Words and Wounds | Proverbs Part 13

Title: Words and Wounds
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00:06 Introduction: Proverb's Shift in Organization
01:55 What Are God's Patterns About How Words Work?
03:24 When Looking At God's Patterns, Ask Do My Words Match That?
05:40 Words Matter
08:43 Why are Lying Lips an Abomination to God?
11:23 Lying Lips Aren't the Only Problem, So is the Listening Ear
14:28 Words are Powerful
15:44 Words Can Stab or Bring Healing
19:41 Word Can Feed Many, but Fools Die for Lack of Sense
21:05 Words Give Shape to Ideas
22:59 Words Can Spread Like Fire
23:51 If Our Words Are So Powerful, What Should Our Words Be?
24:39 Our Words Should Be Honest
28:53 Our Words Should Be Restrained
31:17 Our Words Should Be Calm
34:20 Our Words Should Be Fitting
35:55 How Do We Make Our Words Like That?
36:16 First, Don't Blurt Out Everything You Feel
37:29 Second, Ponder Before You Speak
38:51 Third, Deal With Your Own Heart
41:28 Possible Responses to Proverb's Wisdom on Words
43:52 Jesus Took the Condemnation for Every Foolish Word You Have Spoken
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In his sermon *Words and Wounds*, Pastor Jed Gillis explores how speech reflects God's design and influences the lives of others. He explains that Proverbs 10 through 29 are not random sayings but reflect fixed patterns in God's creation. These patterns show us the difference between wisdom and foolishness. One of the clearest areas where these patterns play out is in the way we use words. Proverbs 18:21 says that death and life are in the power of the tongue. Our words can bring healing, nourishment, and joy. They can also wound, divide, and destroy.
Pastor Jed emphasizes that God values honest and peace-driven speech. Lying lips are not just discouraged; they are called an abomination. This is because lies break trust and tear apart real relationships. They create isolation rather than community. Listening to lies is also condemned. Tolerating gossip or slander makes us complicit in spreading harm. Words matter not only because of what they say but also because of how they shape ideas, spread influence, and reveal the condition of the heart.
Proverbs teaches that wise speech has four key traits. It is honest, restrained, calm, and fitting for the situation. Pastor Jed encourages the congregation to think before speaking, speak less, and aim for words that bring peace. He reminds listeners that words should not be used to serve personal desires. Instead, they should serve others and reflect God’s truth and love.
The sermon also points to the deeper spiritual reality behind our words. Jesus said that the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. To change our words, we must ask God to change our hearts. Trying harder on our own is not enough. The gospel gives hope. Jesus never sinned in his speech. He spoke with perfect wisdom, kindness, and truth. At the cross, he bore the punishment for every careless, cruel, or dishonest word spoken by those who trust in him. Because of that, believers are counted as having a perfect record before God.
Pastor Jed closes with an invitation to let Jesus shape our words. When we trust in him and speak from hearts changed by grace, our words can become a fountain of life. They can comfort, build up, and reflect the heart of Christ to others.
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Berean Bible Church is a non-denominational church in East Knoxville, TN. We are grounded in the Word, celebrating the transformative power of the Gospel. Our community thrives on worship and mutual encouragement, fostering deep connections among members. Committed to our mission, we reach out with compassion and hope, reflecting God's glory throughout our city and beyond.
Learn more at berean.church.