BIBLICAL GUIDELINES FOR VERBAL COMMUNICATION

• Be A Willing, Careful Listener

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" James 1:19

• Dont Interrupt The Person Who Is Speaking To You -- Hear Them Out

"He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him." Proverbs 18:13

• Think Before You Speak

"The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things." Proverbs 15:28

Proverbs 29:11 "A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards."

Proverbs 29:20 "Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? there is more hope of a fool than of him."

• How You Say Something Is Just As Important As What You Say

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver." Proverbs 25:11

"Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man." Colossians 4:6

• Timing Is Important: There Is A Time To Keep Silent & A Time To Speak

"A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;" Ecclesiastes 3:7

"A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it!" Proverbs 15:23

• Speak The Truth

"Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another." Ephesians 4:25

"Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;" Colossians 3:9

• Speak The Truth In Love

"But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:" Ephesians 4:15

"How long will ye vex my soul, and break me in pieces with words?" Job 19:2

• What You Say Must Be Sound, Accurate, & Untainted

"Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile." Psalms 34:13

"For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:" 1 Peter 3:10

"Sound speech, that cannot be condemned; that he that is of the contrary part may be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." Titus 2:8

• Avoid Using Filthy Language, & Language Laced With Innuendos

"Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks." Ephesians 5:4

"But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." Colossians 3:8

• Do Not Quarrel or Nag

"A continual dropping in a very rainy day and a contentious woman are alike." Proverbs 27:15

"The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with." Proverbs 17:14

"It is an honour for a man to cease from strife: but every fool will be meddling." Proverbs 20:3

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: 32 And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:31-32

• Dont Get Angry Or Respond In Anger, Keep Cool & Be Gentle

"He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly." Proverbs 14:29

"A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger." Proverbs 15:1

"By long forbearing is a prince persuaded, and a soft tongue breaketh the bone." Proverbs 25:15

Ephesians 4:31 "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:"

• When Verbally Attacked, Criticized or Blamed, Do Not Respond In The Same Manner

"Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men." Romans 12:17

"Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing." 1 Peter 3:9

• When You Are Wrong, Admit It & Ask Forgiveness -- Do Not Try To Shift The Blame

"Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another" James 5:16

"And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight" Luke 15:21

"And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat? 12 And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat. 13 And the LORD God said unto the woman, What is this that thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat." Genesis 3:11-13

• When You For Forgiveness, Forgive And Then Dont Bring It Up Again In The Future

"Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? 22 Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Matthew 18:21-22

"And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephesians 4:32

• Make Every Effort To Understand The Other Persons Point Of View, & In Love Make Allowances For Differences of Opinion

"With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love;" Ephesians 4:2

"And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins." 1 Peter 4:8

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