Bible Study

Title: Speaking the Truth in Love
Date: Aug 30, 2005
Topic(s): Speech/Words
Scripture: Ephesians 4:14-15

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Telling the truth is not always easy--especially if the person receiving that truth might be hurt or made angry. The temptation is to avoid the subject or use some phrase that could be interpreted in more than one way. Neither of these choices is the best. Let's see what God desires for us to do instead.

What Does God Say?

In a passage that talks about spiritual growth, the apostle Paul says, "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ" (Ephesians 4:14-15, NKJV).

• How does Paul describe spiritual "children"?
• What does he offer as a solution to this problem?
• What is the goal of this speech?

My Thoughts

Think about the last time that you needed to "tell someone the truth." What was your motivation? Was it a desire to prove them wrong and yourself right? Were you more interested in making a point than how this truth might be received? How do you think that your "truth" came across to the other person?

My Part

List three motivations that would reflect love.

Pray that God will give you these motives the next time you need to tell someone the truth.

Additional Scripture to read: 1 Corinthians 13:1-7; Proverbs 27:6

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