1. The State of Our Unions: April 11 - AM Men are ComputersWomen are cell phones

2. Typical Situation Husband arrives home from work Wife says, “I don’t know how we can do it. You’re late. Richie has a game an hour from here. One of us has to get him there by 7:00. Jordan has a game here in town. Katey is cheering at Jordan’s game but she has a game right ahead of his. Daniel has practice at …”

3. Typical Situation Wife realizes her husband has heard nothing after the words “You’re late.” Most wives will agree – their husband is a computer –After a few seconds – the screen saver kicks in –When there is information overload – it locks up and must be rebooted This wife realized – She is married to a computer

4. Typical Situation The husband has been telling his wife that she is a cell phone. When he arrives home – she starts talking –Everything that happened during her day –All the bad news about the washer, taxes, and the kids being sick Cell phones go off unexpectedly They ring at inopportune moments Wives keep calling until they get an answer

5. Different Wiring Women are Cell Phones Two-way communication – talk and listen at the same time Men are Computers One way communication – send email or photo

6. Wired Differently Dr. James Dobson – Love for a Lifetime “Research makes it clear that little girls are blessed with greater linguistic ability than little boys, and it remains a lifelong talent. Simply stated, she talks more than he.” Men speak about 25,000 words a day Women speak about 50,000 words a day

7. Wired Differently When the man gets home – he has used about 98% of his daily allowance He is down to simple phrases: –“Butter” –“Any desert?” –“Where’s the paper?” She still has most of her allotment. –She calls – gets a busy signal –Actually – the computer is in sleep mode

8. Wired Differently They have much in common Both have digital chips, memory, battery Both are designed to communicate Both need a connection Now cell phones can send and receive email from computers

9. Communication A man asked a marriage counselor if they really needed to learn to communicate. The counselor asked, “What is your wife’s favorite flower?” After thinking for a moment answered, “It is Pillsbury – All Purpose.” The State of our Unions – We Need Communication

10. Need for Communication For Bible Study Acts 17:2-3 - 2 Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.”

11. Need for Communication For Bible Study Romans 10:14-15 - 14 How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, Who bring glad tidings of good things!”

12. Need for Communication For Bible Study To work together We must learn to cooperate with each other Humans are smart but not mind readers If we are going to work together, we must communicate

13. Need for Communication For Bible Study To work together To settle disputes and disagreements Acts 15:6-7 - 6 Now the apostles and elders came together to consider this matter. 7 And when there had been much dispute, Peter rose up and said to them: “Men and brethren, you know that a good while ago God chose among us, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.

14. Prerequisites to Communicate Proper attitude - love 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

15. Prerequisites to Communicate Proper attitude – love Don’t make assumptions Don’t make gossip the basis for your communication Do not assume you know what the other is thinking Jumping to conclusions is a dangerous sport

16. Prerequisites to Communicate Proper attitude – love Don’t make assumptions Stay pure in speech Ephesians 4:29 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

17. Prerequisites to Communicate Proper attitude – love Don’t make assumptions Stay pure in speech Control your anger Ephesians 4:26 - Be angry, and do not sin” : do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

18. Prerequisites to Communicate Proper attitude – love Don’t make assumptions Stay pure in speech Control your anger Keep your arms down

19. Prerequisites to Communicate Proper attitude – love Don’t make assumptions Stay pure in speech Control your anger Keep your arms down Keep the voice calm

20. Rules of Communication Right time / Wrong time Matthew 10:16 - Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.

21. Rules of Communication Right time / Wrong time Luke 16:8b - For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light.

22. Rules of Communication Right time / Wrong time Be quick to hear James 1:19 - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

23. Rules of Communication Right time / Wrong time Be quick to hear Be slow to speak James 1:19 - So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath;

24. Rules of Communication Right time / Wrong time Be quick to hear Be slow to speak Speak calmly Proverbs 15:1-2 1 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.

25. Rules of Communication Right time / Wrong time Be quick to hear Be slow to speak Speak calmly Speak without distortion of the truth Two simple rules: 1.NEVER say “Never” 2.ALWAYS avoid “Always”

26. Rules of Communication Right time / Wrong time Be quick to hear Be slow to speak Speak calmly Speak without distortion of the truth Be patient Ephesians 4:2 - with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,

27. Communication: Men are computers Women are cell phones We MUST learn to communicate –In our marriages and homes –On our job –In the church How is your communication with God?