Part 1Part 1

““Victory This New Year” Victory This New Year” SeriesSeries

Selected PassagesSelected Passages

Our goal in studying God’s Our goal in studying God’s Word today is to prevent a Word today is to prevent a

deadly infestation; deadly infestation; One that is easier to prevent One that is easier to prevent than it is to cure once it’s in than it is to cure once it’s in

place. place.

Ephesians 4:25-29 - Ephesians 4:25-29 - “Therefore, “Therefore, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, laying aside falsehood, speak truth, each one of you, with his neighbor, each one of you, with his neighbor, for we are members of one for we are members of one another. Be angry, and yet do not another. Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity. Let him who devil an opportunity. Let him who steals steal no longer; but rather let steals steal no longer; but rather let

him labor, performing with his own him labor, performing with his own hands what is good, in order that hands what is good, in order that he may have something to share he may have something to share with him who has need. Let no with him who has need. Let no unwholesome word proceed from unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.”may give grace to those who hear.”

How do you deal with a rumor?How do you deal with a rumor?

– Ignore it. 38%Ignore it. 38%

– Question it. 43%Question it. 43%

– Add to it. 4%Add to it. 4%

– Spread it like a virus. 12%Spread it like a virus. 12%

– Post it on the office coffee maker. 3%Post it on the office coffee maker. 3%

Only Only 19%19% admitted to repeating the admitted to repeating the story. story.

Does anyone really believe that Does anyone really believe that 81% of the population keeps a 81% of the population keeps a

rumor to themselves?rumor to themselves?

The The BibleBible refers to words refers to words describing describing gossip or slandergossip or slander

56 times56 times

What we say What we say andand how we say it are how we say it are of major concern to God. of major concern to God.

Titus 3:1-2: Titus 3:1-2: “Remind the people to, “Remind the people to, slander no oneslander no one, to be peaceable , to be peaceable

and considerate, and to show true and considerate, and to show true humility toward all men.”humility toward all men.”

1 Corinthians 4:12-14 - 1 Corinthians 4:12-14 - “We labor, “We labor, working with our own hands. When working with our own hands. When we are reviled, we bless; when we we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; are persecuted, we endure it; 1313when we are slandered, we when we are slandered, we entreat. We are, even now, like the entreat. We are, even now, like the world’s garbage, like the filth of all world’s garbage, like the filth of all things. things. 1414I’m not writing this to I’m not writing this to shame you, but to warn you as my shame you, but to warn you as my dear children.” dear children.”

The church should have a The church should have a zero zero tolerance policytolerance policy for gossip and for gossip and

slanderslander

• Build a protective hedge Build a protective hedge

• Keep the enemy out Keep the enemy out

• One of the major problems in most One of the major problems in most local churches local churches that God hatesthat God hates

Proverbs 6Proverbs 6 lists lists seven thingsseven things God God hates… one of them is in hates… one of them is in verse 19:verse 19:

““a lying witness who gives a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.”trouble among brothers.”

Burn these thoughts into your Burn these thoughts into your hearts that we might be hearts that we might be

“children of God - “children of God - above above reproachreproach in the midst of a in the midst of a

crooked and perverse crooked and perverse generation.”generation.”

Matthew 12:36-37Matthew 12:36-37 - “I tell you that - “I tell you that men will have to give account on men will have to give account on the Day of Judgment for every the Day of Judgment for every careless word they have spoken. careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” will be condemned.”

They tell us that words are what They tell us that words are what principally separate us from the principally separate us from the

animals ... exhortations and animals ... exhortations and warnings abound regarding what warnings abound regarding what

we say.we say.

James 3:9:James 3:9: “With the tongue we “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness.”been made in God's likeness.”

Sometime, Sometime, even telling the truth even telling the truth can be sinfulcan be sinful, if it’s told with the , if it’s told with the

intent to harm or not in love.intent to harm or not in love.

The Bible uses two words to The Bible uses two words to identify sinful speech: identify sinful speech:

Gossip Gossip andand Slander Slander

Proverbs 20:19Proverbs 20:19 - "He who goes - "He who goes about as a about as a slandererslanderer reveals reveals secretssecrets, therefore do not associate , therefore do not associate with a with a gossipgossip.“.“

Leviticus 19:16Leviticus 19:16 – “Do not go about – “Do not go about spreading slanderspreading slander among your among your

people...”people...”

