Sermon Tone Analysis

What you say matters!

Today we are going to look at speech, because what you say really does matter.

Let’s look at Proverbs 18:21

Pr 18:21; Jas 3:1–12

Prayer

It has the power of life and death.

Humor Pill

Before we get down to business, let’s start off with a little humor pill.

Since it is Memorial day weekend I thought this one would be appropriate, and you may have heard this one before, but in case you haven’t

Rest In Peace

One Sunday morning, the pastor noticed little Alex staring up at the large plaque that hung in the foyer of the church.

The plaque was covered with names, and small American flags were mounted on either side of it.

The seven year-old had been staring at the plaque for some time, so the pastor walked up, stood beside him and said quietly, “Good morning, Alex.”

Good morning, Pastor,” replied the young man, still focused on the plaque.

“Pastor McGhee, what is this?” Alex asked.

“Well, son, it’s a memorial to all the men and women who have died in the service.”

Soberly, they stood together, staring at the large plaque.

Little Alex’s voice was barely audible when he finally managed to ask, “Which service pastor, morning or evening ?”

Honoring our fallen soldiers

This weekend America celebrates Memorial Day.

People gather with family and friends and picnic, grill out and some barbecue, I separate the two because I’m a purist concerning barbecue, grilling hamburgers and hot dogs isn’t a barbecue even though that’s what some folks call it.

There are concerts and fireworks, just about everybody loves a good fireworks show.

With all this sometimes the meaning of the holiday is lost, people remember their family members who have gone on, or confuse it with Veterans Day, which is of course a separate holiday unto itself.

Memorial Day is the time where we should remember not only our family members who have served in the military and lost their lives, but all the men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice, giving their lives in battle defending our great country, our liberty and freedom that we so cherish and love.

The History of Memorial Day

I just want to give a short brief, and by no means complete history of Memorial day.

American’s have always honored those lost in battles, but it wan’t until the war of Northern Aggression, or as it is more commonly known, the Civil War, where over 600,000 American’s from both the North and South lost their lives that burial and memorialization took on new cultural significance.

The women of the South were the first to honor their fallen family members by placing flowers on the graves of loved who perished as early as 1861.

A “Memorial Day” holiday was in practice in the South since 1866, and later in 1868 changed the name after the North started to copy the practice and changed the name to “Confederate Memorial Day” some Southern States still call it that to this day.

The “Confederate Memorial day” was celebrated on various dates ranging from April 25 to mid-June were adopted in different Southern states.

Later the North started copying the South’s Memorial Day and called it “Decoration day” .

It was on May 5, 1868 that a Union Veteran General General John A. Logan issued a proclamation calling for "Decoration Day" to be observed annually and nationwide.

It was observed for the first time that year on Saturday May 30.It wan’t until after World War 1, when the North and South came together to commemorate “Memorial Day” on May 30th each year, but it wan’t until after World War 2 that the official name of “Memorial Day” was adopted.

Memorial Day is now observed in almost every state on the last Monday in May due to the Congressional passage of the National Holiday Act of 1971 .

This helped ensure a three day weekend for Federal holidays, though several southern states have an additional separate day for honoring the Confederate war dead: January 19th in Texas; April 26th in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Mississippi; May 10th in South Carolina; and June 3rd (Jefferson Davis’ birthday) in Louisiana and Tennessee.

The “National Moment of Remembrance” resolution was passed on Dec 2000 which asks that at 3 p.m. local time, for all Americans “To voluntarily and informally observe in their own way a Moment of remembrance and respect, pausing from whatever they are doing for a moment of silence or listening to ‘Tap

Back to James- Chapter 3 (What you say matters)

This week I wanted to get my Sermon done early so i wouldn't be up til 4 in the morning like last weekend.

I started on several different topics, but nothing seemed to click.

So i started praying every day for the Lord to give me the direction to go, and Thursday the Lord opened my eyes.

If you recall, before Mother’s Day we were in the Book of James , and that’s where I feel the Lord wants us to be.

Today we will be looking at James chapter 3, in this chapter, James is addressing speech, and if he were writing it today, he’d probably include, what we write as well, in text, e-mails and social media post like Facebook and Twitter.

