Healing Church - Words Series

Series: “The Healing Church 2023”

Sermon #2: Healing Church – Words

Thesis: Words our words carry the power to create a positive environment or a negative environment. Words create worlds – yes- the world’s around us are created by our words. What do your words sound like each day?

Introduction:

Today we are celebrating our Fall Fest with a country western theme attached to it! We have ponies, petting zoo, hayrides, bumper cars and even a mechanical bull! So, I thought I would open up my message speaking about “Cowboy Proverbs!” or “Cowboy words of wisdom.”

I watch a show I love called “Ultimate Cowboy Showdown” hosted by Trace Atkins – It is a competition of the best cowboys and cowgirls in the country and it seeks to pick out the ultimate cowboy from a hand-picked bunch of the best of the best cowboys in the country – it’s a tough competition between tough cowboys and cowgirls but I have noticed something about these cowboys and cowgirls – there words!

Here are some famous words from Cowboy’s or I could call them Cowboy Proverbs (some I heard from watching the show): Note: Cowboy proverbs are words which are like a breeze blowing back the curtains over the window of time given insight and wisdom. All these sayings combined together, reveal a picture of respect for others, freedom, good humor, and camaraderie with fellow cowboys. So, listen carefully to these cowboy sayings and words:

• Don’t fret about biting off more than you can chew. Likely, your mouth’s a whole lot bigger than you think.

• When your horse dies, get off.

• How to ride a horse—first you mount the horse; second you stay mounted.

• Never approach a bull from the front, a horse from the rear, and a fool from any direction.

• A man, a dog, and a horse never tire of each other’s company.

• When you lose, don’t lose the lesson.

• Speak your mind, but ride a fast horse.

• If you’re not making dust, you’re eating it.

• Always drink upstream from the herd.

• Timing has a lot to do with the outcome of a rain dance.

• If you ain’t made up your mind, don’t use your spurs.

• If your horse don’t want to go there, then neither should you.

• It’ll feel a whole lot better, soon as it quits hurtin’.

• Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.

• The worst troublemaker you’re ever likely to meet, watches you shave your face every morning.

• A bad day roping beats a good day at any other work.

• Just because it’s a well-marked trail doesn’t mean whoever made it knew where he was going.

Who knew that cowpoke had such thought provoking and powerful words. The truth is “Words” create environments – they can create a healthy and whole environment or a unhealthy and toxic environment.

Words are powerful and create other worlds around us. Your words matter and I have been impressed with the show Ultimate Cowboy Showdown and the words these cowboys use – I hear words like “Please, yes sir, Thank you, and I hear words like” I am sorry - I messed up!” and in the midst of a tough competition over four seasons - I am blown away by their words! When they even get cut off from the show they are respectful! When they are at odds with others most of them still use their words cautiously! To me it seems that cowboy culture puts using words correctly at a premium.

Cowboys who are not known for being chatter boxes have learned to use their words well! We should learn from these individuals and how words matter! We need to hear what James says in his letter about words in the Bible – James the ½ bother of Jesus says, “Your tongue – that wild thing – can release words which have the power to bring healing or hurt!” He adds. “And you better make sure your tongue is in check because if it is not your religion (your faith in Jesus) is worthless!” Solomon said in the Bible there is “Death and Life” in our words. Other places say, there are “blessings and cursing” from our words. The Bible itself has a lot to say about our words and especially God’s Word!

Words – we all use them every day! Have you listened to your words lately?

Scripture Text: James 3

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.