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Chapter Three
"Christian character is Jesus Christ on display in the life of the believer."
POWER OF THE TONGUE
How is man's tongue described?
James 3:8-10
Psalm 52:2-4
What are three warnings about the tongue?
Prov. 10:19
Prov. 17:9
James 1:26
"The most powerful and untameable creature in the world has its den just back of the teeth."
How does God want our tongues to be used?
Isa. 50:4
Psalm 35:28
Psalm 145:10-12
What instruction does God give about our speech?
James 4:11
Eph. 4:25
Eph. 4:15
Prov. 21:23
James 3 and Chapters 10 and 15 of Proverbs have much sound advice on the use and misuse of our tongues.
What does our speech reveal? (Matt. 12:34, 35)
What is characteristic of the foolish person?
Eccl. 10:14
Prov. 15:2
Prov. 29:11
What can gracious and appropriate words do?
Prov. 12:25
Prov. 16:24
Prov. 15:1
Eph. 4:29
Review what you've learned about the tongue, and consider Psalm 141:3. In what area do you most need to pray for the Lord to guard your speech?
A careless word may kindle strife,
A cruel word may wreck a life.
A bitter word may hate instill,
A brutal word may smite and kill.
A gracious word may smooth the way,
A joyous word may light the day.
A timely word may lessen stress,
A loving word may heal and bless.
HOW IMPORTANT IS PURITY?
What does God promise the pure in heart?
Psalm 24:3-5
Matt. 5:8
What is God's standard for holy living? (I Pet. 1:14, 15) (Select best answer.)
What is Christ's standard concerning impurity? (Matt. 5:27, 28)
Sow a thought, reap an act;
Sow an act, reap a habit;
Sow a habit, reap a character.
Where do evil desires come from?
Mark 7:21-23
Gal. 5:19
How does God describe those who practice impurity? (Eph. 4:18,19)
What is God's command concerning our speech? (Eph. 5:3, 4)
Why should a Christian avoid immorality?
I Thess. 4:3, 7, 8
I Cor. 6:15-20
I John 2:15, 16
What can we do toward living a clean life pleasing to the Lord?
Gal. 5:16
Prov. 7:1-3, 5
Psa. 51:10
II Tim. 2:22
Col. 3:5
In Proverbs 7 (as in Chapters 2, 5 and 6) notice how a personal knowledge and application of God's Word is a protection against immorality.
What is the best summary verse on purity?
on avoiding impurity?
What are some things that tempt your thinking away from God's standard of purity and what can you do to avoid them?
"One can no more filter the mind into purity than he can compress it into calmness. To have it pure, it must be given over to the control of the Holy Spirit and the things of impurity avoided. Guard it if you would have your heart pure. Store it full of the pure truth of God's Word."
—Keith L. Brooks
WHY BE HONEST?
What are good goals for a Christian?
II Cor. 8:21
Luke 6:31
What should be true in all our dealings with others?
Lev. 19:11
Lev. 25:14
Deut. 25:13-16
"A lie is any deceit: in word, act, attitude—or silence; in deliberate exaggerations, in distortions of the truth, or in creating false impressions."
What does God want?
Zech. 8:16, 17
Eph. 4:28
Rom. 13:7
Deut. 24:14, 15
Two essential standards for a Christian are:
—Make sure that everything you have was obtained honestly.
—Be sure that only truth comes out of your mouth. It is not always necessary to speak, especially in matters of opinion—love, gentleness, courtesy should govern—but when you do speak, speak truth. There is no such thing as a "white" lie.
Where does dishonesty originate?
John 8:44
Col. 3:9, 10
One form of dishonesty is rationalizing: "But everybody cheats on exams" or "I really put one over on the government on my income tax—saved $300—but I'll give half of it to the church."
What does God see?
Amos 5:12
Heb. 4:13
What effect does dishonesty have on prayer? (Isa. 59:1-3)
How does Paul describe a clear conscience? (Acts 24:16)
Did maintaining it require effort on his part?
"Conscience does its best work only when it has been sharpened by the Word of God."
What did David do to maintain his honesty? (Psa. 119:29,30)
"One of the rarest powers possessed by man is the power to state a fact…To comprehend a fact in its exact length, breadth, relations and significance and to state it in language that represents it with exact fidelity are features of a mind finely balanced and singularly gifted by the Holy Spirit…"
—Keith L. Brooks