We had a great sermon on Sunday morning about communication. Since that's what I do for a living, I found it most interesting and have thought about how I practice it daily. (Most the time, I don't do it as well as I should).
Here's what Bro. Greg put up on his blog earlier:
Principles For Effective Communication Ephesians 4:29-32
God dictates how we communicate because it is a spiritual matter.
“Do not grieve the Holy Spirit”
Principles – “no corrupt communication”
“what is necessary for edification”
“the heart matters”
“kindness is a matter of being like Jesus”
How to-
Guard your heart
Examine your speech patterns
Practice being positive
Practical Applications from Proverbs
1. Actually SPEAK to your friends.
Proverbs 15:23 A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is.
Proverbs 18:21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat of its fruit.
2. Speak to draw a person to you and build up your relationship.
Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of the righteous is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked.
Proverbs 15:4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks down the spirit.
3. Never tear down your friend, especially with personal attacks.
Proverbs 18:19 A brother offended is harder to win than a strong city, and contentions are like the bars of a castle.
Proverbs 12:18 There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.
4. There is no reason to argue in anger.
Proverbs 20:3 It is honorable for a man to stop striving since any fool can start a quarrel.
Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.
5. If the tension gets too high, then do not speak.
Proverbs 29:11 A fool vents all his feelings, but a wise man holds them back.
Proverbs 13:3 He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.
Proverbs 16: 32 He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
6. Listen more than you speak.
Proverbs 18:13 He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and shame to him.
Proverbs 15:28 The heart of the righteous studies how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours forth evil.
7. Men – Guard the tendency to fib, exaggerate, embellish, or edit the facts.
Proverbs 2:24 Put away from you a deceitful mouth, and put perverse lips far from you.
Note: 21 times Proverbs directly condemns deceit or lying.
8.Women – Guard the tendency to be harsh, critical, and contentious.
Proverbs 21:9 Better to dwell in the corner of an attic, than in a house with a contentious woman.
Note: Proverbs states this warning 5 separate times.
9. Tearing someone down is not humor and it is not funny.
Proverbs 26:18-19 Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows, and death, is the man who deceives his neighbor and says, “I was only joking.”
10. Train yourself to speak positively and add value to your friend.
Proverbs 16:23 The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, and adds learning to his lips.
Proverbs 16:24 Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
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