1. Speech that Prospers

2. Ephesians 6:1-3
Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. "Honor your father and mother"-which is the first commandment with a promise - "that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth."

3. Right speech comes from a right heart
Matt. 12:34 …how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.
Submit your old goals to the Lord
Ask him to give you a heart that wants to
Please him more than impress others
Bless others in the moment, not just look out for yourself
Protect the right things rather than damage them

4. Goals for my Speech WRONG GOALS Basic: to please myself
Get what I want at the expense of others
Make people think I am exceptional & impress others by my…
Intelligence
Prestige
Power of personality
RIGHT GOALS
Basic: to please God
To build up others who hear my words
According to their need
Benefitting them
To prosper my stewardships: to…
Protect them
Do well to them

5. The Fundamental Guideline: Build up Those Who Hear You
Eph. 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Think before I speak – Prov. 16:23
Select my words – don’t simply let them fly
Choose to say only what will benefit those who listen
Build them up – strengthen and grow them
In line with their needs

6. Think Before You Speak
The wise man man’s mouth is a follower, not the leader (Prov. 16:23)
We tend to let words gush out, which…
Mark us as a fool (Prov. 15:2)
Result in sin (Prov. 10:19)
Damage us (Prov. 21:23)
Stopping the gush improves our reputation (Prov. 17:28)

7. Select our Words: What is Fitting?
Ask yourself: Is this occasion a time for…
Silence? (Eccl. 3:1,7)
Listening? (Prov. 18:13)
Giving space? (Prov. 27:14)
Letting the other person shine? (Prov. 15:23)
Chit-chat? Then encourage (Heb. 10:24)
Business? Then operate in truth (Prov. 21:6)
Celebration? Don’t instruct, brag or talk tragedy
Sadness? (Prov. 12:25, Rom. 12:15)

8. Say Only What Will Benefit
When you speak, bless.
Refresh people (Prov. 10:11)
Give them something valuable (Prov. 10:20)
Choose words that are a blessing in…
Content: words whose meanings fit the need
Package: in a form that is pleasing (Prov. 25:11)

9. Response Paradigm The Usual Approach Judge Instruct Probe Clarify
Support
The Wise Approach
Support
Clarify
Probe
Instruct
Judge

10. Speech that Prospers
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