The Power of God's Word Over Our Words

We were having a problem in my previous church.  We had just started Upward Basketball (a non-competitive, Christian instructional league for children).  People were having a hard time grasping how this children's basketball league was different. 

Though it was in the church's new gym, there was definitely some "un-church-like" language going on.  Parents were working on the referees.  The crowd would say things to the opposing team's coach.  Coaches were jawing on other coaches.  The older kids were trash talking each other during the game.  The tones were harsh.  The language was at times crude.  We had a problem.

The leadership team of our new Upward league struggled with what to do after that first week of games.  Something had to be done but is was such a pervasive problem.  So we came up with a plan to address our talk during games.

I did the half time talks to the crowd the next week to again explain that Upward was different.  This is not a basketball league at a church.  We were a church that had a basketball league.  But we did something else to address the problem that I think was much more effective than anything I said. 

We plastered a single Bible verse all over the gym.  Everywhere you could look in the gym there was a piece of paper with the verse visible.  Every door had it on it.  Even the bathroom stalls and walls had this verse on it.  We left them up all season.  I think that verse made the difference, the others on the leadership team agreed with me. What was the verse?

Do not let any unwholesome 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.  Ephesians 4:29

We all learned a lesson about the power of God's word over our words.  It is powerful and it is effective.

You probably wish there were some places at work, at school or in the community you could put this verse up to see if it would change the kind of things being said, but you can't. Have you thought about starting with your home? 

Our words are most powerful at the places we are least careful - at home, with our family.  We will look at that Sunday.  God has great things to say about what we say.  I hope you will join me.

for the journey...

Tim