Middle School Week 3: My Words

The Main Thing:

God's Word changes what I say.

Start Talking (Conversation Starter):

If everything you said for the next 24 hours had to be said in one voice, which would you choose: robot, sports announcer, cartoon character, or whisper?

Need some movement-based icebreakers for your group? Find some options here!

Explore the Scripture:

Read James 3:3-10, Proverbs 18:21, Ephesians 4:29, and Proverbs 12:18 as a group. Help students start talking about it together. What stands out? What doesn’t make sense? Are there things that confuse them or words they don’t understand?

Unpack It:

Discuss what you read and what you heard.

• James compares our tongues to a horse's bit, a ship's rudder, and a small spark that starts a huge fire. What do those pictures teach us about the power of our words?

• James points out we can praise God and then turn around and tear down people He created. How does it challenge you when you remember the person you’re talking to is created and loved by God?

• Think back to the message you heard. What takeaways did you have?

Own It:

Make the Scripture personal.

• Where do you think middle school students are most tempted to use their words in ways that hurt people? (e.g., gossip, group chats, jokes, complaining, lying, comments, posts, talking about someone behind their back, etc.) What do our words say about what's in our hearts?

• How should following Jesus change what we say, text, post, and send? What does it look like to build someone up with our words?

  • Do the words you use change depending on who you’re around?

• Share something from the message that challenged your words. Now that you know what God says, how will you live it out?

Live It:

Take action to apply what you learned.

• This week, speak life into others!

  • Encourage someone who doesn't usually get noticed.

  • Stop gossip instead of adding to it.

  • Tell the truth when lying would be easier.

  • Send a text that builds someone up.

  • Catch yourself complaining and choose gratitude instead.

Prayer:

End your meeting by asking someone to use their words to pray for the group, praying that what they say, text, post, and send would build others up and reflect Jesus.