Set an Example…in speech
The Middle School theme this year is “Set an Example” based off the passage from 1 Timothy 4:12, “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in faith, in love, in purity.” As the school year goes on, we will be specifically focusing on each of the five character traits listed at the end of the verse. For September and October our focus point is speech.
We have taken time in our last two accountability groups to discuss what pure and uplifting speech looks like and to challenge the students to speak words of life to each other daily. We have looked at what God’s Word has to say about the power of our tongue, both positively and negatively. Two of our primary focuses have come from Matthew 12:34 and Ephesians 5:4. The passage in Matthew conveys a powerful (and often very convicting) truth, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” What we say is one of the best indicators as to what is truly in our hearts. There have been great opportunities for both students and teachers to reflect on the words they have spoken and to ask the tough questions like, “What do these words reveal about what is in my heart?”
Ephesians 5:4 says, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving.” Here we see a great antidote to a corrupt tongue—gratitude. It is very hard (dare I say impossible) to have a harsh, bitter tongue AND be truly thankful at the same time. As a staff, we have encouraged the students, as well as ourselves, to be thankful people. To reflect on all that God has done for us and to respond with an attitude of thankfulness. We try to continually point the students to the greatest of God’s blessings, which is the gift of His Son, Jesus Christ. No matter the difficulties we are currently going through, we can and should always be thankful because of what Christ did for us on Calvary. This is truly one of the greatest weapons against a negative tongue.
All for the Glory of Christ,
Scott Ferguson
Middle School Principal
