I. A constant exhortation

A. To the patriarchs (Genesis 15:1; 26:24; 46:3)
B. To the children of Israel in the Exodus (Exodus 14:13; 20:20; Deuteronomy 1:21)
C. To Israel upon possessing the land (Joshua 1:9)
D. Through the prophets (Isaiah 41:10-13; Jeremiah 46:27; Zephaniah 3:16)
E. To the disciples (Matthew 10:28; John 14:27)

II. Look at what God has given us! (2 Timothy 1:7)

A. A spirit of power (Romans 15:13; Ephesians 3:16)
B. A spirit of love (Mark 12:30; John 13:34-35; Matthew 5:44-45; 1 John 4:18)
C. A spirit of a sound mind (Philippians 4:6-8)

III. The victory has already been won!

A. The victory of faith in God’s power (1 John 4:4; 5:4)
B. The victory of Jesus over death (1 Corinthians 15:54-57)
C. Therefore – do not fear! (Revelation 21:5-8)

I. Proverbial principles

A. How does God describe “a worthless person” and “a wicked man”? (Proverbs 6:12-14)
B. What does God hate? (Proverbs 6:16-19)
C. Gossip is the vocabulary of hypocritical (“godless” [ASV]), untrustworthy fools (Proverbs 10:18-19; 11:9, 13)
D. Gossip is perverted (Proverbs 16:28)

II. Think before you speak

A. How would you describe your words? (Philippians 4:8)
B. Is it something that “ought not” be said? (1 Timothy 5:13)
C. The buck stops with YOU (Proverbs 26:20-22)

III. Do your words build up, or tear down?

A. Edify, or corrupt? (Ephesians 4:29)
B. Bless, or curse? (James 3:9-12)
C. The value of encouraging speech (Proverbs 25:11)

IV. The eternal consequence of gossip

A. God will give you up (Romans 1:28-32)
B. The lake which burns with fire and brimstone (Rev. 21:8)
C. You will not inherit the kingdom of God (Gal. 5:19-21)