SPEECH: INTRODUCTION TO HOMILETICS *!*WARNING*!* TO PREACHERS!!!
James 3:1 -- MASTERS -- Greek word didaskoloi -- "teachers"
"My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation." (James 3:1)
!! WE ARE JUDGED BY A HIGHER STANDARD !! Reasons for WARNING:
1. Pastors were the New Testament replacements of the Jewish rabbi --
This made them liable to pride. New power in a short amount of time is susceptible to pride.2. Pastor's instrument is speech and his agent is his tongue; therein lies
the danger --THE ISSUE OF LANGUAGE ** Ecc. 12:10,11 "WORDS" need to be:
"(10)The preacher sought to find out acceptable words: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth. (11)The words of the wise are as goads, and as nails fastened by the masters of assemblies, which are given from one shepherd." (Ecclesiastes 12:11- 12)
--Acceptable suitable to the occasion (reveal truth yet minister).
--Upright righteous ("a marked out way").
--Truth corresponding to the nature of God - (speak what God wants you to speak, not what you want to speak). Preface opinions, avoid speculation--Goads stimulate the mind and prick the conscience.
--Nails to fasten and lodge divine truths in the memory.
I. The Origin of Language
A. Language is eternal.
1. Our God is the God of creation. (Gen. 1:1,2)
"(1)In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth. (2)And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." (Genesis 1:1-2)
2. Our God is the God of revelation. (Gen. 1:3)
"And God said, Let there be light: and there was light." (Genesis 1:3)
B. Language is fundamental.
1. Native to the nature of the Creator. (Gen. 1:26)
"And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:26)
2 concepts that need a receiver and reciprocation a. Love. b. Language.2. Native to the nature of the creature. (Gen. 1:27,28)
(Gen. 2:19,20,23)"(27)So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them. (28)And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth." (Genesis 1:27-28)
"(19)And out of the ground the LORD God formed every beast of the field, and every fowl of the air; and brought them unto Adam to see what he would call them: and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof. (20)And Adam gave names to all cattle, and to the fowl of the air, and to every beast of the field; but for Adam there was not found an help meet for him. (23)And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man." (Genesis 2:19-20,23)*God's image in us includes what is:
a. Rational - We have a mind.
b. Moral - We have a conscience. (Intuitive [inborn] grasp of what is right and wrong).
c. Spiritual - We have a spirit.
d. Physical - We have a body. (Adam anticipated [proceeded] the incarnation).
e. *Verbal - We have a tongue. (Innate communication).
II. The Purpose of Language
A. Theological communication -- PRIMARY
1. Propositional (Gen. 3:8) God speaking to mankind directly (audible). DIRECT
"And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden." (Genesis 3:8)
2. Prophetical (II Pet. 1:21) God speaking to mankind through gifted men. INDIRECT
"For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost." (II Peter 1:21)
3. Propogational [multiply] (Mark 16:15) We speak to mankind for God. EVANGELISTICALLY
"And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature." (Mark 16:15)
4. Prayer (I Thess. 5:17) We speak to God subordinantly. SUBORDINANTLY
"Pray without ceasing." (I Thessalonians 5:17)
5. Praise (Ps. 50:23) We speak to God for His glory. Uplifting God. WORSHIPFULLY
"Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me: and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I shew the salvation of God." (Psalm 50:23)
How should we praise God?
a. With sincerity (Ps. 9:1) WHOLE heart.
"I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works." (Psalm 9:1)
b. With regularity (Ps. 119:164)
"Seven times a day do I praise thee because of thy righteous judgments." (Psalm 119:164)
c. With continuity (Ps. 34:1) At any moment. Praise without ceasing.
"I will bless the LORD at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth." (Psalm 34:1)
d. With festivity (Ps. 63:5) Joyful lips.
"My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips:" (Psalm 63:5).
B. Social Communication -- SECONDARY
We need to consider 3 warnings here:
1. Our great liability (James 3:5,6) - What do we learn about the
tongue in these verses?"(5)Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! (6)And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell." (James 3:5-6)
a. It is immense - "how great a matter" b. It is inflammatory - "the tongue is a fire" Proverbs 26:21--strife c. It is iniquitous - "a world of iniquity" -- tongue is the personification of evil -- tongue is the justification of evil d. It is intense - "setteth on fire...course of nature" e. It is infectious - "it defileth the whole body" f. It is infernal - "is set on fire of hell"2. Our great accountability (Matt. 12:36)
"But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment." (Matthew 12:36)
"idle" -- barren or unfruitful (produces the opposite of God's intent).
3. Our great responsibility (Col. 4:6)
"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6)
a. Balance of grace.
b. Balance of salt (purity, attractiveness). Truth in purest form.
Taming the tongue involves transforming the heart. 3 STEPS
a. Give your heart (Pro. 23:26) Recognize God's right to rule your heart.
"My son, give me thine heart, and let thine eyes observe my ways." (Proverbs 23:26)
b. Guard your heart (Pro. 4:23) Protect the eyegate and eargate.
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." (Proverbs 4:23)
c. Gorge your heart (Ps. 119:11) Fill your heart with the Word of God.
"Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee." (Psalm 119:11)