Word GamesSample

Day 1
The Power of Words

The tongue can bring death or life.
– Proverbs 18:21a (NLT)

Let’s compare two old sayings that have to do with words. One you’ve probably heard is, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” This means that words can’t ever really hurt you like something physical could. But there’s another saying that says, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” This means that words, what you write with a pen, are more powerful than something that could do physical damage, like a sword.

The truth is that words are very powerful. The words that are said to us throughout our lives shape us into the people we are. So do the words we read and the words we hear in videos, songs, etc. We learn how to speak by listening to the words that are spoken to us. Words are how we communicate with each other. Words spoken between family and friends make up a huge part of our relationships. Words tell you how to see the world and how to see yourself.

You can probably remember something someone said recently that stuck with you. Maybe it was a compliment that made you feel good about yourself. Maybe it was something that made you feel bad. The things people say stay with us, sometimes for many years.

If the words we hear stay with us, that means that the words we say stay with other people. Our words can have consequences, good or bad. We all say things we regret. But we can also say things that help and encourage other people. Our words have power.

Perhaps this is because we are created in God’s image, and God’s words are the most powerful words of all. The very first verse of the Bible says, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” (Genesis 1:1) God made everything. And how did He do it? The Bible says He spoke everything into existence. The third verse of the Bible says, “Then God said, ‘Let there be light,’ and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3) The rest of the chapter tells us how God created day and night; land, sky, and sea; plants and animals; and even humans—all with His words.

God created everything we know. Everything we can see, hear, smell, touch, and taste. He made this beautiful world—with mountains, beaches, penguins, and giraffes. Best of all, He created people. He gave us life. When He created everything with His words, He gave us the most incredible gift!

But God didn’t stop there. He also gave us an amazing gift of written words—what we call the Bible. The Bible is a collection of 66 books divided into two sections: the Old Testament and the New Testament. It was written by many different authors over hundreds of years. All of these authors were humans like us, but the words they wrote in the Bible were inspired by God. He helped them write the words He wanted us to know. The Bible is such an amazing book that you could study it your whole life and still have things to learn. It can teach us so much about God, ourselves, and how we can live in a way that honors God. And one of the things the Bible talks about quite a bit is how God wants us to use our words.

There’s a verse in the Bible that says this: “The tongue can bring death or life.” (Proverbs 18:21a) Another translation (NIV) says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.” When the Bible speaks of “the tongue” here, it means our words. Words have the power of life and death. That’s a big deal!

Whoever made up the saying, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me,” didn’t really know what they were talking about. Their words sometimes make people think words don’t matter when they really do.

Over the next few days, we will be learning about words and what the Bible teaches us about them. We’ll talk about ways we should use our words and ways we shouldn’t use our words. This will be a great chance to really think about the words you say.

Reflect: What comes to mind when I think of the power of words?