Notes of Faith January 9, 2026
On a journey toward my old Kentucky home and missed this days notes…
Here it is a day late. Today’s to follow in a few minutes.
Pastor’s Pen Pulpit
February 27, 2000
THE POWER OF WORDS
As children in Sunday School we sang, “Oh, be careful little tongue what you say!” Our words, both good and bad, have a tremendous effect on others.
The goal of the church is to evangelize those outside the church (Acts 1:8, Matt. 28:19, 10) and to edify one another (Eph. 4:11-16.) The extent to which effective evangelism is taking place will depend largely upon the degree that real, loving edification is happening.
Basic hindrances to this two-fold goal are:
• Lack of credibility with unbelievers. The lives of some Christian reflect little difference from the lives of non-Christians (II Peter 1:5-9).
• Lack of sensitivity to believers. A failure to embrace the principle of Phil. 2:1-4).
Our words are the area in which the breakdown is the greatest. Words are the expression of ideas, the formation of thoughts, and the units of communication. Some examples are the Living Word (John 1:1, 14, 18 and the Written Word (I Cor. 2:9-13). Our words are tangible expressions of what we are (Luke 6:40-45).
Words are an indicator of our maturity (James 3:1-12) and a basis for judgment (Matthew 12:36, 37.)
We can develop a greater sensitivity to other believers by:
• Recognizing the awesome effect our words have upon others (Prov. 18:21)
• Asking the question - will my words made God look good (Col. 3:17)?
• Thinking before we speak (James 1:19).
“Oh be careful little tongue what you say!” - an admonition for adults as well!
Love to you all,
Eph 4:29-30
29 Let 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.
James 3:1-12
3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.
Be careful to speak the truth in love!
Pastor Dale