We will also be looking at Proverbs to see what it says about our speech.

I think this is really important, because what we say really does matter, and our words are very powerful.

With His word God spoke everything into existence, and in John 1:1 Jesus is referred to as the Word.

So now let’s turn to James Chapter 3 and see what he has to say.

Let me tell you when you feel the call to preach, this is the one that really hits home, because it shows how serious a matter this is with the Lord.

That’s why I want to make sure when I get up to preach everything I say is backed by God’s word.

It’s not just when I preach either, because I have found out, people are listening, and reading everything I say.

Everyone has things that they are passionate about, social issues, politics, religious doctrine, and I am no different.

But I have learned sometimes before I say or type, I should think hard about how it will affect, or influence others, and if it is something from God, or just something from a worldly personal perspective.

In Jas.

3:6 Gehenna, like the bottomless pit in Rev. 9:1ff.; 11:7, appears to be the source of evil on the earth.

We can also look to Proverbs to see how powerful our words are

See also Pr 15:2; Pr 15:4

How what you say affects you

Your speech can bring you joy, or ruin

Every word we speak can either elevate us up bringing us joy, or send us hurtling down to ruin.

In Proverbs we read in

See also Ps 140:9; Pr 10:14; Pr 13:3; Pr 14:3; Pr 18:6–7; Pr 18:20; Pr 21:23; Ec 10:12–14

Lets look at a couple of others

Here’s one that I really like

and some of the best advice of all

How our words affect others

Our words not only affect us,but everyone we speak to, and again we use our words are either building people up, or tearing them down.

They can destroy others

Yes our words can destroy others, and usually these are people who are close to us.

Have you ever said something in the heat of the moment, usually out of anger and immediately thought, opps I shouldn’t have said that?

yep it’s that “Open mouth insert Foot” syndrome.

Once said it’s said it’s out there and can’t be taken back, there’s no rewind or erase button for our mouths unfortunately.

We read again in Proverbs

See also Job 19:2; Ps 55:20–21; Ps 57:4; Ps 64:3–4; Ps 140:3; Pr 11:11; Pr 12:6; Pr 12:18; Pr 16:27

and let’s see what the Psalms have to say

This is what I call a backhanded compliment.

It’s when someone is talking and facial expression and tone of voice sounds like they’re expressing something good, but in actuality instead of a pat on the back it’s a knife and slap in the face.

Have you ever given someone a backhanded compliment?

Who and why?

They can bring life to others

Friday I needed to burn off some calories after have a big lunch, so I went to the mall to walk.

I love to observe people, and do you know what I noticed?

With the exception of just a few of the people there no one was smiling , and some of them looked absolutely miserable.

I on the other hand was filled with the joy of the Lord, and a good lunch , and as I walked through that mall I looked those folks in the eye, and with the smile on my face I’d say “hi” , and you know what, they would smile back.

One young man that worked in one of the stores was standing at the entrance and as I passed I asked how he was doing, and he replied “Great, thanks for asking.”

So you see it doesn't take much, to elevate others.

This week who will you try to build up with your words and attitude?

See also Pr 10:20–21; Pr 10:31–32; Pr 16:21; Pr 16:23–24; Pr 25:12; Is 50:4; Eph 4:29

These next two are my favorites.

The timing of speech

They say timing is everything, and that is the truth!

There are times we we should speak up, or out, but other times when we should just shut up and stay quiet.

There is an appropriate time for speaking

Of course the tricky part of this is learning when the timing is right, and what occasions warrant us to speak.

See also Pr 15:23; Pr 15:28; Pr 25:11–12

There is an appropriate time for silence

See also 1 Sa 10:27; Pr 10:19; Pr 17:27–28; Pr 21:23; Pr 26:4; Ec 5:2–3; Am 5:13; Hab 2:20; Zep 1:7; Jas 1:19

Spoken witness produces faith

Our words can also enlighten, encourage and inspire people, and with the help of the Holy Spirit they may come to know Jesus as their Lord.

This is why, as I have said before know your story of how you came to Salvation, and be willing to share it.

see also Is 50:4; Ac 2:40–41; Ac 28:23–24; 1 Pe 3:15

Jesus Christ was silent before his accusers