September 28, 2025: The Power of Words on Others

Proverbs 18:21, Matthew 5:21-22, James 3:2b-10

Sticks and stones will break my bones but words can never hurt me. Jesus says that’s not true. Words can kill in more ways than one. We are surrounded by hurtful words: judgment, sarcasm, derogatory remarks, gossip, and hatred that is so often spoken in our society. Perhaps thats why James calls the tongue a “restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Sometimes, that same tongue goes to church on Sunday and praises God. What can we do about the evil words all around us? How can we keep our tongues from participating?

Reflection Questions: Think of a time when your words hurt someone else and a time you were hurt with words from another. What was the lasting impact of those words? How would you respond differently in the future? In what ways can you keep evil words from coming out of your mouth?