INSIGHT
 

   Many people believe that no book has had a more direct and powerful influence on American history than Harriet Beecher Stowe’s novel, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin”. With its vivid descriptions of suffering and oppression, this book inflamed the people of the North against slavery, and thus became a force in bringing about the American Civil War. Harriet Beecher Stowe used what is called an emotional word picture. It was this form of communication that moved people to cry out against slavery in the 1800’s.

   An emotional word picture is a communication method that uses either a story or an object to help people to understand and feel what the other person is feeling. Emotional word pictures stimulate both the left brain (analytical) and the right brain (emotional) of men and women. For example, an American flag is an emotional word picture. It represents democracy and freedom and stirs up emotions of patriotism. The cross is another emotional word picture in that it reminds us of  the One who suffered and died for our sins, motivating us to love!

   Emotional word pictures are very effective when it comes to communicating thoughts and emotions! In 2 Samuel 12:1-13, God used an emotional word picture to get king David to realize how heinous his sin with Bathsheba was!

   Christ used emotional word pictures. He often used physical object or stories to illustrate a point.  For "Jesus spoke all these things to the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable.”(Mat 13:34). A parable is a short, simple story designed to communicate a spiritual truth, religious principle, or a moral lesson;  a figure of speech in which truth is illustrated by  a comparison or example drawn from everyday experiences.

   Jesus’ parables centered around the kingdom of God. Through emotional word pictures, Jesus taught the nature of the kingdom (Mark 4:26-29), the grace of the kingdom (Luke 18:9-17), and the conditions of the kingdom such as commitment (Luke 14:28-30), forgiveness (Matt. 18:23-35), and compassion (Luke 10:25-37). These word pictures sought to stimulate a decision and change a person’s life...as they did us!
The Royal Law: Loving Relationships
Effective Communication

Key Text:                      Proverbs 12:18

 

"Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."

 

Theme:

Wise communication will bring about good results. Through the use of emotional word pictures, you can get others to understand and feel what you are feeling. This is done through the use of meaningful illustrations and stories. Emotional word pictures tend to get our attention, bring the thought communicated to  light, motivate us to respond and lock the point into memory! It is an effective communication tool!

 

Application:

Here are some practical suggestions:

 

1. Decide what your purpose is.  What do you want

    to convey to this person? Do you want to give

    praise? Clarify something? Correct the person?

 

2. Find out the persons interest.  In order to

    illustrate your point effectively, you should use an

    illustration that is meaningful to that person.

 

3. Choose your object.  Use a story, an object, a past

     event or nature to communicate your point!

 

4. Practice.  Practice what you’re going to say and

    how you’re going to say it! Pray for effectiveness!

 

5. Meet with them at a convenient time. Try  to

    avoid the use of a telephone. Communicate in

    person!

 

6. Be persistent.  If one emotional word picture

   doesn’t work, try another. Be persistent in activating

   the emotions!

 

May the Lord richly bless you!

 

Sermon Outline

Effective Communication

 

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture,

‘Love your neighbor as yourself,’ you are doing right.

 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted

 by the law as lawbreakers” James 2:8-9

 

Practical Ways To A Loving Relationship

 

I. Last Week: Restoring A Weakened Relationship

 

   1. Detecting erosion: Ingredients in a relationship:

 a. Spirit (the inner person; who we are)

        b. Mind (the emotions, the will)

        c. Body (hormones, skin, etc.)

 

   2. Restoring relationships:

       a. Be gentle in your approach

       b. Seek forgiveness, don’t be judgmental.

       c. Reason with them and reach out (physically too)

 

   3.  Pursue peace: Pursue Peace ! (Rom. 14:19)

        a. The kingdom is about peace (Rom. 14:17)

        b. We have the ministry of reconciliation!

           (2 Cor. 5:18)

 

II.  Building intimacy by sharing emotions…

 

  A. How To Effectively Communicate…

       1. Communication is the transference of

     information

2. It is also the transference of emotion

       3. Must know what to say and how to say it.

           (John 12:49)

           a. Validate the person’s emotions.

           b. Validate their actions. Give them the benefit

               of the doubt.

       4. Jesus used parables to communicate effectively.

       5. We can learn from Him and use Word Pictures.

 

  B. Emotional Word Pictures

       1.  Definition

       2. Function/usage

       3. How to use one/create one.

 

Conclusion: How we communicate shows how much we love one another. Effective communication leads to loving relationships.
Small Group Study

 

Warm-up:

Do you have trouble communicating your emotions to your mate (or other people)? Why?

 

See To It                                                          Proverbs 12:18

 

1-     Give an example in your life how you have pierced someone with reckless words.

 

2-     Give an example of how you have been pierced with reckless words.

 

3-     How could you or the person speaking to you have approached the situation with a healing tongue? Try to come up with an emotional word picture that would have worked for you.

