Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Saturday, 23 August 2014 "Let the words of my mouth say what is helpful"

Leawood, Kansas, United States - The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection Daily Guide grow. pray. study. for Saturday, 23 August 2014 "Let the words of my mouth say what is helpful"
Daily Scripture: Ephesians 4:25 What this adds up to, then, is this: no more lies, no more pretense. Tell your neighbor the truth. In Christ’s body we’re all connected to each other, after all. When you lie to others, you end up lying to yourself.
26-27 Go ahead and be angry. You do well to be angry—but don’t use your anger as fuel for revenge. And don’t stay angry. Don’t go to bed angry. Don’t give the Devil that kind of foothold in your life.
28 Did you use to make ends meet by stealing? Well, no more! Get an honest job so that you can help others who can’t work.
29 Watch the way you talk. Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth. Say only what helps, each word a gift.
30 Don’t grieve God. Don’t break his heart. His Holy Spirit, moving and breathing in you, is the most intimate part of your life, making you fit for himself. Don’t take such a gift for granted.
31-32 Make a clean break with all cutting, backbiting, profane talk. Be gentle with one another, sensitive. Forgive one another as quickly and thoroughly as God in Christ forgave you.
Psalm 19:7-9 The revelation of God is whole
    and pulls our lives together.
The signposts of God are clear
    and point out the right road.
The life-maps of God are right,
    showing the way to joy.
The directions of God are plain
    and easy on the eyes.
God’s reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
    with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
    down to the nth degree.
10 God’s Word is better than a diamond,
    better than a diamond set between emeralds.
You’ll like it better than strawberries in spring,
    better than red, ripe strawberries.
11-14 There’s more: God’s Word warns us of danger
    and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
    Or know when we play the fool?
Clean the slate, God, so we can start the day fresh!
    Keep me from stupid sins,
    from thinking I can take over your work;
Then I can start this day sun-washed,
    scrubbed clean of the grime of sin.
These are the words in my mouth;
    these are what I chew on and pray.
Accept them when I place them
    on the morning altar,
O God, my Altar-Rock,
    God, Priest-of-My-Altar.
Reflection Question:
Ephesians 4 and Psalm 19 contain the theme for this sermon series. We will read these passages each Saturday during the series. As we do this, consider memorizing at least Ephesians 4:29 and Psalm 19:14, and if possible other parts of the passages. Changing our speech requires letting God change the inner sources from which our speech springs. We want the words of our mouth, AND the meditations of our heart, to be pleasing to God. We aim to be a community in which we "Only say what is helpful when it is needed for building up the community so that it benefits those who hear what you say."
Scholar N. T. Wright, commenting on Ephesians 4:25-32, said, "Living as a Christian demands that we grow up in our thinking: you have to learn to identify your own moods and behaviour patterns, to see which ones are going in the right direction and which ones in the wrong direction….we should regard our moods, and the speech which flows from them, as we might a strong but wilful horse, which needs to be reminded frequently of the direction we're supposed to be going in." When did you last say words that hurt, and then ask yourself, "Why did I say that?" What helps you to understand your "interior landscape" better, to keep you from blurting out words you regret and wish you could take back?
Family Activity:
Scripture contains some of the world's most important words. Create a stack of Scriptures for your home. Pass out colored index cards and pens or pencils along with a Bible to each family member. Ask each person to choose 3-4 favorite Bible verses and write his or her name and a favorite verse on each index card. Collect the cards and keep them on the dining table. Before each meal, select a card, read the passage and pray for the person who chose it. Place that card on the bottom of the stack. If you have young family members, invite them to draw pictures describing the verses or help other family members. Keep adding to your stack throughout the year and see how many verses you can memorize!
Today's Prayer:
Lord of my life, be Lord of my words. Let the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Amen.
Insight from Jason Gant
Jason Gant is the Campus Pastor at Resurrection West.
All week I have been reflecting on these scriptures through the memory verse cards we passed out Sunday in worship. Guidance from Psalms and Ephesians has been very relevant, especially with my wife and my children.
Today I am officiating at a wedding where the most important words are vows that the bride and the groom will promise to one another. These words are meant to be binding, witnessed, and a testament to their union. The tradition of the wedding vow goes back to the Roman empire when mutual consent was the foundation of the union. Wealthy Romans began to create documents that would be signed and recognized as binding.
Below is an example of traditional vows today in the United Methodist Church:
In the name of God,
I, NAME, take you NAME,
to be my wedded wife/husband,
to have and to hold
from this day forward,
for richer, for poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish,
until we are parted by death.
This is my solemn vow.
These words are meaningful and powerful as couples lay a foundation of faith in their marriage.
When I arrived at the rehearsal yesterday, I met the groom’s grandparents who had recently celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary! Grandmom commented, “He just can’t get rid of me.” I couldn’t help but imagine the words that had been shared between this couple over the course of 63 years. There would be no question that words of apology, humility, forgiveness, and care would be counted in that list.
When my wife and I came to serve here at Resurrection, she purchased and began listening to Pastor Adam’s book, Making Love Last a Lifetime. I agreed to listen, and I remember to this day Adam writing that “marriage is a ministry.” I’ve tried to approach my marriage in this way and I advise couples I counsel to do the same. My wife’s primary love language (meaning the way she prefers I express love to her as defined in Dr. Gary Chapman’s book, The Five Love Languages) is words of affirmation. It’s important for her to hear how I feel about her. This speaks to her heart.
Another couple, whose wedding I had the honor of officiating at just a few weeks ago, wanted very much for a certain phrase to be included in their vows on their special day: “to speak with a gentle heart.” This was a phrase that they believed in, so much so that they wanted it included in their vows to one another and witnessed by the people they love.
John writes of Jesus as the bridegroom to the Church. Imagine the power of Jesus words promised as vows to the Church. His words are promises. He gives the weary rest, sets the captive free, gives sight to the blind, offers abundant life, shares living water, and promises to be with us to the very end of the age. Christ’s words are binding, they have been witnessed, and we are encouraged to have faith. May our words point others to His power and love as we speak with a gentle heart.
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