Proverbs 11:13Proverbs 11:13 - “He who goes - “He who goes about as a about as a talebearertalebearer reveals reveals

secrets.”secrets.”

The Source of Gossip #1The Source of Gossip #1SlanderSlander

Luke 6:45Luke 6:45 - A good man produces - A good man produces good out of the good storeroom of good out of the good storeroom of his heart. An evil man produces evil his heart. An evil man produces evil out of the evil storeroom, out of the evil storeroom, for his for his mouth speaks mouth speaks from the overflow from the overflow of the heartof the heart.. (HCSB) (HCSB)

1 Corinthians 1:10 1 Corinthians 1:10 – “Now I exhort – “Now I exhort you, brethren, by the name of our you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all Lord Jesus Christ, that you all agree, and there be no divisions agree, and there be no divisions among you, but you be made among you, but you be made complete in the same mind and in complete in the same mind and in the same judgment.the same judgment.

1 Corinthians 1:11-131 Corinthians 1:11-13 - For I have - For I have been informed concerning you, my been informed concerning you, my brethren, by Chloe's people, that there brethren, by Chloe's people, that there are quarrels among you. are quarrels among you. Now I mean Now I mean this, that each one of you is saying, this, that each one of you is saying, "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," "I am of Paul," and "I of Apollos," and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." and "I of Cephas," and "I of Christ." Has Christ been divided? Paul was not Has Christ been divided? Paul was not crucified for you, was he? Or were you crucified for you, was he? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? baptized in the name of Paul?

1 Corinthians 3:1-41 Corinthians 3:1-4 - And I, - And I, brethren, could not speak to you brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to babes in men of flesh, as to babes in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able, even now you are not yet able, for you are still fleshly. for you are still fleshly. For For

since there is jealousy and strife since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not walking like and are you not walking like mere men?mere men? For when one says, "I For when one says, "I am of Paul," and another, "I am of am of Paul," and another, "I am of Apollo’s," are you not mere men?Apollo’s," are you not mere men?

The Source of Gossip #2The Source of Gossip #2Desire for PositionDesire for Position

• Psalms 38:12Psalms 38:12 - Those who seek my - Those who seek my (David) (David) life set their traps, those who life set their traps, those who would harm me would harm me talk of my ruintalk of my ruin; all ; all day long they plot deception.day long they plot deception.

3 John 1:93 John 1:9 – “I wrote to the church, – “I wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to be but Diotrephes, who loves to be first, will have nothing to do with us. first, will have nothing to do with us. So if I come, I will call attention to So if I come, I will call attention to what he is doing, what he is doing, gossiping gossiping maliciouslymaliciously about us...” about us...”

The Source of Gossip #3The Source of Gossip #3JealousyJealousy

2 Corinthians 12:202 Corinthians 12:20 – “For I am – “For I am afraid that when I come I may not afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be... I fear find you as I want you to be... I fear that there may be quarreling, that there may be quarreling, jealousy,jealousy, outbursts of anger, outbursts of anger, factions, factions, slander, gossipslander, gossip...”...”

Four reasons for conflict / gossip Four reasons for conflict / gossip in a local churchin a local church

• Control Control

• PersonalityPersonality

• Approach or philosophy of ministryApproach or philosophy of ministry

• Doctrine Doctrine

ACT 5:17-18ACT 5:17-18 - “Then the high priest - “Then the high priest and all his associates, who were and all his associates, who were members of the party of the members of the party of the Sadducees, were Sadducees, were filled with filled with jealousyjealousy. They arrested the . They arrested the apostles and put them in the public apostles and put them in the public jail.”jail.”

The Source of Gossip #4The Source of Gossip #4Non-Specific CarnalityNon-Specific Carnality

The Source of Gossip #5The Source of Gossip #5Biblical IlliteracyBiblical Illiteracy

They don’t understand . . . They don’t understand . . .

. . . . . . that in God’s eyes, gossip and that in God’s eyes, gossip and division are more serious than division are more serious than fornication.fornication.

