Resisting Gossip – Part 1: Recognizing Gossip

This week we want to work through the issue of gossip. We will be using Resisting Gossip: Winning the War of the Wagging Tongue by Matthew Mitchell as a guide. Resisting Gossip – Part 1: Recognizing Gossip (chapters 1-3)Key verses – Proverbs 18:8; 26:22 – The words for a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to a man’s inmost parts.”Gospel defined▪ Talking – a gossip betrays a confidence (Proverbs 20:19)▪ Listening – “Wrongdoers early listen to gossip; liars pay close attention to slander” (Proverbs 17:4)Three types of bad news1. Bad information (lies)2. Bad news about someone (sharing shameful truth; slander)▪ Proverbs 11:13 – “a gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a secret”▪ Proverbs 10:18 – “Whoever spreads slander is a fool”3. Bad news for someone – bad news wickedly projected for someone elseGossip happens when the person you are talking about is not there – Questions to ask: Would you say this if the person was standing there beside you? [are some exceptions – provide examples] Would I receive this bad news about them in the same way if they were present? Am I hiding this conversation from someone? Would I want someone else to talk this way bout me if I were out of the room? [Is it true, necessary, and kind]In recognizing gossip, important questions to ask: Why am I saying this? Why am I listening to this? Why am I attracted to this bad news?Why do we gossip?▪ Love of stories ~ sinful heart makes us enjoy and be attracted to sinful stories (gossip)▪ We gossip because bad words are an overflow from our bad hearts (Matthew 12:33-  37)A gallery of gossips1. The spy – those that probe(motivated by power)2. The grumbler – complains or criticizes (motivated by jealousy)3. The backstabber – like the grumbler but angrier and more hateful (motivated by payback)4. The chameleon – goes along with gossip to fit in with the crowd (motivated by fear)5. The busybody – person who is idle and not engaged in purposeful business (motivated by a desire to beentertained and escape from the boredom of their life)++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++For more information about this group, please visit their website at reformationboise.com. Every weekday at 3:30 am and 7:30 am you can listen to The Gospel for Life on KSPD 94.5 FM and 790 AM Boise's Solid Talk in the Treasure Valley,  Idaho, USA.If you have a question, comment, or even a topic suggestion for the Pastors, you can email them.  If you enjoy The Gospel for Life, please give us a rating and leave a review wherever you listen to podcasts. That helps us a lot!Phone: (208) 991-3526E-mail: [email protected] website:  https://www.790kspd.com/gospel-for-life/to donate on line https://www.reformationboise.com/donate