Gossip Hurts

2 Corinthians 12:20-21 For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as  I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder. 21 I am afraid that when I come again my God will humble me before you, and I will be grieved over many who have sinned earlier and have not repented of the impurity, sexual sin and debauchery in which they have indulged.

 

Open with Snake in the church: video in drive

 

Frequency: Gossip makes up 60% to 70% of daily conversations.  

A 2019 study from the University of California found that people gossip for about 52 minutes a day on average. 

 

Have you ever been hurt by gossip?  

 

What is gossip? 

 

“Anything spoken about another that would you not say  be comfortable saying if they were standing right next to you.”  - Pastor Ray

 

“When we are talking about a situation with someone that is neither  part of the problem nor the solution, then we are probably gossiping.” -Rick Warren 

 

”Everything that is spoken must be truthful, but everything that is truthful does not need to be spoken” - Craig Groschel

 

  • Are my comments helpful or hurtful?  

Proverbs 16:28 A perverse person stirs up conflict, and gossip separates close friends. 

  • Am I hiding gossip inside a shallow compliment? 

 

  • Would I say this thing if they were standing here?  

 

  • Would I be embarrassed if everyone else heard me speaking like this?  

 

Matthew 10:27 What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs. 

 

“Live that you wouldn't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town  gossip.” 

  • Am I sharing something that is supposed to be PRIVATE?

 

Proverbs 11:13 A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy person  keeps a secret 

 

  • Am I permitting or encouraging others to share gossip with me? 

 

Romans 1:28-31 Furthermore, just as they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, God gave them over to a depraved mind so that they do what ought not to be done. 29 They have become filled with every kind of wickedness, evil, greed, and depravity. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit and malice. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, God-haters, insolent, arrogant, and boastful; they invent ways of doing evil; they disobey their parents; 31 they have no understanding, no fidelity, no love, no mercy. 

 

Gossip is a Choice Morsel 

 

Proverbs 18:8 The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts 

 

Who does Gossip Hurt? 

 

  • It hurts the person spoken about  
  • It hurts the listener 

 

Proverbs 17:4 Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip; liars pay close attention  to slander  

 

  • It hurts the Speaker (one sharing the gossip) 

 

Proverbs 25:9-10 When arguing with your neighbor, don’t betray another person’s secret. 10 Others may accuse you of gossip, and you will never regain your good  reputation 

 

Proverbs 21:23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, you will stay out of  trouble 

 

Regardless of what people may say, value what Jesus says about you  more