February 16, 2020 

In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus tells us to "let our yes be our yes", and James reiterates the same command. In Jesus's day people would swear oaths on things of the earth in order to get out of their commitments, and in order to manipulate others. Christ calls Christians to keep their commitments (and only make commitments we plan on keeping), and He calls Christians to speak with humble truthfulness, without manipulation, in love. Just as God keeps His promises and speaks openly and truthfully to us, so also we are called to keep our promises and speak openly and truthfully to others.

1. Are you overcommitted to too many activities? How can you grow in saying "no" to what you should say "no"?

2. Are you under-committed? How can you grow in saying "yes" to the things to which God wants you to say "yes"?

3. Do you ever speak manipulatively? Are you ever passive-aggressive? Do you ever gossip? Do you speak to others with an agenda, or see others as a "project"? What does repentance look like for these sinful ways of speaking?

4. How does God's promise-speaking and truth-speaking free you to speak with integrity?