Pet Heaven

1. Pet Heaven Where do all the pets go?

2. James 3:6-8 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

3. James 3:6-8 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

4. James 3:6-8 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

5. James 3:9-10 “With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.”

6. Gossip Lesson One in a Series on the “Sins of the Tongue”

7. Defining Gossip – Old Testament • “A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter” (Prov. 11:13). • “He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips” (Prov. 20:19). • Hebrew word rakiyl: “a scandal monger (as traveling about) – to carry tales.”

8. Defining Gossip – Old Testament • “The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles (wounds), and they go down into the inmost body” (Prov. 18:8). • “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; and where there is no talebearer, strife ceases” (Prov. 26:20). • Hebrew word nirgan: “a slanderer…talebearer… whisperer.” • “A perverse man sows strife, and a whisperer separates the best of friends” (Prov. 16:28).

9. Defining Gossip – New Testament • “For I fear lest, when I come, I shall not find you such as I wish, and that I shall be found by you such as you do not wish; lest there be contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, backbitings, whisperings, conceits, tumults” (2 Cor. 12:20).

10. Defining Gossip – New Testament • “And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not” (1 Tim. 5:13). • Women especially being addressed: • “Likewise, their wives must be reverent, not slanderers, temperate, faithful in all things” (1 Tim. 3:11). • “…the older women likewise, that they be reverent in behavior, not slanderers…” (Titus 2:3). • Greek word phluaros: “a garrulous person, that is, prater; tattler.”

11. A Biblical Description of Gossip • Gossip isn’t done out in the open – “behind closed doors.” • Someone is always the subject of gossip – you’re “bearing a tale” about someone who isn’t there. • The gossip itself is hurtful to the person you’re gossiping about. It separates friends and causes strife. • Gossip may or may not be true. You may be slandering someone, exaggerating their faults, or even lying about them…OR even if the content is true, it ought to be “concealed” not “revealed” (Prov. 11:13).

12. It’s not always wrong to speak negatively about someone “behind their back.”

13. Gossip “Exceptions” or Non-Gossip • Then His disciples came and said to Him, ‘Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?’” (Matthew 15:12) • “Now when His disciples had come to the other side, they had forgotten to take bread. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Take heed and beware of the leaven (doctrine) of the Pharisees and Sadducees’” (Mt. 16:5-6). • “For it has been declared to me concerning you, my brethren, by those of Chloe’s household, that there are contentions among you” (1 Cor. 1:11). • “It is reported…” (1 Cor. 5:1).

14. Gossip “Exceptions” or Non-Gossip • Paul made negative remarks about certain Christians in some of his epistles: • “And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort” (2 Tim. 2:17). • “…for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world” (2 Tim. 4:10). • The apostle John “wrote to the church, but Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, does not receive us” (3 John 9).

15. Gossip Non-Gossip • Personal • No end-game • Causes pointless strife • Private and exclusive • Spiritual focus • A plan of action • Positive outcome in mind • In many cases, the subject had already been addressed.

16. Preventing Gossip • Don’t initiate gossip of any kind. • Don’t support gossip of any kind. Vocally object or walk away from the conversation. • If you have a problem with someone, go to them (Mt. 18), or better yet, have longsuffering and “conceal” the matter. • If you object to someone on spiritual grounds, ensure that what you say is purposeful and with an outcome in mind. • Be honest about your own motives.

17. Conclusion • Gossip is offensive and divisive. • ALL sin offends God and divides us from God: • “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). • The way to overcome sin? Through Christ! • “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 3:23).