1. Your Speech Rotten or Fruitful?
Living Beyond Yourself
Your Speech Rotten or Fruitful?

9. Rotten Fruit Perfume

10. Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any “rotten” talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

11. The Big Idea... Words can either tear down or build up
They’re either rotten or good
you choose

12. Do not let any rotten talk come out of your mouths…
The Negative Command
Do not let any rotten talk come out of your mouths…

13. What types of “Rotten Talk” can you think of?

14. “Each of you must put off falsehood”
Lies
“Each of you must put off falsehood”
(Ephesians 4:25)

15. Harsh, Angry Words Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger…
(Ephesians 4:26, 31)

16. Slander
Get rid of all ….Slander
(Ephesians 4:31)

17. . . . but it does enlarge your heart.”
“Forgiveness does not change the past
. . . but it does enlarge your heart.”

18. Obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking
(Ephesians 5:4)

19. Empty Words
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God’s wrath comes on those who are disobedient.
(Ephesians 5:6-7)

20. “I love talking about nothing.
It’s the only thing I know anything about.”

21. “Our use of our tongue is a sure reflection of the condition of our hearts.”
Sinclair Ferguson

22. Do not let any unwholesome words come out of your mouth…

23. First . . . it breaks down the unity of the body of Christ.
Second it destroys our witness to the world.

24. The Positive Alternative
Do not let any rotten talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs…

25. 1 Thessalonians 5:14
Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
(New Living Translation)

26. “Spend more time giving people a piece of your heart
...rather than a piece of your mind.”

27. … that it may benefit those who listen
The Result?
… that it may benefit those who listen

28. Luke 6:43-45
43 "No good tree bears bad fruit, nor does a bad tree bear good fruit. 44 Each tree is recognized by its own fruit.… 45 The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.

29. Think about your words!