My Big Fat Mouth – Criticizing

Pastor Lis Burns

August 16, 2020

Galatians 5:14-15 NLT // For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

  • Beware of DESTROYING one another.

Provers 12:18 NLT // Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.

  • Do my words heal or cut?

Ephesians 4:29 NLT // Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

  • Do my words abuse or encourage?
  • You have no idea how much one word of CRITICISM can change someone’s life. You have no idea how much one word of ENCOURAGEMENT can change someone’s life.

There are TWO types of people:

  1. Fault Finder
  2. Hope Giver

Romans 14:13 The Passion Translation // So stop being critical and condemning of other believers, but instead determine to never deliberately cause a brother or sister to stumble and fall because of your actions.

Romans 15:13 NIV // May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Ephesians 4:29 NLT // Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.

  • Is what I’m saying good and helpful?
  • The world has enough critics, let’s choose to bring HOPE instead.