Matthew 18:15-17Matthew 18:15-17 - "And if your brother - "And if your brother sins, go and reprove him in private; if he sins, go and reprove him in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. listens to you, you have won your brother. "But, if he does not listen to you, take one "But, if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. "And if he refuses fact may be confirmed. "And if he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer.gatherer.

There There ISIS an exception to the an exception to the Four Step Process. Four Step Process.

Titus 3:10Titus 3:10 – “Reject a divisive person – “Reject a divisive person after a first and second warning…” after a first and second warning…” (HCSB)(HCSB)

• The The “factious or divisive”“factious or divisive” person is person is the one with diarrhea of the mouth.the one with diarrhea of the mouth.

• They have the spiritual gift of They have the spiritual gift of dis-dis-couragement. couragement.

• They are the church cockroachThey are the church cockroach

You cannot be habitually gossiping You cannot be habitually gossiping about others and be a saved about others and be a saved

personperson

1 Corinthians 6:9-101 Corinthians 6:9-10 – “Do you not – “Do you not know that the wicked will not inherit know that the wicked will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders nor thieves nor the greedy offenders nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor drunkards nor nor slanderers... slanderers... ......will inherit the will inherit the kingdom of God.”kingdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 5:111 Corinthians 5:11 – “But now I – “But now I am writing you that you must not am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slandererslanderer, a drunkard or a , a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not swindler. With such a man do not even eat.”even eat.”

Romans 16:17: Romans 16:17: “Now I implore “Now I implore you, brothers, watch out for those you, brothers, watch out for those who cause dissensions and pitfalls who cause dissensions and pitfalls contrary to the doctrine you have contrary to the doctrine you have learned. Avoid them.”learned. Avoid them.”

The Source of Gossip #6 The Source of Gossip #6

Lost People in Christ's Lost People in Christ's ChurchChurch

Matthew 13:24-30Matthew 13:24-30 - He presented - He presented another parable to them, saying, another parable to them, saying, "The kingdom of heaven may be "The kingdom of heaven may be compared to a man who sowed compared to a man who sowed good seed in his field. But, while good seed in his field. But, while men were sleeping, his enemy men were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed tares also among came and sowed tares also among the wheat, and went away. But, the wheat, and went away. But,

when the wheat sprang up and when the wheat sprang up and bore grain, then the tares became bore grain, then the tares became evident also. And the slaves of the evident also. And the slaves of the landowner came and said to him, landowner came and said to him, 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in 'Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have your field? How then does it have tares? And he said to them, 'An tares? And he said to them, 'An enemy has done this!' And the enemy has done this!' And the slaves said to him, 'Do you want slaves said to him, 'Do you want

us, then, to go and gather them up? us, then, to go and gather them up? But he said, No; lest while you are But he said, No; lest while you are gathering up the tares, you may gathering up the tares, you may root up the wheat with them. Allow root up the wheat with them. Allow both to grow together until the both to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather up the tares and bind "First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn.’”but gather the wheat into my barn.’”

NEXT WEEKNEXT WEEKWhat the Bible Says are …What the Bible Says are …

. . .. . . the Results of gossip, slander and the Results of gossip, slander and division division

. . .. . . the Remedies for gossip and the Remedies for gossip and slanderslander

Snow Camp 2009Snow Camp 2009• For Youth – Grades 7-12 For Youth – Grades 7-12

• January 30th - February 1January 30th - February 1stst

• Cost - $75.00Cost - $75.00

• Payment and registration form is due Payment and registration form is due NEXT SUNDAY. NEXT SUNDAY.

• See Pastor Ryan for details.See Pastor Ryan for details.

Jr. Church Lock-InJr. Church Lock-In• Children in 2nd through 5th gradesChildren in 2nd through 5th grades

• Friday, Jan. 23Friday, Jan. 23rdrd

• 8pm - 7am8pm - 7am

• Cost is $5.00Cost is $5.00

**Bring your sleeping gearBring your sleeping gear

Thurs.●Jan. 15th●12:00 NoonPotluck @ Church

Sonshine Fellowship

Exists to . . . Exists to . . .

Love GodLove GodLove OthersLove Others and andServe the World!Serve the World!