Speaking Love: The Power of Words in Faith

 

Summary

In today's gathering, we explored the profound impact of love and the power of words, drawing from 1 Corinthians. Love is not passive; it actively builds, serves, and speaks. Our focus was on how love speaks, emphasizing that words matter, but how and who says them matters even more. Reflecting on my own experiences, like the humorous language mishaps in Puerto Rico, I realized that communication is not just about the words we use but the love and intention behind them.

1 Corinthians 13:1 reminds us that without love, our words are just noise. This is a call to ensure our communication builds others up, not just adds to the noise. Miscommunication often arises when we fail to speak with love, leading to misunderstandings and misrepresentations of God. We must strive to speak clearly, compassionately, and purposefully, ensuring our words point others to Jesus.

We delved into the spiritual gifts, particularly the gift of prophecy, which is about building a future rather than predicting it. Prophecy involves speaking God's truth to others, offering encouragement and comfort. It's about building others up in love, not tearing them down with criticism. We are encouraged to desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, as it edifies the church and strengthens our community.

Moreover, we discussed the importance of different voices within the church. Each of us has unique gifts and perspectives, and together, we form a complete body of Christ. Whether as apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, or teachers, we are called to equip and build each other up in love, leading to maturity in Christ.

Finally, we were reminded of the ultimate expression of love through Jesus. The gospel is the foundation of our faith, demonstrating God's love for us. As we partake in communion, we remember Jesus' sacrifice, which reconciles us to God and each other. Our words and actions should always reflect this love, pointing others to the life and freedom found in Christ.

Key Takeaways:

- The Power of Words: Words have the power to build up or tear down. It's not just about what we say but how we say it and the love behind it. Without love, our words are just noise, failing to reflect the heart of God. [13:39]

- Speaking in Love: True communication in the church involves speaking the truth in love. This means being clear, compassionate, and purposeful, ensuring our words build others up and point them to Jesus. [18:34]

- Desiring Spiritual Gifts: We are encouraged to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, as it builds up the church. Prophecy is about speaking God's truth to others, offering encouragement and comfort, and building a future in Christ. [36:18]

- Diverse Voices in the Church: The church is made up of diverse voices, each with unique gifts. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers all play a role in equipping and building up the body of Christ, leading to maturity in faith. [40:56]

- The Gospel as the Foundation: The ultimate expression of love is found in the gospel. Jesus' sacrifice reconciles us to God and each other. Our words and actions should reflect this love, pointing others to the life and freedom found in Christ. [49:33]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:45] - Introduction to Love Speaks
- [03:30] - The Power of Words
- [07:15] - Miscommunication and Misrepresentation
- [10:50] - Speaking the Truth in Love
- [13:39] - Spiritual Gifts and Prophecy
- [18:34] - Building Up in Love
- [22:10] - The Role of Prayer
- [26:45] - Different Voices in the Church
- [31:20] - Responsibility in Speaking for God
- [36:18] - Testing Prophecies
- [40:56] - The Gospel as the Foundation
- [45:30] - Communion and Reflection
- [49:33] - Closing Prayer and Benediction

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
1. 1 Corinthians 13:1
2. 1 Corinthians 12:27-31
3. Ephesians 4:11-16

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Observation Questions:

1. According to 1 Corinthians 13:1, what is the significance of speaking without love? How does this relate to the idea of words being just noise? [13:39]

2. In 1 Corinthians 12:27-31, what roles are mentioned as part of the body of Christ, and how do they contribute to building up the church? [18:34]

3. How does Ephesians 4:11-16 describe the purpose of different roles within the church, and what is the ultimate goal for the body of Christ? [40:56]

4. What humorous personal experience did the pastor share about language mishaps, and how did it illustrate the importance of how we communicate? [18:34]

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Interpretation Questions:

1. How does the concept of love being the foundation of our words challenge the way we typically communicate within the church? [13:39]

2. What does it mean to speak the truth in love, and how can this principle be applied to avoid miscommunication and misrepresentation of God? [18:34]

3. How can the desire for spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, be seen as a way to build a future in Christ rather than predicting it? [36:18]

4. In what ways do diverse voices within the church contribute to the maturity and unity of the body of Christ, according to Ephesians 4:11-16? [40:56]

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Application Questions:

1. Reflect on a recent conversation where your words may have added to the noise rather than building someone up. How could you have spoken with more love and intention? [13:39]

2. Think of a time when you experienced miscommunication in a text or social media interaction. How can you ensure your future communications are clear, compassionate, and purposeful? [18:34]

3. Identify a spiritual gift you desire to develop. What steps can you take to earnestly seek this gift and use it to edify the church? [36:18]

4. Consider the different voices in your life that have helped you grow in faith. How can you intentionally seek out and listen to diverse perspectives within your church community? [40:56]

5. How can you incorporate the practice of speaking life and encouragement into your daily interactions, especially with those who may not yet know Christ? [49:33]

6. Reflect on the ultimate expression of love through Jesus' sacrifice. How can your words and actions more consistently point others to the life and freedom found in Christ? [49:33]

7. What practical steps can you take this week to ensure your communication reflects the love and intention behind the gospel message? [49:33]

Devotional

Day 1: Words Reflect the Heart
Words have the power to build up or tear down. It's not just about what we say but how we say it and the love behind it. Without love, our words are just noise, failing to reflect the heart of God. [13:39]

"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, ESV)

Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where your words may have lacked love. How can you approach a similar situation differently today, ensuring your words reflect God's heart?


