Contemporary Service - The Power of Our Words

Devotional

Day 1: The Power of Words: Life or Death in the Tongue

Our words have the power to shape lives, build up or tear down, and leave a lasting impact on those around us. Every day, the things we say—whether spoken, texted, or posted—can bring life or death, encouragement or harm. Even a single careless word can wound deeply, while a word of blessing can heal and inspire. God calls us to recognize this power and to use our words intentionally, choosing to speak life, hope, and love into the world. [54:05]

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation or message you sent—did your words bring life or harm? How can you pause today before you speak or write, asking God to help you choose words that bless and encourage?

Day 2: Created and Known by God: The Value of Every Life

Each person is fearfully and wonderfully made by God, known intimately even before birth. This truth reminds us that every life is precious and that our words should reflect the value God places on each individual. When we speak, we have the opportunity to affirm the worth and dignity of others, echoing God’s love and care for them. Let your words today be a reflection of the Creator’s heart, honoring the sacredness of every person you encounter. [32:00]

Psalm 139:13-16 (ESV)
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

Reflection: Who in your life needs to be reminded of their God-given value? Can you reach out to them today with words that affirm their worth and uniqueness?

Day 3: Taming the Tongue: The Challenge and the Call

The tongue is small but mighty, capable of great good or great harm. Scripture warns us that it can be like a fire, corrupting the whole person, and that no one can tame it without God’s help. We are called to examine our speech, repent where we have caused harm, and seek the Holy Spirit’s power to transform our hearts and words. As we surrender our tongues to God, we become instruments of His peace and blessing in a world that desperately needs it. [39:48]

James 3:3-12 (ESV)
If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 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! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 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. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Reflection: Where do you struggle most with your words—at home, work, or online? Ask God to reveal one area where you need His help to bring your speech under His control, and take a practical step today to change it.

Day 4: Planting Seeds of Peace: Wisdom from Above

God’s wisdom is pure, peace-loving, gentle, and full of mercy, and He calls us to let our words reflect these qualities. When we speak with gentleness and sincerity, we plant seeds of peace that can yield a harvest of righteousness in our relationships and communities. Consider how your words can be an expression of good deeds, bringing healing and unity rather than division. As you open yourself to the Holy Spirit, trust that God is transforming you from the inside out, enabling you to be a peacemaker through your speech. [01:00:50]

James 3:17-18 (ESV)
But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Reflection: Is there a relationship in your life that needs healing or peace? What is one gentle, peace-loving word or action you can offer today to sow seeds of reconciliation?

Day 5: Breaking the Cycle: Choosing Blessing Over Hurt

Hurt people often hurt others, but with God’s help, we can break the cycle and choose to bless instead of curse. Even if we have been wounded by words in the past, God invites us to seek healing and to become agents of blessing, intentionally speaking life and encouragement. By admitting our need, analyzing our words, and aspiring to bless, we open ourselves to God’s transforming work, becoming people whose words reflect His love and grace. [51:41]

Ephesians 4:29 (ESV)
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.

Reflection: Think of a negative or hurtful phrase that has stuck with you—how can you invite God to heal that wound, and how might you intentionally speak a word of blessing to someone else today?

Sermon Summary

Words have the power to shape lives, heal wounds, and even set the course of our days. Today, we reflected on the profound influence of our speech, drawing from James 3 and Proverbs 18:21, which remind us that the tongue can bring both life and death. Our words are not just fleeting sounds; they are seeds planted in the hearts of those around us, and what we sow, we will eventually reap. Whether spoken or written, our words can either build up or tear down, encourage or discourage, bless or curse.

We considered the legacy of our daily conversations—how, over a lifetime, our words could fill volumes, each page leaving a mark on the people we encounter. Stories were shared of both the pain caused by careless or cruel words and the lasting joy brought by words of encouragement and love. Even the smallest comments, whether from a parent, friend, or even a stranger, can echo in our minds for years, shaping our sense of self and our relationships with others.

But there is hope and responsibility. The transformation of our speech begins with the recognition that we cannot tame the tongue on our own. We need God’s help to change our hearts so that our words reflect His love, mercy, and wisdom. This is not just about avoiding harm; it’s about aspiring to be intentional with our words, to bless others, and to plant seeds of peace and righteousness. We are called to pause before we speak, to ask ourselves if our words will bring life, and to believe that God is at work within us, making us more like Christ in the way we communicate.

As we move forward, let us be mindful of the spiritual weight our words carry. Let us seek to be peacemakers, sowing encouragement and hope, trusting that God can use even our smallest utterances to bring about transformation in ourselves and in those around us.

