Francis Chan: You Talk Too Much (Part 1)

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message is a call to be mindful of our words, especially when speaking to God. We often rush into His presence without thinking about who we're speaking to, and as a result, our words can be empty and meaningless. The Bible warns us that if anyone considers himself religious but does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless (James 1:26). We need to approach God with reverence and respect, being careful about what we say and how we say it.

Key Scripture References

• Ecclesiastes 5:1-7 - This passage emphasizes the importance of being mindful of our words when approaching God. The author warns us not to be quick with our mouth or hasty in our heart to utter anything before God, reminding us that God is in heaven and we are on earth, so let our Words Be Few.
• James 1:26 - This verse highlights the importance of controlling our tongue. If we consider ourselves religious but do not keep a tight rein on our tongue, we deceive ourselves and our religion is worthless.
• Ecclesiastes 5:4-6 - These verses remind us that when we make vows to God, we should be careful about fulfilling them. The author warns against making promises to God without thinking them through, and encourages us to keep our mouths shut rather than risk sinning.
• Leviticus 10:3 - This verse reminds us that when we approach God, we should do so with reverence and respect. We are not to come before Him with empty words or half-hearted worship.
• Revelation 4:8-11 - This passage describes the heavenly beings who constantly praise God, saying "holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty." This reminds us that our words should be few and carefully chosen when approaching God, rather than rushing into His presence with empty or thoughtless words.

Main Points

• We need to approach God with reverence and respect, being mindful of what we say and how we say it.
• The Bible warns us against being quick with our mouth or hasty in our heart when approaching God.
• When making vows to God, we should be careful about fulfilling them.
• We should keep our mouths shut rather than risk sinning by making empty promises to God.
• Our words should be few and carefully chosen when approaching God, rather than rushing into His presence with empty or thoughtless words.

Application

This message encourages us to approach God with a sense of awe and reverence. We are reminded that our words have power, and we should use them wisely when speaking to God. The challenge is to come before God with few carefully chosen words, rather than rushing into His presence with empty or thoughtless words.

Practical Exercise

Take a few moments to think about what you would say to God if you could only speak 16 words. What would be the most important things you want to express to Him? Take a piece of paper and write down your thoughts, using the following structure:

* "You are holy" (acknowledging God's greatness)

* "I am nothing in Your sight" (acknowledging our own inadequacy)

* "Your power, patience, mercy, and love overwhelm me" (expressing gratitude for God's attributes)

Remember to keep your words few and carefully chosen, reflecting on what is most important to express to God.