Day 2: Communicate with Compassion
True communication in the church involves speaking the truth in love. This means being clear, compassionate, and purposeful, ensuring our words build others up and point them to Jesus. [18:34]

"Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another." (Ephesians 4:25, ESV)

Reflection: Identify someone in your life who needs to hear the truth spoken in love. How can you prepare your heart to communicate with compassion and clarity today?


Day 3: Prophecy as a Gift of Encouragement
We are encouraged to earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially prophecy, as it builds up the church. Prophecy is about speaking God's truth to others, offering encouragement and comfort, and building a future in Christ. [36:18]

"Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy." (1 Corinthians 14:1, ESV)

Reflection: Consider how you can use your spiritual gifts to encourage someone in your community today. What steps can you take to cultivate the gift of prophecy in your life?


Day 4: Embrace Diverse Voices
The church is made up of diverse voices, each with unique gifts. Apostles, prophets, evangelists, shepherds, and teachers all play a role in equipping and building up the body of Christ, leading to maturity in faith. [40:56]

"For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ." (1 Corinthians 12:12, ESV)

Reflection: Reflect on the diverse voices in your church community. How can you actively support and learn from someone whose gifts or perspectives differ from your own?


Day 5: The Gospel as Our Foundation
The ultimate expression of love is found in the gospel. Jesus' sacrifice reconciles us to God and each other. Our words and actions should reflect this love, pointing others to the life and freedom found in Christ. [49:33]

"For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross." (Colossians 1:19-20, ESV)

Reflection: How can you intentionally reflect the love and reconciliation of the gospel in your interactions today? Consider one specific action you can take to demonstrate this love to someone in your life.

Quotes



Or, I mean, you can say the right thing, but are you speaking in love? You can say the truth, but is it done in love? Are we building people up? If we don't learn to build others up, to speak the truth in love, if we don't learn to speak clearly, compassionately, purposefully, here's—I've seen this time and time and time again, and here's one of the greatest ways, right? We wonder why so many arguments start over social media, over text message, right? Text message is the worst place to have any level of awkward or conflict -type conversation. Do not do it. Why? Because it's not going to be clear. to be compassionate. It's not going to be personal. It's going to be misunderstood. [00:07:08] (46 seconds)


We have miscommunications all the time when we don't speak in proper ways to build people up. What was intended is not what comes out. You want to utilize all of the tools in your belt. Tone of voice, eye contact, right? Body language to take Ursula in The Little Mermaids. I can't hear body language without seeing that giant mermaid thing. What is she, an octopus? Body language. That's what I hear when I say body language. [00:07:53] (32 seconds)


How many times have you maybe even experienced this? This is terrible. When someone is saying something, they're quoting scripture at you or something. They're speaking the truth, and what ends up happening is that you experience this, and so, man, God really is distant. God really is judgmental. We can misrepresent the God that we claim to speak for when we don't take the time to say, I want to build people up with my speech. I want to speak clearly, compassionately, purposefully. I have said this before. I will continue to say this. I don't want to only speak the truth on this stage. There is not one truth that is in this book that I am not willing to get up here and preach. However, I don't want to get in the way. I don't want to get in the way of the truth. I don't want to get in the way of the truth. I don't want to add something of me, whether I'm trying to be funny or I'm feeling insecure that day, or I just really have a bent against something that I haven't really checked with Jesus. I don't want to get in the way. I want this to be true and helpful. I want to build people up and point people to Jesus. That is clear. That is compassionate. That is purposeful conversation. I don't always get it right, but I don't want to have miscommunications. I don't want to misrepresent, and I also don't want to miss opportunities. I don't want to misrepresent. So many of us, because we do see the power of words, end up needing to be so sure about something. [00:08:31] (84 seconds)


And then we usually go to St. Francis of Assisi, oh, preach the gospel at all times. If necessary, use words. It's like, wow, it seems like it's never necessary to use words by watching some, all right? We want to speak, because if we don't, we miss opportunities to speak for God. How many missed opportunities have there been in your life, in my life, where God was speaking, there was encouragement, and it wasn't given. It was missed. We missed the mark. We're human. It's going to happen. But we want to be people that go, oh, God, here I am. I want to speak with you, to you, for you, and I want to speak that truth in love. Our words have power, and part of how love builds each other up, especially in the church, in the church, is by speaking it. Love speaks in a way that builds up and points to Jesus. Here's where we're going to spend most of our time, in 1 Corinthians chapter 12, right towards the end, and into 13 verse 1. If you've got your Bible, you can open it up to there, or if you want to follow along on Church Center, you're doing like the little fill in the blanks and everything, that's cool. It'll also be up on the screen. But here's what 1 Corinthians 12 verses 27 to 31 says about speaking the truth. [00:10:04] (72 seconds)