Key Takeaways

1. The Power of Words: Every word spoken or written has the potential to bring life or death. Our speech is not neutral; it is a spiritual act that can either build up or destroy. Recognizing this power is the first step toward using our words wisely and intentionally. [54:05]
2. Healing the Cycle of Hurt: Many of us carry wounds from words spoken over us, sometimes from those closest to us. Yet, through God’s grace, cycles of harm can be broken. When we invite God into our pain and ask for help, He can transform us from people who hurt others into people who bless and heal. [51:41]
3. The Need for Self-Examination: We are often blind to the true impact of our words. It is essential to analyze our speech, sometimes with the help of others, to see where we may be causing harm or missing opportunities to bless. Honest reflection and feedback are vital for growth in Christlike communication. [57:06]
4. Intentional Blessing: Blessing others with our words requires more than just avoiding negativity; it demands a heart posture that aspires to encourage, uplift, and bring peace. This aspiration opens us to the Holy Spirit’s work, enabling us to speak with gentleness, mercy, and sincerity. [60:14]
5. Trusting God for Transformation: Taming the tongue is not a matter of willpower alone. We must believe that God is actively helping us, transforming our hearts so that our words become instruments of His love and wisdom. This faith in God’s ongoing work is crucial for lasting change. [59:38]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[24:50] - Opening Announcements
[26:08] - Prayer Requests and Giving
[27:23] - Women’s Fellowship Event
[28:38] - Men’s Walk and Dart Ball Season
[30:44] - Men’s Breakfast Reminder
[31:24] - New Path Mission Highlight
[33:53] - Baptism Celebration
[39:04] - Scripture Reading: James 3
[41:10] - The Power of the Tongue
[43:03] - The Science and Legacy of Words
[45:29] - Testimonies: Words that Bless
[49:46] - The Pain of Hurtful Words
[52:20] - Breaking the Cycle: Words and Healing
[53:30] - Words in the Digital Age
[54:05] - Proverbs 18:21: Life and Death
[55:18] - Admitting the Power of Words
[57:06] - Analyzing Our Speech
[59:38] - Trusting God for Change
[60:50] - Wisdom from Above
[62:03] - Planting Seeds with Our Words
[63:14] - Closing Prayer and Worship

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

James 3:3-12 (ESV) — > 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 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! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Proverbs 18:21 (ESV) — > Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Observation Questions

According to James 3, what are some of the images used to describe the power of the tongue? ([39:04])
In Proverbs 18:21, what two outcomes does the tongue have the power to bring about?
The sermon mentioned that our words can fill volumes over a lifetime, leaving a legacy. What examples did the pastor give of words that have stuck with people for years? ([46:07])
What does James say about the contradiction of blessing God and cursing people with the same mouth? ([40:26])

Interpretation Questions

Why do you think James compares the tongue to a fire and a rudder? What does this say about the influence of our words on our lives and others? ([39:48])
The sermon shared stories of both hurtful and encouraging words. Why do you think negative words can stick with us for so long, sometimes even more than positive ones? ([51:07])
The pastor said, “We cannot tame the tongue on our own. We need God’s help to change our hearts.” What does this suggest about the connection between our hearts and our speech? ([59:38])
How does the idea of “planting seeds” with our words challenge the way we think about everyday conversations? ([01:01:26])

Application Questions

Think back to a time when someone’s words—positive or negative—had a lasting impact on you. How did those words shape your sense of self or your relationship with others? ([46:07])
The sermon talked about the “cycle of hurt”—how people who have been hurt by words often hurt others. Are there any patterns in your own life where you see this happening? What would it look like to invite God into that cycle for healing? ([51:41])
The pastor encouraged us to pause before we speak or write, asking, “Will this bring life?” What practical steps could you take this week to build this habit into your daily routine? ([54:05])
Sometimes we are blind to the impact of our words. Who is someone you trust that you could ask for honest feedback about your speech? How might you respond if they point out something difficult to hear? ([57:06])
The sermon challenged us to not just avoid negative words, but to intentionally bless others. Can you think of a specific person you could encourage this week? What would you say or write to them? ([01:00:14])
The pastor said, “Believe that God is actively helping you, transforming your heart so that your words can change.” What would it look like for you to trust God in this area, especially when you feel like you keep failing? ([59:38])
In the digital age, our words can reach more people than ever before. How do you see the power of words at work online or in texts? Are there changes you want to make in how you communicate digitally? ([53:30])

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Contemporary Service - The Power of Our Words - 10/12/2025