HANDOUT FOR SERMON: HELPING US UNDERSTAND WHAT GOSSIP IS.                                                                 Manchester, Tn Sept. 5th, 2022

INTRODUCTION: Open your Bibles to 1 Timothy 5.  We all know that it is wrong to gossip so why do we all have the tendency to do so?  Do you have a struggle determining what is gossip and what is not gossip? Where does something cross the line of speaking of others and the concept of gossip?  We need to understand the extremes in reference to gossip. Gossip is referenced in the Old Testament 500 times and the Hebrew word is “halak” and it comes from the root word that means “walking” which describes the course or direction of one’s life.

Start with an example: Give a literal example of two guys talking about someone else. “I have something that I really want to tell you and you really, really want to hear it.”

Scripture about Speech & Words: Proverbs 18:21, Romans 16:18, Proverbs 22:11, Proverbs 17:27, James 3:5-6, 10, Colossians 4:6, James 3:10

LESSON:

1.THE WORD “GOSSIP.” There are only 6 verses that speak of gossip in the New Testament, and we will look at these. In the Greek language there are different words used to describe the variations of gossip. The G-numbers code (example: G5397)  is the reference to the particular Greek word the used.

Definition of gossip: Casual or unconstrained conversation or reports about other people. Typically involving details that are not confirmed as being true. Idle talk or rumor, especially about the personal and private affairs of others. The two emphases are idleness and privacy.

1 TIMOTHY 5:13  (G5397) Greek word.                                                                                                                      Meaning: uttering or doing silly things, babblings, tattlers, trifling or vain.

Talking about things not worth mentioning.
Not slanderous, nor malicious or damaging.
No positive connotation to it.
Getting to reveal something that others don’t know.
Social media is a great platform and example of how this can happen. You learn things about others that you really do not need to know!
Proverbs 18:8 “The words of the whisperer are like dainty morsels and go down into the inner most parts of the body.”
Gossip in this sense is wasteful, unproductive and take away from things we should be busy doing.

ROMANS 1:28-32 (verse 29)  & 2 CORINTHIANS 12:19-21  (G5587) Greek word.                                                                        Meaning: Whisperings, secret slander, magical murmuring of a snake charmer.

“They are whisperers.” Romans 1:29
Detracting words or message, disparaging process.
The purpose is to take people down a notch and one enjoys doing so and so does the listener.
“Whisperings, conceits, tumults” 2 Corinthians 12:20
There are people in the Church at Corinth that have a problem.
They most likely have a problem with Paul, maybe they don’t like him, think he is weak or that he is a problem. Paul wishes whoever these are in the Church at Corinthian would just sit down and talk to him.
They were talking about him and NOT TO HIM!!!
If they really cared about him, they will talk TO HIM!

1 TIMOTHY 3:11, 2 TIMOTHY 3:5, TITUS 2:    (G1228) Greek word: DIABOLOS                                         Meaning: prone to slander, defamation, truth or lies (false ideas or conclusions).

Message to women: likely a wife of the deacon, elder, Church leader or similar or any other women. 1 Timothy 3:11
Message to men: hold to a form of godliness, men who might say they are a Christian, say I am faithful. 2 Timothy 3:5
Message to younger women as well.
The younger ladies can become very good about using speech in a very degrading manner and to hurt other people. Social media is evidence of this. These younger women will turn into older women.
Comments to cause others to think less of someone else.
Your comments make someone else think less about others.

Illustration: Story about a member of the Church, making assumptions about something he sees involving the preacher, another person. How gossiping starts and causes so much damage.

THE PROVERBS IS GODS GIFT TO US ON THIS TOPIC. God gives us principles that will help all of us.

PROVERBS:

SPEAK LESS! Proverbs 10:19 “Restrain your lips.”
SPEAK LESS ABOUT OTHER PEOPLE! Proverbs 11:13
SPEAK LESS ABOUT OTHERS NEGATIVELY! Proverbs 20:19

PROVERBS:

IS IT HELPFUL?  Proverbs 26:20.
IS IT HELPFUL TO GOD? 2 Timothy 2:20-25
IS IT HELPFUL FOR EVERYONE INVOLVED? Proverbs 11:9

CONCLUSION:

Ephesians 4:29 

Only such a word that is good for edification.
Say something to bring someone up!
It is to bless the others that are in the room and all who hear you.
It is to be a blessing to those who may hear it later!