(Proverbs 18:8 NLT)
8Rumors are dainty morsels
that sink deep into one’s heart.

- Everything that is said should be true, Not everything true, must be said

Who does Gossip hurt?

1) Gossip hurts the person being spoken about

(Proverbs 16:28 NLT)
28A troublemaker plants seeds of strife;
gossip separates the best of friends.

·- Gossip ruins relationships

2) Gossip hurts the listener

(Proverbs 17 :4 NLT)
4Wrongdoers eagerly listen to gossip;
liars pay close attention to slander.

Who listens to Gossip?
- Wrongdoers listen to Gossip

What you permit, you promote
- When you let someone speak gossip/slander against someone else- you are promoting what they are saying by your lack of action

3) Gossip hurts the speaker

(Proverbs 25:9,10 NLT)
9When arguing with your neighbor,
don’t betray another person’s secret.
10Others may accuse you of gossip,
and you will never regain your good reputation.

-People may be entertained by gossip- but no-one looks to the person speaking gossip and say –“ I want to be like that”

3 thoughts about people Who Gossip...
- You have too much time/ thoughts about other people
- I wonder what you say about me, when I’m not around?
- I better guard what I say around this person

When you gossip about someone else- it speaks more about you as the “gossip” than is does about the person being gossiped about

How do we end Gossip?
1) Guard your EARS
How?
Ask this one question- Why are you telling me this?
- Cause the person spreading the gossip to pause and ask themselves the question “ Why am I sharing this?”

(Mathew 18:15 NLT)
15“If another believer sins against you, go privately and point out the offense. If the other person listens and confesses it, you have won that person back.

What if they won’t listen?
(Proverbs 20:19 NLT)
19A gossip goes around telling secrets,
so don’t hang around with chatterers.

2) Close your mouth

(Proverbs 21: 23 NLT)
23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut,
and you will stay out of trouble.

- Next time you find yourself getting ready to open your mouth and gossip
Ask yourself- Would I want someone sharing similar information about me if I we’re not around?

(Luke 6:31 NIV)
31Do to others as you would have them do to you.

Our problem isn't a mouth problem, its a heart problem
(Luke 6:45 NLT)
45A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.

Jesus can change our hearts- We just need to ask