To introduce tonight's subject, we're going to watch a clip from a film
called Gossip
[Gossip - certificate 15]
5 mins 30 seconds - they exit the night club via a back door into an
alley. Start the film when the credit appears on the screen
7ish mins - "Gossip and news are the same things...people are people, we
do what we do and we gossip about it. It might be great if we were more
noble but then the stories wouldn't be as good"
8 mins - "I think we should start a rumour"
21 mins - they decide to start spreading the rumour
24 mins - she runs up stairs and enters the apartment..."she wears black
rubber bra's...."
25 mins - stop the film when they are all laughing
The middle bit
The clip we're just seen shows how quickly gossip can travel
Why are we so interested in other people's business?
At the start of the clip Derrick says "Gossip and news are the same
things...people are people, we do what we do and we gossip about it.
It might be great if we were more noble but then the stories wouldn't be as
good"
What do you think?
Maybe we just like a good story....
How would you feel if people were to spread a rumour about you?
it depends what it is...
What gossip have you heard about yourself?
What's the difference between talking about someone and gossiping about
them?
The Bible bit
The Bible warns us in James 3:5-6 (NLV) "The tongue is also a small part of the body, but it can speak big things.
See how a very small fire can set many trees on fire. The tongue is a fire. It
is full of wrong. It poisons the whole body. The tongue sets our whole lives
on fire with a fire that comes from hell."
Even though the tongue is a small part of our body, it can be one of the
most destructive...
What kind of damage can rumours do?
Some rumours come and go...but some can ruin a persons reputation...
[Is there such a thing as a good rumour?]
Matthew 12:36 (TM) "Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless words is going to
come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful;
take them seriously"
Rumours can come back to haunt you...what do you think that means?
So if gossip is do dangerous, what practical things can we do to
control our tongues?
change the subject
just say "not interested"
refuse the get dragged in...leave the room
tell those who are been gossiped about
Conclusion
1 Peter 2:1 (NLV) "Put out of your life hate and lying. Do not pretend to be someone you are
not. Do not always want something someone else has. Do not say bad things
about other people"
God wants us to look for the best in people...to lift them up...instead of
knocking them down...
So let us finish by asking God to forgive us for the hurtful things we've
said about others...
To prepare for that, I'd like you to write down on these 'speach bubbles'
some of the things you regret talking about...or maybe just put down a person
name...
[Hand out some pens / post-it style 'speech bubbles'. If you have
any pictures of the group, invite them to stick their post-it onto a photo of
themselves]
[Pray]
Other Bible verses
Leviticus 19:16 (TM) Don't spread gossip and rumours. "Don't just
stand by when your neighbor's life is in danger. I am GOD
Proverbs 11:13 (CEV) A gossip tells everything, but a true friend will
keep a secret.
Proverbs 17:9 (CEV) You will keep your friends if you forgive them, but
you will lose your friends if you keep talking about what they did wrong
Proverbs 20:19 (CEV) Stay away from gossips-- they tell everything
Proverbs 26:20 If you don't have wood, your fire goes out. If you don't
talk about others, arguing dies down
Matthew 12:36 TM Let me tell you something: Every one of these careless
words is going to come back to haunt you. There will be a time of Reckoning.
Words are powerful; take them seriously.
Ephesians 4:29 (CEV) Stop all your dirty talk. Say the right thing at the
right time and help others by what you say
1 Timothy 5:13 (CEV) Besides, they will become lazy and get into the habit
of going from house to house. Next, they will start gossiping and become
busybodies, talking about things that are none of their business
1 Peter 2:1 (NLV) Put out of your life hate and lying. Do not pretend to
be someone you are not. Do not always want something someone else has. Do not
say bad things about other people.
James 3:5-6 (TM) A word out of your mouth may seem of no account, but it
can accomplish nearly anything--or destroy it! It only takes a spark,
remember, to set off a forest fire. 6A careless or wrongly placed word out of
your mouth can do that. By our speech we can ruin the world, turn harmony to
chaos, throw mud on a reputation, send the whole world up in smoke and go up
in smoke with it, smoke right from the pit of hell
