There was a noisy public dispute about him.

There was a single agreed opinion about him.

The people were celebrating him together.

The discussion had moved on to someone else.

Speak about him honestly and carefully, even when others disagree.

Stay silent every time the topic comes up.

Use a sharper argument so you can win quickly.

If you would like to receive Jesus, pray this with me: Lord Jesus, I have listened to many voices and I confess my sin and my need for you. I believe you died for my sins and rose again. I turn from my sin and from every false way that has kept me from you. I trust you, confess you as Lord, and ask you to lead my life in your truth. Amen.

Receive Jesus in Truth

Father, revive your church where we have become noisy but unclear. Give us love for Jesus, courage to speak of him truthfully, and humility when others disagree. Keep us from mere murmuring and make us a people whose words point to Christ, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Renew Your Church's Witness

Begin by naming one place where people around you disagree about Jesus. Ask God for calm, honest words, and then ask for the humility to listen before you answer.

Pray for a Steady Tongue

Pray for: people who have only heard rumors about Jesus; hearts that can move from suspicion to curiosity; opportunities for believers to show his character with patience and truth.

For Those Who Misread Him

Father, thank you that Jesus is truly good even when people argue about him. Thank you that his character does not change with the crowd's opinion. Help me trust his goodness when others doubt it, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Thank You for His Goodness

Father, forgive me for joining gossip, quick judgment, or careless speech about Jesus or about others. Turn my heart from the noise of the crowd to a truthful and gentle witness. Teach me to speak what is right and to keep what is false away from my lips, in the name of Jesus. Amen.

Guard Me from the Murmur

καὶ{KE###KEH###and} γογγυσμὸς{gong-gys-MOS###gohng-gys-MOHS###murmuring} περὶ{pe-REE###peh-REE###about} αὐτοῦ{af-TOO###ahf-TOO###of him} ἦν{EEN###EEN###there was} πολὺς{po-LEES###poh-LEES###much} ἐν{en###ehn###in} τοῖς{TEES###TEES###(the)} ὄχλοις{OH-khlees###OH-khlees###crowds} οἱ{HEE###HEE###(the)} μὲν{MEN###MEHN###some} ἔλεγον{E-le-gon###EH-leh-gohn###(they) were saying} ὅτι{HO-tee###HOH-tee###that} Ἀγαθός{a-ga-THOS###ah-gah-THOHS###good} ἐστιν{ES-tin###EHS-teen###he is} ἄλλοι{AL-lee###AHL-lee###others} δὲ{DE###DEH###but} ἔλεγον{E-le-gon###EH-leh-gohn###(they) were saying} Οὔ{OO###OO###no} ἀλλὰ{a-LA###ah-LAH###but} πλανᾷ{pla-NA###plah-NAH###he misleads} τὸν{TON###TOHN###(the)} ὄχλον{OH-khlon###OH-khlohn###crowd}

John 7:12 — Audio GuideTAB

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