Speaking Life: Transforming Hearts Through Words and Honor
Summary
### Summary
In today's sermon, we explored the profound power of speaking life even in the face of death, drawing inspiration from Jesus and Stephen. Jesus, during His crucifixion, chose to speak words of forgiveness and life, even to those who mocked Him. Similarly, Stephen, while being stoned, prayed for the forgiveness of his persecutors. These examples challenge us to reflect on the condition of our hearts, as our words are a direct reflection of what resides within. Jesus taught that from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks, emphasizing the importance of filling our hearts with God's Word and His love.
We delved into the practical steps of transforming our speech by examining what we consume daily—be it media, conversations, or environments. By choosing to immerse ourselves in God's Word and positive influences, we can change the condition of our hearts and, consequently, our speech. The psalmist's prayer, "Create in me a clean heart, O Lord," serves as a reminder that we are not stuck in our current state; God can renew and cleanse our hearts.
Furthermore, we discussed the importance of honor as an expression of love. Honor is not something to be withheld until it is earned but is to be freely given, just as Jesus honored the thief on the cross. True honor involves humility, recognizing the value and worth of others as God sees them, and expressing gratitude for their contributions. It also requires us to refuse to engage in disrespectful behavior, upholding the dignity and reputation of others.
Lastly, we touched on being vision-minded, leading others with a mission that extends beyond ourselves. This aligns with the Great Commission, urging us to make disciples and lead people to a life built on Jesus, where anything is possible. As we reflect on these values, we are encouraged to embody them in our daily lives, allowing God's transformative power to work through us.
### Key Takeaways
1. Speaking Life in the Face of Death: Jesus and Stephen exemplified speaking life even in their final moments. Jesus forgave His persecutors, and Stephen prayed for those stoning him. This teaches us that our words have the power to bring life and forgiveness, even in the most challenging circumstances. [00:55]
2. The Condition of the Heart: Our speech reflects the state of our hearts. Jesus taught that from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. By filling our hearts with God's Word and positive influences, we can transform our speech to reflect His love and truth. [02:46]
3. Honor as an Expression of Love: Honor involves recognizing the value and worth of others as God sees them. It requires humility and gratitude, and it is not something to be withheld until it is earned. By honoring others, we build them up and reflect God's love. [12:25]
4. Refusing to Engage in Disrespect: Honoring others means refusing to engage in disrespectful behavior or language. It involves upholding the dignity and reputation of others, speaking life, and acting in ways that reflect God's love and respect for each individual. [23:03]
5. Being Vision-Minded: Leading others with a mission that extends beyond ourselves aligns with the Great Commission. By focusing on making disciples and leading people to a life built on Jesus, we fulfill our purpose and contribute to God's kingdom. [28:33]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:55] - Jesus Speaks Life on the Cross
[01:42] - Stephen's Example of Forgiveness
[02:46] - The Condition of the Heart
[03:44] - Influence of Media on Our Hearts
[04:29] - Personal Convictions and Changes
[05:03] - Taming the Tongue with God's Word
[06:04] - Would You Feed the Lord What You Feed Your Heart?
[06:51] - Listening to God's Word
[07:31] - Isaiah's Morning Prayer
[08:17] - Comforting the Weary
[09:05] - Isaiah's Vision of the Lord
[10:16] - Isaiah's Conviction and Redemption
[11:02] - Hope for Those with Filthy Lips
[12:25] - Honor as an Expression of Love
[14:14] - Humility Precedes Honor
[16:25] - Submission to Authority
[19:04] - Recognizing the Value of Others
[20:55] - Gratitude in All Circumstances
[23:03] - Refusing to Engage in Disrespect
[25:04] - Jesus in His Hometown
[27:24] - Vision-Minded Leadership
[29:53] - Invitation to Prayer and Reflection
Study Guide
### Bible Reading
1. Luke 23:34 - "Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.' And they divided up his clothes by casting lots."
2. Acts 7:60 - "Then he fell on his knees and cried out, 'Lord, do not hold this sin against them.' When he had said this, he fell asleep."
3. Matthew 12:34 - "You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of."
### Observation Questions
1. What did Jesus say to those who were crucifying Him, and what does this reveal about His character? ([00:55])
2. How did Stephen respond to those who were stoning him, and what does this teach us about forgiveness? ([01:42])
3. According to Matthew 12:34, what determines the words that come out of our mouths? ([02:46])
4. What practical steps were suggested in the sermon to transform our speech? ([03:44])
### Interpretation Questions
1. Why is it significant that both Jesus and Stephen spoke words of forgiveness in their final moments? ([00:55])
2. How does the condition of our heart influence our speech, according to the sermon and Matthew 12:34? ([02:46])
3. What does it mean to honor others as an expression of love, and why is it important to do so even when it is not earned? ([12:25])
4. How can being vision-minded and focusing on the Great Commission impact our daily lives and interactions with others? ([28:33])
### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when you spoke negatively in a challenging situation. How could you have spoken life instead, like Jesus and Stephen did? ([00:55])
2. What are some negative influences (media, conversations, environments) that you need to cut out to improve the condition of your heart? ([03:44])
3. How can you practice honoring someone this week, especially someone you find difficult to respect? ([12:25])
4. Think of a recent situation where you engaged in disrespectful behavior or language. How can you handle a similar situation differently in the future? ([23:03])
5. Identify one person in your life who needs encouragement. What specific words of life can you speak to them this week? ([08:17])
6. How can you incorporate more of God's Word into your daily routine to transform your heart and speech? ([06:51])
7. What steps can you take to be more vision-minded and align your actions with the Great Commission in your community? ([28:33])
Devotional
Day 1: Speaking Life in the Face of Death
In the most challenging moments of their lives, both Jesus and Stephen chose to speak words of life and forgiveness. Jesus, during His crucifixion, asked for forgiveness for those who mocked and crucified Him. Similarly, Stephen, while being stoned, prayed for the forgiveness of his persecutors. These acts of grace and mercy challenge us to reflect on our own responses in difficult situations. Are we able to speak life and forgiveness when faced with adversity? This takeaway encourages us to consider the power of our words and the condition of our hearts, especially in trying times. [00:55]
Luke 23:34 (ESV): "And Jesus said, 'Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.' And they cast lots to divide his garments."
