Listen to Understand, Speak to Serve

Pastor Matt Pierson

Proverbs: The Wisdom and the Ways of God

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”
– James 1:19-20

Proverbs 16:21-32

  1. How do you speak to God?
  2. How do you speak to others?
  3. How do you speak to yourself?

 “What God is going after through this book is change deep inside our hearts. His wisdom sinks in as we mull over these Biblical proverbs slowly and thoughtfully. We need multiple exposures over time. This book is not a quick fix. It is ancient wisdom from long human experience endorsed by God himself. If we’ll pay close attention, God will graciously make us into profound people.”
– Ray Ortlund, Proverbs: Wisdom that Works

“And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well… So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!…no human being can tame the tongue…With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so…”
– James 3:2-11 

“One of the significant problems of modern society is our careless handling and tossing about of words. How do we begin to cultivate civility in a communication climate immersed in vitriol? To start, we must remind ourselves of the ability of our words to deeply confirm or disconfirm another. As Christian communicators, we must particularly embrace how seriously God takes human language.”
– Tim Muehlhoff

Discussion Questions

  • Gods wisdom seeks heart transformation, not behavior modification. How do these things differ?
  • Why do you believe that we are all so eager to speak in our culture today? What would it look like for us to listen more and speak less?
  • Verse 21 links wisdom with discernment. What is discernment and how is it linked to wisdom?
  • Gods word is clear in how NOT to use our Words…Rashly, Deceitfully, Boastfully, or Manipulatively. Which one of these made you squirm? Confess this to the Lord and ask for more recognition of this in your life.
  • God WANTS us to use our words…Gently, Sparingly, Thoughtfully, and Truthfully. Who comes to mind when you hear these words?
  • Humor and sarcasm are word-cousins. What is the difference? How can one be life-giving and one be hurtful?

How does God NOT want us to use our words?

  • Rashly  (18:6-7, 29:20)
  • Deceitfully  (4:24, 12:22)
  • Boastfully  (25:14, 27:1-2)
  • Manipulatively  (20:19, 29:5)

How does God WANT us to use our words?

  • Gently  (15:1, 12:25)
  • Sparingly  (17:27-28, 21:23)
  • Thoughtfully  (25:11, 27:6)
  • Truthfully  (16:13, 31:8-9)

3 reasons to use words wisely

  1. Our words have authority 
  2. Our words require accountability
  3. Our words articulate eternity

“Kind words do not cost much. Yet they accomplish much.”
– Blaise Pascal

“The tongue has the power of life and death.”
– Proverbs 18:21

“Words are like eggs dropped from great heights; you can no more call them back than ignore the mess they leave when they fall.”
– Jodi Picoult, Salem Falls

“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.”
– Matthew 12:36

“I would go to the deeps a hundred times to cheer a downcast spirit. It is good for me to have been afflicted, that I might know how to speak a word in season to one that is weary.”
– Charles Spurgeon 

“Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
– Ephesians 4:29

“If you were a hundred times worse than you are, your sins would be no match for His mercy.”
– Timothy Keller

“To be a Christian is to be a person who cares about words. We care about definitions and implications. Our aim is not to be contentious or obstreperous. Our aim is to be true and to speak in a way that strengthens the truth. We care about words because words communicate ideas and ideas have consequences. We pay attention to language because God has revealed Himself through it. Words matter to God. They should matter to us.”
– Kevin DeYoung

Scroll to Top
Copy link
Powered by Social Snap