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“Rotten vs. Redemptive Speech”
Ephesians 4:17-32
V.29’s Negative Exhortation: don’t say bad stuff
–“corrupting talk” (ESV) is literally “a rotten word,” something foul and worthless that has a spreading quality
–Colossians 3:8, Proverbs 10:19, Proverbs 17:27-28, James 3:9
V.29’s Positive Exhortation: speak what will edify others
–Don’t just ask, “Have I stopped saying bad things?” but also, “Am I speaking a good and encouraging word to the people around me?”
How we speak has tremendous power
–Proverbs 18:21
–James 3:2-12
We speak the way we do because of what’s in our hearts
–Matthew 12:34-35
How can we walk in obedience to this word?
1) Resolve to stop cursing altogether.
2) Cut out sources of rotten speech in your life.
3) Pray intentionally that God would change your heart.
4) Be slow to speak in general.
5) Run everything you’re about to say through this filter:
Do these words give grace to those who will hear it?
