Jesus reveals pretenders. 1. False Prophets Matthew 7:15–20 (NLT) 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. 16 You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. 18 A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. 19 So every tree that does not produce good fruit is chopped down and thrown into the fire. 20 Yes, just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.
2. The Pharisees Matthew 12:33–37 (NLT) 33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
Words: James 3:6–13 (NLT) 6 Among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring. 13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom.
1.Weigh your words “Sticks and stones will break bones, and words will crush the human spirit.”
Proverbs 29:11 (NIV) A fool gives full vent to his anger but a wise man keeps himself under control.
2. Keep your Word Matthew 5:33–34, 37 (NIV) 33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne…37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
3. Watch your words Matthew 15:11 (NIV) What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.
A. Gossip, slander, accusation. Colossians 4:6 (NIV) Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt… B. Negativity and Coarse language.
Ephesians 4:29 (NIV) Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up… Colossians 3:8 (NIV) You must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.
C. Argumentative and contentious. Proverbs 20:3 (NIV) It is to one’s honor to avoid strife, but every fool is quick to quarrel.
Deed: Ephesians 2:10 (NIV) For we are God’s handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
1. Be humble Humility: thinking of yourself less.
Philippians 2:3-4 (NIV) “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves, not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others.”
2. Be gracious & kind 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NIV) Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble. Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.
3. Be excellent: Bring your best. Excellence is your best in progress.
The lens of identity: Colossians 3:12 (NIV) As God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
