Teacher’s Guide
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The Importance of Biblical Communication
Introduction
We believe in understanding how to apply God’s Word in very practical ways. As a result, We have
decided to begin a series on communication. So we are going to take the next several weeks to think
about and wrestle with the subject of biblical communication.
We all know the old slogan “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
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Whoever said that was a idiot and a liar.
The fact of the matter is that there is great power in speech.
Proverbs 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat
its fruit.
Dateline some time ago had a show that caught my attention. It was the number of teenage suicides
based on teasing from others. It was staggering. Folks would choose to commit suicide on the basis of
how others treated them.
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If we think about this issue of depression, many times despair and loss of hope comes from the
mouths of others.
Sometimes when children grow up in a home full of discipline but short on praise the children
struggle to believe that they can ever please their parents --- which sadly is sometimes projected
onto their view of God.
o The desire for acceptance can be a powerful desire on the immature. It can lead to
drinking, sex, success, etc…..
Life and death are in the power of the tongue.
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You have the ability to encourage, to strengthen, and to help others with your speech.
You have the ability to discourage and in some cases crush those with your speech.
I want to spend the next several weeks thinking about how the Scriptures practically apply so that we
can develop relationships that allow us to probe spiritual issues and help others rather than to tear
others apart and help them be godless.
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Several assumptions that I am coming to the table with:
Assumption #1: Communication occurs at multiple levels, but we will focus on speech
I realize that some folks say that something like 50% of all communication is non-verbal. There is no
reason to engage in a formal debate as to how much communication is non-verbal. However, I the bulk
of our time will be spent on the verbal side simply because understanding the non-verbal is a bit
subjective.
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Give a personal example of how non-verbal and verbal communication didn’t necessarily match.
Many times this happens when we are tired. In trying to stay awake and listen, it appears the
opposite is true. It is also possible that this occurs when we are trying to multi-task. None of
those task have our primary focus.
We won’t ignore it but I am not going to emphasize it.
Assumption #2: Communication involves more than just behavior, but also includes the heart
I will spend more time on this later, but I want us thinking that communication begins in the heart.
There is a lot to that, but for now let’s consider the fact that the heart is in play.
Assumption #3: Communication through language is unique to human beings in order to relate to
both God and others.
I fully believe that animals communicate. In some cases they communicate some complex ideas (bee
dance). But animals do not have language. A few animals have learned some phrases here and there
and have been able to reproduce them in appropriate situations, but they are not able to compose and
handle the flexibility and complexity of human language.
God built us to communicate with him. He built us to relate to him.
Read James 3:1-12
I want us to consider today the importance of biblical communication. Please turn to James 3. I would
like to make several points about the James 3 text and then I want to get into groups and have us reflect
a bit on this subject.
Warning: Be careful not be a teacher [you might be an idiot but it is only when you open your mouth
that you prove it]
That is all well and good until we all face the fact at some point we are all teachers.
Truth 1: Our speech is not easy to control so we have to work at it
This point is made in several places in this passage. The first is in 3:2.
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Those who do not stumble have gained control over their whole bodies.
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This general statement is made much more specific in vv. 7-8.
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The comparison of course is with the rest of creation and how man has been able to tame the
animals (some better than others of course)
But how no man can tame the tongue.
A description like (1) restless evil and (2) full of deadly poison is not exactly positive.
It is amazing how many times, even in the course of a week, where we say something and it just does
not come out right. Even if you did not mean any harm by it, the statement can easily be perceived as
offensive.
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I can think of several different occasions where I wish I had used different words. I was not
exactly sinful but my words were not as edifying as they could have been.
Here is an Illustration from Pastor Green:
Shortly after I got out of college I had the opportunity to be the assistant coach of a high school soccer
team. One day the head coach could not make the game so I was the top dog. The game was pretty
good except for one element. Their team was a lot bigger and stronger and they were roughing up our
team pretty good. I lost it --- some days you just lose it.
Add your own illustration that makes the point about a time when you didn’t use your speech the way
you wanted. I think the coaching illustration is good. We all have seen coaches that have “lost it”.
Whether it is the way they have communicated to their players, the officials, or even the other team.
Ephesians 4:29 is an important verse to remember at these times
29Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification
according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
The point we are reminded of in James is the power of the tongue. So we must really work to
communicate biblically.
Truth 2: Our speech has great power
In vv. 3-6 we have a whole series of short illustrations
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Horses
Boats
o The size of the rudder on our rowing sculls.
Fire
o California fires
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Each illustration is meant to demonstrate the significance or the power of the tongue. Our words have
the ability to do tremendous help and they have the ability to do tremendous harm.
Another Rob Green illustration:
Before I knew Stephanie I had met a girl my sophomore year of college. I really liked her and I wanted
her to like me as well. I had my part down but she was struggling to fulfill hers. So I would be around
her when I could and I really tried hard to get her in line with my thinking about a great many things
(relationship with me was just one of them ---- I found her Christianity a bit problematic --- the movies
she would watch, the music she would listen to, the things she would do on the weekends). So
apparently I decided that I would take charge. I would be her holy spirit, I would be her father telling her
to like the right kind of guy (me, of course), and I would her “friend.” Needless to say, things did not
work out so well. She told me one day “I hope I never see you again.”
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I was a nice guy for the most part
I had a lot of things that girls might be interested in (I wasn’t a total nerd, I did not beat them,
well that’s about what I had to offer)
But I destroyed that girl with my speech
Think about a time when your words destroyed someone. It wasn’t your intent. Like Rob’s illustration,
he was trying to help, but the result was not what he imagined, because of the words he used.
I can think of some friendships that I have handled in a similar fashion. In the early part of the
friendship, I thought it was my Christian duty to point out their errors, faults, and sins. I was not very
discerning regarding whether the behavior was actually sinful or was that their action did not fit my
perception of what a Christian did. I took it upon myself to judge and then also help them see the errors
of their ways.
I could tell you other times when my words were much better and resulted in a meaningful ministry
opportunity. In other words, when my words were good they were good and when they were bad they
were bad.
Truth 3: God wants us to use our speech for godly purposes rather than for hypocritical purposes.
In vv. 9-12 we see God’s ultimate goal for our tongues. He wants us to praise the Lord – to extend our
voices in honest praise to him and to use our speech to encourage and help each other.
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Summary:
The way we use our tongues
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With each other will determine the character of this class
With our spouses will determine the character of our marriage
With our parents will determine the relationship we have (good or bad) with our parents and
in-laws
With our co-workers and bosses will determine the kind of work place we have
Will impact the kind of relationship we have with the Lord. The more that Jesus is #1 in your
speech the more of the other pieces will be sorted out as well.
Group Exercises
Each group has 2 assignments:
1. You must do one of the following four questions
a. Explain a time when someone said something hurtful to you. What was hurtful about
it?
b. Explain a time when someone said something helpful to you. What was helpful about
what they said?
c. Explain a time when you said something hurtful to someone. What was hurtful about
it?
d. Explain a time when you said something helpful to someone. What was helpful about
it?
2. Synthesize what you have learned in your group into 2-3 simple statements (e.g. words spoken
at the wrong time are not helpful, etc). Something that will help us this week think about the
points made. How can we help each other think and apply these truths about communication?
Homework:
Meditate on Proverbs 18:21.
Read Prov. 4:23 / Matt. 12:34-37/ Luke 6:45
What do these verses add to our discussion on communication?
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