Reflection: Think of a recent situation where you felt wronged or hurt. How can you choose to speak words of life and forgiveness in that situation today?
Day 2: The Condition of the Heart
Our speech is a direct reflection of the state of our hearts. Jesus taught that from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. This means that what we fill our hearts with will inevitably come out in our words. By immersing ourselves in God's Word and surrounding ourselves with positive influences, we can transform our hearts and, consequently, our speech. This transformation is not just about avoiding negative speech but actively speaking words that reflect God's love and truth. [02:46]
Proverbs 4:23 (ESV): "Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life."
Reflection: What are you currently filling your heart with? Identify one negative influence you can replace with a positive one today.
Day 3: Honor as an Expression of Love
Honor involves recognizing the value and worth of others as God sees them. It requires humility and gratitude and is not something to be withheld until it is earned. By honoring others, we build them up and reflect God's love. This means seeing people through God's eyes and appreciating their contributions, regardless of whether they have earned it in our eyes. True honor is an expression of love that uplifts and encourages others. [12:25]
Romans 12:10 (ESV): "Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor."
Reflection: Think of someone in your life who you find difficult to honor. How can you show them honor and appreciation today, reflecting God's love for them?
Day 4: Refusing to Engage in Disrespect
Honoring others means refusing to engage in disrespectful behavior or language. It involves upholding the dignity and reputation of others, speaking life, and acting in ways that reflect God's love and respect for each individual. This can be challenging, especially in a culture that often promotes disrespect and negativity. However, as followers of Christ, we are called to a higher standard of conduct that honors God and others. [23:03]
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: Reflect on your recent conversations. Is there a pattern of disrespect or negativity? How can you change your speech to build others up and reflect God's love?
Day 5: Being Vision-Minded
Leading others with a mission that extends beyond ourselves aligns with the Great Commission. By focusing on making disciples and leading people to a life built on Jesus, we fulfill our purpose and contribute to God's kingdom. This vision-minded approach requires us to look beyond our immediate circumstances and consider the eternal impact of our actions and words. It challenges us to live with purpose and intentionality, always seeking to advance God's kingdom. [28:33]
Matthew 28:19-20 (ESV): "Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."
Reflection: What is one specific way you can contribute to making disciples and advancing God's kingdom in your daily life? How can you start implementing this today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "We serve a God that will pull us out of our mess, and if you feel like, I'm calling you out, please know that if I could preach like this at me, I would. But that would be weird. And so instead, I'm looking at you, but really, this is just the conviction of where the Lord has been revealing into me, of like, hey, JT." [04:29] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "The only way that we can clean up our heart, truly, the only way we can tame our tongue is by getting the word of the Lord in our heart. We have to get the word of the Lord in our heart. Psalms 1914 says, Let the word of your mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord." [05:03] (19 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "We feel sometimes, sometimes it's easy to feel like God's so far away, but really it's just because we've filled our heart with so much stuff that his words seem so far away from us that all of a sudden, if we decide to put his word deep into our heart and say, you know what, instead of listening to that song on my way to sleep, I'm going to listen to the scriptures." [06:04] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "Imagine if we woke up every morning saying, Lord, where can I speak life today? Lord, what dead things are you going to have me speak over this morning? What dead places are you going to bring me into that I can use my words for, Lord?" [08:17] (12 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you love me, you'll obey me, is what Jesus says. If you love me, you'll obey me. And it's easy to think of that as a condemning statement. It's like, if you love me, you'll obey me. But no, it's like, you want to obey me? Try loving me. You want to follow me? Try loving me. Just love me, and through that, you know what? It will begin to be produced." [16:25] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
### Quotes for Members
1. "Understand that the condition of your heart reveals the content of your speech, is revealed by the content of our speech. The condition of your heart is revealed by what comes out of your mouth, revealed by what comes out of my mouth." [02:46] (14 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
2. "All of a sudden, your eyes become open to the life-changing power of Christ and how He's moving through places of ministry, and you can fill your heart up with all the evil things that are going on with the world and wondering why all you only ever see and speak is evil, but if you decided that I'm going to unplug from that and plug into where God has me." [03:44] (20 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
3. "Honoring someone means recognizing the value they have as given by God. See Genesis 1 27 says, so God created human beings in His own image, in the image of God. He created them male and female. He created them. That we were created in God's image. We have to recognize that we have, that it is important to honor someone, excuse me, I'm sorry, I misspoke. It's impossible. It's impossible to honor someone that we are consistently devaluing." [19:04] (32 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
4. "What work is Jesus trying to do? What work is he trying to do in your life, but can't we're allowing ourselves to be consumed with dishonor? What dead things would he bring back to life? What miracles does he want to see take place in your home, in your relationships, in your work, in your children? Yet our words and our dishonor that we speak over it." [27:24] (28 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
5. "If you're feeling like there's no way I can speak life in the face of death, you can. And it begins by allowing your heart to be filled up with his word. What can you cut out today that you can allow for the word of God to just continue to overflow inside of you?" [11:41] (15 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)
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