Godly communication in the workplace Christians in the

Godly communication in the workplace

Christians in the Workplace Who do you work for? Colossians 3: 22 Bondservants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh, not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but in sincerity of heart, fearing God. 23 And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men, 24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance; for you serve the Lord Christ What's the setting? 1 Corinthian 5: 9 I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people. 10 Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Opportunity:

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Profanity/ vulgarity v Passive involvement / association with v Use of substitute words Colossians 3: 8 But now yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth Ephesians 5: 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Profanity/ vulgarity v Passive involvement / association with v Use of substitute words v Repeating or retelling ungodly information Ephesians 5: 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light. 11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to speak of those things which are done by them in secret.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Profanity/ vulgarity Opportunity: ü Demonstrate Self control in Speech ü Consistent and Principled in Godly communications Matthew 12: 34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. ”

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: ‘Negative Speak’ v Grumbling Philippians 2: 14 Do all things without grumbling or questioning, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: ‘Negative Speak’ v Grumbling v Gossip 1 Timothy 5: 12 having condemnation because they have cast off their first faith. 13 And besides they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house, and not only idle but also gossips and busybodies, saying things which they ought not.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: ‘Negative Speak’ v Grumbling v Gossip Opportunity: ü To give thanks to God Colossians 3: 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: ‘Negative Speak’ v Grumbling v Gossip Opportunity: ü To give thanks to God ü Gain Trust and influence by showing Love I Corinthians 13: 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. 4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; 5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; 6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; 7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Polarizing Speech v Political v Social Class/ Clicks / Sports v Opinionated 1 Corinthains 9: 19 For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a servant to all, that I might win the more; 20 and to the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might win Jews; to those who are under the law, as under the law, that I might win those who are under the law; 22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 Now this I do for the gospel’s sake, that I may be partaker of it with you.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Polarizing Speech v Political v Social Class/ Clicks / Sports v Opinionated 1 Corinthians 10: 31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give no offense, either to the Jews or to the Greeks or to the church of God, 33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Polarizing Speech v Political v Social Class/ Clicks / Sports v Opinionated Opportunity: ü Let your Primary Conviction shine through 1 Peter 2 : 11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, 12 having your conduct honorable among the Gentiles, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Polarizing Speech v Political v Social Class/ Clicks / Sports v Opinionated Opportunity: ü Let your Primary Conviction shine through ü Be an example/ influencer 1 Peter 3: 1 Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God.

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: Polarizing Speech v Political v Social Class/ Clicks / Sports v Opinionated Opportunity: ü Let your Primary Conviction shine through ü Be an example/ influencer ü Be a peacemaker to bring people to God 2 Timothy 2: 22 Now flee from youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. 23 But refuse foolish and ignorant speculations, knowing that they produce quarrels. 24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth,

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: v v v Integrity Lying Telling partial truths Misleading / misrepresenting Going against your own word Sharing confidential information John 8: 3 Why do you not understand My speech? Because you are not able to listen to My word. 44 You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of it. 45 But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me. 46 Which of you convicts Me of sin? And if I tell the truth, why do you not believe Me? 47 He who is of God hears God’s words; therefore you do not hear, because you are not of God. ”

Communication in the Workplace Problem Area: v v v Integrity Lying Telling partial truths Misleading / misrepresenting Going against your own word Sharing confidential information Opportunity: ü Develop Credibility by Standing in Truth Matthew 5: 33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord. ’ 34 But I say to you, do not swear at all: neither by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 36 Nor shall you swear by your head, because you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes, ’ and your ‘No, ’ ‘No. ’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one

Godly communication in the Community

Communication in the Community Problem Area: Untruth, Partial Truth v “…Fine, How are you? ” v Are we “speaking truth” or just speaking? v Are we “members of one another” Opportunity: ü Say a truth that invites a question ü I’m a little sad. I’ve been praying for … ü I’m great. I noticed that God… ü I noticed a scripture that said… ü Look for opportunities to connect with your neighbors ü Walking, gardening, participating in community events

Communication in the Community Problem Area: Unwholesome or Careless words v Discouraging – Not good for edification v Wrong or evil message – Not according to the need of the moment v Selfish – That does not give grace to the hearer Opportunity: ü Build up, speak about things that encourage or teach ü Our citizenship is beyond politics ü Our reward is assured, the next life will be better ü Answer the question that is asked with a related truth ü There is sin in the world, but we can overcome it ü Things are getting worse, but heaven will not have this situation ü Avoid wrath and anger. Think before we speak ü Forgive, pray, build up

Communication in the Community Problem Area: Unkindness to our Brother or Sister v The need to be “right” in our disputes v Overlooking a perceived slight or injustice v When other people are just “stupid” Opportunity: ü Accept a wrong rather than hurt a brother by being right (1 Cor 6: 5 -7) ü Examples: … ü In humility, understand the reasons for their action (Rom 8: 33 -35) ü Human charges don’t have to hurt us ü Who are we when we make this judegement?