Youth Teaching on 9/15/06

(Note - major portions lifted from Laura's teachings to our kids :-)

JD`s challenges last meeting:

No copying music CDs! It is stealing!
No put-downs
Jesus calls us to maturity-read the whole Bible! If I compared time with TV/Video, make it more time in the Bible!
Service: not "having time" is no excuse to serve. Serve in lancaster with needy, in Lititz serve in retirement communities, unwed mothers

No put-downs

a disparaging, belittling, or snubbing remark.
a remark or act intended to humiliate or embarrass someone.
put-down n : a crushing remark
Eutrapelia: Raillery, good-natured, good-humored ridicule. Roasting. Teasing, making fun of someone, having fun at the expense of someone else. Buffoonery - undignified, or rude joking. Demote someone else to promote yourself (source: Tom Gotwalt)

Luke 6:43-45

43"(For there is no good tree which produces bad fruit, nor, on the other hand, a bad tree which produces good fruit.

44"For each tree is known by its own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they pick grapes from a briar bush.

45"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth what is evil; for his mouth speaks from that which fills his heart.

"The tongue bone is connected to the heart bone" Thus, the problem is not our tongue - it does not speak of itself, but we speak that which is in our hearts

Matt 12:33-35

33 "Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.

34 "You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

35 "The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.

36 "But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment

Jesus left absolutely no wiggle room that what we say is out of our hearts so if we speak things that are put-downs, or make fun of someone, of on someone else's behalf, it is because of what? Evil in our own hearts!

Prov 12:12-23

13An evil man is ensnared by the transgression of his lips,

But the righteous will escape from trouble.

14A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words,

And the deeds of a man's hands will return to him.

16A fool's anger is known at once,

But a prudent man conceals dishonor.

17He who speaks truth tells what is right,

But a false witness, deceit.

18There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword,

But the tongue of the wise brings healing.

19Truthful lips will be established forever,

But a lying tongue is only for a moment.

James 3:2-11

2For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

3Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

4Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.

5So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!

Anyone have examples of great fires in your lives of things you have said?

6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.

8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;

10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?

So, now what do we do?
- Ask God for help (see Ps 141 below)

Ps 141:3-4

3 Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

Keep watch over the door of my lips.

4 Do not incline my heart to any evil thing,

To practice deeds of wickedness

With men who do iniquity;

And do not let me eat of their delicacies

Pray "Deliver us from evil", "lead us not into temptation"
Repent!
Ask for forgiveness when we speak ill or hurt others

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

God is not excluding humor - this is part of normal human interactions and indeed His delight in us. As everything, it must be brought under His lordship!

Luke 6:45

45"The good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth what is good;

That all goes back to our hearts - what is my mantra? (Whoever answers, get first dibs on desserts!)

Prov 4:20-27

20 My son, give attention to my words;

Incline your ear to my sayings.

21 Do not let them depart from your sight;

Keep them in the midst of your heart.

22 For they are life to those who find them

And health to all their body.

23 Watch over your heart with all diligence,

For from it flow the springs of life.

24Put away from you a deceitful mouth

And put devious speech far from you.

25Let your eyes look directly ahead

And let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.

26 Watch the path of your feet

And all your ways will be established.

27 Do not turn to the right nor to the left;

Turn your foot from evil.

Prov 15:28

28The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,

But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.

"garbage in - garbage out"
- Watch over what you see and hear (predominantly secular music?)
- Watch over who you hang out with
- Watch over what you read
- Watch over what you think

Phil 4:8

8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Romans 12:10

Be devoted to one another in warm, tender, brotherly love