What is gossip?

  • Romans 1:29-30; II Corinthians 12:20; I timothy 3:11; 5:13; II Timothy 3:3; Titus 2:3

  • “whispering; secret detraction” – Strong

  • “secret slanders” – Vincent

  • Consider:

    • II Timothy 4:14-15; I Corinthians 1:10-11; Galatians 2:11-14; III John 1:9-10

    • Not all bad reports of others are necessarily gossip.

  • The sharing of personal or negative information about someone else, either true or false, without righteous intent.

  • Be careful about adding phrases to a report to try to pretend it is not gossip.

What’s so dangerous about gossip?

  • It severs our relationship with God.

    • James 1:26

    • Matthew 12:36

  • It is an attractive sin.

    • Proverbs 18:8

  • It hurts relationships.

    • Jeremiah 9:4; Proverbs 16:28; 17:9; 25:9-10; 26:20

  • It becomes something that you can’t fix.

    • James 3:5

How do we stop gossiping?

  • Apply the muzzle.
    • Psalms 39:1; Proverbs 11:13; 21:23; James 1:19
  • Stop listening to gossip.
    • Proverbs 21:19
  • Change your thinking about others.
    • Matthew 12:34

Why are fathers specified?

  • Colossians 3:21; Ephesians 6:4

What about women?

  • I Timothy 3:11; 5:11, 13; Titus 2:3