 

Seeing It Closer               John 13:34-35; 1 John 3:14          

 

1-     What is the major gateway to intimacy in relationships?

 

2-     What causes major breakdowns in communication?

 

3-     What can you do as a loving person to restore the lines of communication?

4-     Does it take effort to communicate with an Emotional Word Picture? Why is it so imperative to persevere in this kind of communication? What happens if we give up after trying to communicate without success?

5-     After reading 1 John 3:14, what do you think John is referring to when he says we have passed from death to life?

 

Getting To It:

 

Relationships are special as they are different with each individual you know.  Great care must be taken to ensure their growth.  If you truly love someone you will seek to build a relationship with them based on communication. Like water is to a plant, communication is to a relationship.  You know you have passed from death to life when you discover the joy of spiritual intimacy with your soul mate. If you have let God’s Spirit teach you about humility and love, then make His joy complete in you by building loving relationships with each other. On your own read: Phil. 2:1-3; 1 Sam 18:1-2 Sam 1:26 (David and Jonathan)

This week's Quiet Times:

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

 

MONDAY

This week we will be studying the use of emotional word pictures in the Bible. An emotional word picture is a communication method that uses either a story or an object to help people understand and feel what’s being communicated. An example of an emotional word picture would be the cross! Think of the cross! What does the cross personally mean to you? Read Isaiah 53:5-6. What was the deepest,  darkest sin you’ve entertained prior to knowing the Lord? What did that sin do to the Servant of the Lord? Have you ever been pierced, punctured or cut by a sharp object? Describe, in detail, how it felt. Does this give you a better understand  of the Lord’s pain? Have you ever been blamed for something you didn’t do? Describe, in detail, how you felt. Read Isaiah 53:5-6 again. Did the Man of the cross suffer for a crime He did not do? Who is to blame? Are you moved by this emotional word picture of the Suffering Messiah? Get down on your knees and thank God for His saving grace! Write Isaiah 53:5-6 down on an index card and memorize it. Let the emotional word picture of the cross positively affect not only your life, but also your relationship with your family, friends, coworkers, strangers and yes, even your enemies!

 

TUESDAY

Read Luke 18:9-14. How do you feel about this Pharisee? Why? Describe your feelings towards the tax collector. Why do you feel this why about him? What is this emotional word picture teaching us? How does God feel when we dishonor (put less value on) others? What type of attitude must we possess?  How does this attitude promote loving relationships with those around us? Does this emotional word picture help you understand (and feel) what God feels when we dishonor others? How did it help you? Have you been proud in heart? Have you been “looking down” on others? If so, humble yourself like the tax collector and pray to the Lord for mercy! The Lord will forgive you! Write James 4:6 down on a card and memorize it. Call a brother or a sister today and tell them how much you love them! If you live with your family, tell them how much you love them!

 

WEDNESDAY

Read Matthew 18:21-35.  Read verses 23-27: What is the equivalent of ten thousand talents in modern dollars? Is that a lot of money? Are you impressed by this king’s actions in verses 26-27? Why? Who does this king represent? Read verses 29-31: Describe your feelings towards this servant beating up the fellow servant. Are you upset about this man? Why? Read verses 32-35. What happened to this merciless servant? What is this emotional word picture teaching you? How does God feel when you act out of anger and disrespect towards others? Who does the ten thousand talent debtor represent? Who does the one hundred denari debtor represent? How can this help you to be more forgiving? Write Mark 11:25 down on an index card and memorize it! Have you hurt someone recently? Seek their forgiveness today! Have you been hurt recently? Seek reconciliation and be ready to forgive! In either case, use emotional word pictures to help communicate your thoughts and emotions! They are very effective! Pray for effectiveness!

 

THURSDAY

Hebrews 1:14 says we are encamped by ministering angels! This is very encouraging to know! This is one of many indications of the love God has for us! Read Matthew 18:10-14. What kind of devotion does this man have for his sheep? Does he have equal concern for each and every one or was his love partial? What would he do for one lost sheep? Who does this man represent? Who are the sheep? How does God feel about each one of us? How does this relate to you? What insight does this emotional word picture teach you? Do you show a genuine concern for God’s people? Are you building a loving relationship with them or are you destroying the apple of God’s eye? How do you respond to His sheep’s needs? Write John 13:34 down on an index card and memorize it! Be a relationship builder not a destroyer!!

 

FRIDAY

Read 2 Sam. 11:1-12:13. God was very effective in getting David to see his moral blindness. Of course, He used emotional word pictures to do it! Describe David’s emotions towards the man who killed the poor man’s ewe lamb. Why did he feel this way? Who was the rich man? How did David feel now? Effective, huh? Whether you are praising someone, clarifying an issue, expressing a desire for intimacy or correcting someone, use meaningful emotional picture words to express your thoughts! They are helpful in communicating your thoughts and feelings!