Now, you are the body of Christ, and individually members of it. We've read this part before. And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? [00:11:16] (27 seconds)


Earnestly desire the higher gifts. The posture of our heart should be, God, I want everything that you have for me. Even if it's uncomfortable, even if it feels a little bit weird, even if I don't completely understand it, I want to desire what you have for me in order to love people well. That's what he gets into in 1 Corinthians 13. [00:13:17] (21 seconds)


Even if I do all this stuff, but I don't have love, if I'm not building others up with it, it's just noise. It's pointless. He's keeping us, he's keeping the main thing the main thing. Everything is unto love. Everything is building up in love. So how is it that we build ourselves up? Well, he gets into this in 1 Corinthians 14, verses 2 and 4, when he says, speaking to God actually builds you up. This is what we call prayer, and in some cases, praying in tongues or praying, like just kind of making noises. Let me explain. 1 Corinthians 14, verses 2 to 4. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God. Sometimes it's helpful to just read it and let it be what it is. One who speaks in tongues speaks not to men, but to God. So there's a way of praying that is somewhat understandable. [00:13:39] (54 seconds)


There's this compare and contrast here between praying in a tongue, or like words that you don't even really understand, and then prophesying for someone else, which is speaking words from God to someone else. Tongues are for building up yourself. I'm just going to go ahead and say this is prayer, okay? For the time second, this is prayer. [00:14:47] (23 seconds)


The place that I go, the person that I talk with that always builds me up in love is Jesus, hearing his word. And I want to hear from him. And I want to hear from him. And I want to hear his words, his voice, his perspective in scripture. That's where I want to go. And prayer is how I do that. Prayer builds us up when we do it. You can't pour out what you don't have. So you have to start somewhere and start simple. Whether it's like, God, would you just tell me a word? Or going into scripture and going, I'm just going to say these words that you already said. I'm going to repeat them even until I start to grow in this area. That's a great place to grow. If you don't know how, we have something called the daily focus. And in addition to putting scripture out there, we put ideas for how you might want to pray in there as well. You can follow along with that and just start to learn. If it feels uncomfortable, if it feels awkward, that's okay. Prayer is a muscle that you exercise and it grows the more and strengthens the more you start to use it. Start small. Start simple. It will build you up. Prayer, talking to God, builds us up. But then there's this other part. And I kind of skipped around on it in 1 Corinthians. I think it was chapter 14. Yes. So remember, 14, verse 1, pursue love. What's the big point? Do not miss this one, right? We make it about all these other little things. It says, pursue love. [00:15:10] (86 seconds)


We should want to love God and love people with everything that we've got. Earnestly desire the spiritual gifts. This is 1 Corinthians 14. Verse 1. Pursue love. Earnestly desire spiritual gifts. Why? Because that's how we'll be able to love people. That's how we're going to be able to love God and be built up ourselves as well, especially that you may prophesy. That's weird. Why especially that one? Well, he goes on. We just read this one. For one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men but to God. So this is a great way for you to be built up so that you have something to give away, right? For no one understands him, but he utters mysteries in the spirit. 14, verse 3. On the other hand, the one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding. Upbuilding. Everybody say, upbuilding. Excellent. [00:22:18] (51 seconds)


And I'm going to need to be that for people if that's how you're feeling. It doesn't matter if I tell you how if you don't want to, right? It doesn't matter if I care for you as you sin. [00:35:26] (12 seconds)


We need these and we need to be these in different times, in different places, whether we're parenting, leading a life group, talking over coffee with our friend, whatever it is, we need different voices. Because God speaks through the different voices. That's why he gave them to the church. [00:35:38] (17 seconds)


So there's going to be one or two that is most natural for you. That's good, okay? That's how God wired you. There are certain ones that are more natural for me. I tend to, like, I want to teach. Like, everything's a teachable moment. Ask my kids, you know, like, I want to teach. But that doesn't let me off the hook for the other ones. [00:35:55] (22 seconds)


It's just, hey, you need me. And I need you. And I'm going to have to grow in some of these other ones, okay? You need people. Do you have people that are willing to tell you the truth, that know you, that you trust, right? [00:36:31] (14 seconds)


You're missing out on part of God if we don't. And then just be careful. Like, in your prayer times, like, hey, God, how should I speak into this at this time or in this way? Number four, when we start speaking for God, any hearing from God is going to come with some responsibility, okay? This is what 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, verse 20 and 21 says. It's very, very specific. It says, do not despise prophecies. That's verse 20. Do not despise prophecies. Don't say this is weird. Don't say this is stupid. Somebody comes in and says something to you, you're like, oh, that's so judgmental, okay? Don't despise prophecies. But test everything. [00:36:51] (42 seconds)


And so, if you come up to me and say something that is not in this, I'm going to question whether or not it's true, because it's probably not. I want to go back and go, yeah, that is true. God does say that. God does feel that way about me. That is the truth. [00:38:00] (19 seconds)


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Transcript
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