

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II. Its Great Iniquity

• Galatians 515
• But if you bite and devour one another, beware
  lest you be consumed by one another!
• Spiritual cannibalism! 

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II. Its Great Iniquity

• One day well stand before God and give an
  account of every careless word weve spoken.

Matthew 1236-37 But I say to you that for every
idle word men may speak, they will give account
of it in the day of judgment. For by your words
you will be justified, and by your words you will
be condemned.
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II. Its Great Iniquity

• Why is this so? Because what comes out of the
  mouth comes from the heart.

Matthew 1518-19 But those things which proceed
out of the mouth come from the heart, and they
defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil
thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications,
thefts, false witness, blasphemies....
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III. Its Great Inconsistency

• James 39-12 (NKJV)
• With it we bless our God and Father, and with it
  we curse men, who have been made in the
  similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed
  blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things
  ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth
  fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can
  a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a
  grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both
  salt water and fresh. 

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Some Results of Gossip

• A persons good name destroyed Prov. 221

A good name is to be more desired than great
wealth.
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Some Results of Gossip

• A persons good name destroyed Prov. 221

A woman was guilty of gossiping about her
preacher. She was convicted of sin and went to
him to apologize and try to make restitution for
her wrongdoing. The preacher graciously accepted
her apology and then told her that if she wanted
to make it right, she should take a chicken, kill
it, pluck it, carry its feathers to the top of
the highest building in town and cast its
feathers to the four winds. She carried out his
directive and returned to him. He looked at her
and said, Now go and collect every one of those
feathers. She replied in horror, That is
impossible! He said, So is it impossible or you
to take back all those things you have said about
me.
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Some Results of Gossip

• A persons good name destroyed Prov. 221
• A persons heart hurt deeply Prov. 188

The words of a whisperer are like dainty
morsels, and they go down into the innermost
parts of the body.
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Some Results of Gossip

• A good name destroyed Prov. 221
• A persons heart hurt deeply Prov. 188
• Close friendships severed Prov. 179

He who conceals a transgression seeks love, but
he who repeats a matter separates intimate
friends.
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Some Results of Gossip

• A good name destroyed Prov. 221
• A persons heart hurt deeply Prov. 188
• Close friendships severed Prov. 179
• Strife and bitterness among brethren 2 Cor.
  1220

For I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may
find you to be not what I wish and may be found
by you to be not what you wish that
perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry
tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance,
disturbances.
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Some Results of Gossip

• Destruction of peaceful, working, growing
  churches Gal. 514-15

For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in
the statement, You shall love your neighbor as
yourself. But if you bite and devour one
another, take care that you are not consumed by
one another.
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Some Results of Gossip

• Destruction of peaceful, working, growing
  churches Gal. 515
• Brethren discouraged even to unfaithfulness
  Heb. 1214-15

Pursue peace with all men, and the
sanctification without which no one will see the
Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the
grace of God that no root of bitterness
springing up causes trouble, and by it many be
defiled
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Some Results of Gossip

• Destruction of peaceful, working, growing
  churches Gal. 515
• Brethren discouraged even to unfaithfulness
  Heb. 1215
• Reproach upon Christ Rom. 224

You who boast in the Law, through your breaking
the Law, do you dishonor God? For the name of God
is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.
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Conclusion
Proverbs 616-19 (NKJV) These six things the
Lord hates, Yes, seven are an abomination to Him
A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed
innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked
plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, a
false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows
discord among brethren.
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Have You Obeyed The Gospel?
Hear The Word (Rom. 1017) Believe That Jesus
is the Son of God (Acts 837) Repent of Your
Sins (Acts 238) Confess That Jesus is the Son
of God (Acts 837) Be Baptized for Forgiveness
of Sins (Acts 238) Live Faithfully Until You
Die (Rev. 210)
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(No Transcript)
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The Making Of A Gossip

• Idleness - 1 Tim. 513
• Thoughtlessness Phil. 24
• Discontent Exo. 162 1 Cor. 1010
• Jealousy Envy 1 Cor. 33
• Anger Prov. 1518 2922
• Hatred Ps. 1093 Prov. 1012
• Cowardice Matt. 1815

Gossiping Is An Acquired Trait
(they learn to be . . . 1 Tim. 513)
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How To Identify Gossip!?
Some Questions To Ask Is it True (do you
KNOW)? Is it Helpful (identify how)? Is it
Inspiring (profitable)? Is it Necessary (or
self-serving)? Is it Kind (or does it tear down)?
THINK
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How To Identify Gossip!

• It Is Not Sin To
• Repeat good things. Mat. 114 Rom. 18
• Talk about how we can help a particular person.
• Tell others about anothers sin if you need help
  after already going to the sinner first - Matt
  1815-17
• Expose false teachers and warn others of error
  Luke 121 Rom. 1617 2 Tim. 217 Matt. 23
  Eph 511 2 Tim. 410,14,15 3 John 19,10

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IV. How To Prevent Gossip

• Exercise restraint
• Be careful what you say to about others
• Be careful how you choose your words
• Be careful what you repeat
• Give the benefit of the doubt

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Restraint

• Prov. 1019
• Prov. 157
• Prov. 1623
• Prov. 1727-28
• Dont have to say all you want to say

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Be Careful
1. What you tell may be confidential 2. What you
say could be taken differently than you intend 3.
Prov. 1113 4. Prov. 2911 5. Jas. 119 6. What
you say may be repeated / quoted
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How

• Make sure you convey what you want
• How?
• Use tact (Prov. 151)
• Think before you speak (Prov. 1528 1218)
• Watch timing (Prov. 1523)

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Repeat

• Two sides to story (Prov. 1817)
• 2. Dont jump to conclusions (Prov. 1813)

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Benefit
1 Cor. 137
But it must mean, that in regard to the conduct
of others, there is a disposition to put the best
construction on it to believe that they may be
actuated by good motives, and that they intend no
injury and that there is a willingness to
suppose, as far as can be, that what is done is
done consistently with friendship, good feeling,
and virtue. - Barnes
Is ever ready to believe the best of every
person, and will credit no evil of any but on the
most positive evidence. Clarke
Prov. 1415
Do I have evidence?
Is there another Explanation?
Prov. 1813
Prov. 2920 Hasty words
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• Every one of us can work harder at being careful
  about
• What we say
• How we say it
• To whom we say it