Welcome to the Paul Tripp podcast, where pastor and bestselling author Dr. Paul David Tripp connects the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

In this episode of Ask Paul Tripp, Paul answers eight questions about Christ-centered communication and the tremendous power our tongues hold.

If you would like to study this topic in depth and learn how to use your words to glorify God

and improve your relationships, check out Paul's popular book, War of Words,

getting to the heart of your communication struggles.

This book and all of Paul's titles can be found at paultrip.com

slash books. Here's Paul answering the question, what is your favorite Bible verse about

communication? He answers with Proverbs 1821 and James 3.2. There probably is not a more scary or sobering proverb than the proverb that essentially says

words give life, words bring death, you choose. I just want to put duct tape around my whole head

and go hide in the closet because I want to think that my words live in some

happy world of neutrality because that would be easier. Now, I will tell you why I want to think

that. Because I don't want to trust the transforming grace of Lord Jesus Christ. I want to be

self-reliant. I want to believe

that I'm okay. And I don't want to have to face the deep need for the grace of Christ

that's in my life. Maybe the second scariest passage is in James, where James says, if you're able to bridle your tongue,

you're a drop-dead, perfect guy. What James is saying is there's no greater argument for your

need of grace than what comes out of your mouth. And so you put these passages together. What Scripture teaches is that words have direction to them.

My words are moving in the direction of life.

Those are words of encouragement and hope and forgiveness and reconciliation

and gentleness and kindness and brotherly love and peace.

Or my words move in a death direction.

Those are words of condemnation and anger and vengeance and malice and slander and gossip.

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