STRENGTHENING STRENGTHENING COMMUNICATION COMMUNICATION

IN THE FAMILYIN THE FAMILYSeminar

Matthew 12:37Matthew 12:37““For by your words you For by your words you will be acquitted, and by will be acquitted, and by

your word you will be your word you will be condemned.”condemned.”

A. DEFINITIONA. DEFINITIONCommunication: Give or Communication: Give or exchange ideas, feelings, exchange ideas, feelings,

information or such things in information or such things in writing, speaking or by way of writing, speaking or by way of

signs, symbols, etc.signs, symbols, etc.

Moving towards better Moving towards better communicationcommunication

The Bible has within it the The Bible has within it the answer that we need to answer that we need to

recover our lost values and recover our lost values and have excellent communication. have excellent communication.

It is readily available to us. It is readily available to us.

There is an urgent need for There is an urgent need for good communication within good communication within

the heart of the family. the heart of the family. Without it, it is impossible to Without it, it is impossible to

build a good home.build a good home.

ACTIONSACTIONS In a conversation action represents In a conversation action represents 37% of what is said.37% of what is said.• James 2:14-17 Faith without works is James 2:14-17 Faith without works is dead. dead. • Matt. 21:28-31 Obedience pleases God.Matt. 21:28-31 Obedience pleases God.• 2 Cor. 11:23,27 Paul’s apostleship was 2 Cor. 11:23,27 Paul’s apostleship was earned through hard work.earned through hard work.• 2 Tim. 2:4-6 Paul used 3 examples: the 2 Tim. 2:4-6 Paul used 3 examples: the soldier, athlete and farmer.soldier, athlete and farmer.

ATTITUDESATTITUDESNumbers 13:31-33 Numbers 13:31-33 Because of their Because of their unbelieving attitudes, ten of the unbelieving attitudes, ten of the twelve spies gave bad reports & a twelve spies gave bad reports & a whole generations lost & died in the whole generations lost & died in the wilderness.wilderness.Numbers 13:30 Numbers 13:30 Caleb & Joshua had Caleb & Joshua had a different spirit & therefore a a different spirit & therefore a different attitude for which God different attitude for which God rewarded them. They were permitted rewarded them. They were permitted to enter the promised land.to enter the promised land.

THE POWER OF WORDSTHE POWER OF WORDS•Luke 6:45 “Out of the Luke 6:45 “Out of the abundance of the heart, the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”mouth speaks.”•Your words determine what type Your words determine what type of person you are. (Matt. 12:35)of person you are. (Matt. 12:35)•Avoid trivial conversations that Avoid trivial conversations that bear no fruit (Matthew 12:36)bear no fruit (Matthew 12:36)

Your words should be Your words should be motivating and joyous motivating and joyous

(Colossians 4:6)(Colossians 4:6)

Avoid offending with your Avoid offending with your words. In a conversation, these words. In a conversation, these may be only 6% of your words may be only 6% of your words but they can and will become but they can and will become

unforgettable (James 3:2)unforgettable (James 3:2)

WHAT CAN GOOD WHAT CAN GOOD COMMUNICATION BUILD?COMMUNICATION BUILD?

•Those who have good Those who have good communication are influential communication are influential and affect the behavior of many and affect the behavior of many people.people.•The communicator should be The communicator should be concise, clear, precise, and concise, clear, precise, and anointed.anointed.

CLEARCLEAR (obvious, plain)(obvious, plain)

We are competing with We are competing with television, movies, etc. We must television, movies, etc. We must

present the message with all present the message with all clarity that is possible. That is clarity that is possible. That is

why Jesus spoke in parables, to why Jesus spoke in parables, to make His message clear.make His message clear.

CONCISECONCISE (brief, short, to the point)(brief, short, to the point)

It is not the quantity, but It is not the quantity, but the effectiveness of words the effectiveness of words that can transform lives.that can transform lives.

Peter – Acts 10:33Peter – Acts 10:33

Peter only began speaking for Peter only began speaking for a minute and a half when the a minute and a half when the Holy Spirit interrupted him Holy Spirit interrupted him

and fell upon those who were and fell upon those who were listening. Many good listening. Many good

messages are ruined because messages are ruined because they’re not finished on time.they’re not finished on time.

PRECISEPRECISEAvoid getting off the subject, Avoid getting off the subject, but take advantage of every but take advantage of every moment God gives you to moment God gives you to

share with others.share with others.

ANOINTEDANOINTEDThe anointing is a result of our The anointing is a result of our

intimacy with God. It is our duty intimacy with God. It is our duty to bring down the presence of to bring down the presence of God wherever we go because God wherever we go because the eyes of God are upon the the eyes of God are upon the righteous of the earth and His righteous of the earth and His

ears are attentive to their cries.ears are attentive to their cries.

MOVING TOWARDS MOVING TOWARDS GOOD COMMUNICATIONGOOD COMMUNICATION-SPEAK AT THE RIGHT TIME-SPEAK AT THE RIGHT TIME

Proverbs 15:23; Ecclesiastes 3:1Proverbs 15:23; Ecclesiastes 3:1

-SPEAK, DON’T SHOUT-SPEAK, DON’T SHOUTProverbs 15:1-2; Proverbs 16:32Proverbs 15:1-2; Proverbs 16:32

-THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK AND -THINK BEFORE YOU SPEAK AND DON’T SPEAK BEFORE YOU THINK.DON’T SPEAK BEFORE YOU THINK.Proverbs 15:28Proverbs 15:28

-UNLEASH LIFE THROUGH -UNLEASH LIFE THROUGH YOUR WORDS Proverbs 15:4YOUR WORDS Proverbs 15:4- SPEAK WITH KNOWLEDGE, - SPEAK WITH KNOWLEDGE, WISDOM, KINDNESS AND WISDOM, KINDNESS AND RESPECT. Proverbs 15:7RESPECT. Proverbs 15:7-SPEAK WITH -SPEAK WITH UNDERSTANDING AND UNDERSTANDING AND WISDOM Proverbs 16:21, 23WISDOM Proverbs 16:21, 23-LET YOUR WORDS BE SWEET -LET YOUR WORDS BE SWEET AND HEALING Proverbs 16:24AND HEALING Proverbs 16:24

We need to understand that We need to understand that everything we share must be everything we share must be

to edify, motivate and to edify, motivate and support. Good support. Good

communication is a weapon communication is a weapon we can use to reduce we can use to reduce

conflicts and improve our conflicts and improve our family’s relationships.family’s relationships.

HOMEWORK: Have a HOMEWORK: Have a workshop in your own home workshop in your own home

by practicing a more by practicing a more effective method of effective method of

communication to improve communication to improve your family’s relationship. your family’s relationship.

Write down the results.Write down the results.