When someone yells at
you
1. A few years ago an unusual event occurred in our nation’s military.
2. The people who enlisted in our armed forces were given small cards.
3. If recruits found something to be stressful during basic training they could show their card.
4. In some cases recruits showed their cards when drill instructors yelled at them.
5. If the yelling became too stressful, a soldier simply took out his/her card and got a short rest.
6. Military leaders finally realized that this program was a terrible mistake.
7. In times of crisis and stress soldiers can’t get the enemy to stop shooting by showing a card.
8. If a Navy ship is sinking or on fire and people pull out stress cards, lives will be lost.
9. This program was finally scrapped.
WHEN PEOPLE ENTER INTO THE MILITARY THEY USUALLY GET YELLED AT. THOSE WHO ARE NOT IN THE MILITARY ALSO HAVE PEOPLE SCREAM AND HOLLER AT THEM. PEOPLE IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE ARE, AT ONE TIME OR ANOTHER, YELLED AT.
A. People may scream in the work place.
B. Yelling takes place in some homes.
C. It occurs in our schools and throughout our entire society.
D. Some of us may have seen people scream at each other on church property.
2. Since this activity is so common in our society this is a relevant topic to study.
3. In an assembly of this size some surely have regular contact with people who yell.
4. The Bible has contains some principles that help us deal with the people who scream.
5. This morning we want to examine and apply some verses that are related to this topic.
A. One of the passages that helps us is Eph. 6:5.
B. Here Paul spoke of “servants” (slaves).
C. Slavery used to be a terrible problem.
D. Even though slavery is not like it once was, this passage has relevance.
E. READ Eph. 6:5.
6. In the first century slaves were property.
7. Slaves could be hit, beaten, dismembered, abused in other ways, or killed.
8. Paul knew that in some cases slaves were not treated too well – verse 9A – READ .
9. Notice the word “threaten.”
A. What kind of voice do people use when someone is threatened?
B. In some cases people may whisper.
C. In most instances threats are accompanied by a loud voice.
D. Many combine screaming and yelling with their threats.
E. People yell that they will “get” or “kill someone.”
F. People raise their voice when they make threats.
10. We may infer that some slaves had masters who screamed threats at them.
11. Slaves knew what it was like to be yelled at.
12. What did Paul say to those who were slaves? What did he tell them to do?
A. In verse 5 we find that he told these Christians to be “obedient.”
B. He didn’t say “strike back,” “talk back,” or out shout the other person.
C. Paul said “obey.”
D. When someone yells at us, obedience is probably not the first thing on our mind.
E. Yet, this is what we find in Eph. 6.
F. This is consistent with Prov. 15:1 – a soft answer turns away wrath.
13. In 1 Pet. 2 we have another passage that deals with slaves.
14. Peter added a thought that we do not have in Eph. 6.
15. In verse 15 he reminds us about the value of living a faithful Christian life.
16. He said that a good example will “put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.”
17. He then makes a point about slaves who did not receive fair treatment – verse 19 – READ .
A. When people yell at someone generally one of two things is true.
B. It may be that the person made a serious mistake and is hearing about it.
C. It is also possible that someone is shouting at someone who did nothing wrong.
18. Verse 19 deals with slaves who were “wrongfully treated.”
19. That is, a master raked a slave over the coals when he or she did not deserve it.
20. Today people are yelled at but they do not always deserve it.
21. This is an example of the “wrongful suffering” in 1 Pet. 2.
22. As unpleasant as being screamed at is, there can be some value in it.
23. This is something to remember the next time that someone hollers at us.
24. If the basis for the screaming is not just, we are experiencing wrongful suffering.
A. When this happens to an unsaved person there is absolutely no value or benefit for the NC.
B. For the non-Christian there is no profit in unfair treatment.
C. For the Christian things are different.
D. Being yelled at when we do not deserve can be one way that we please God.
E. If we have this experience and we respond to it in a Bible way, God is pleased.
25. People are sometimes yelled at for a second reason.
26. Because we commit one or more errors someone may, shall we say, come down our throat.
27. Peter essentially said that we may deserve correction for our mistakes (verse 20).
28. However, if the correction exceeds the infraction, it would seem that we are still blessed.
WHEN PEOPLE HOLLER AT US, ESPECIALY IF WE DO NOT DESERVE IT, WE HAVE SOME THINGS TO REMEMBER. REWORK 1 Pet 2/3
A. As God’s people we still want to be obedient and helpful to those who scream (Eph. 6:5).
B. We want to present a soft answer that turns away the person’s wrath (Prov. 15:1).
C. If we do this God is pleased (1 Pet. 2).
D. Another thing to remember comes from the next chapter in 1 Pet. – 1 Pet. 3.
E. Here is what 1 Pet. 3:9 says – READ .
F. In the first part of the verse there are two simple commands.
G. If someone has screamed at us, especially when we do not deserve it, it is “evil.”
H. Our natural inclination may be to scream back when someone is hollering at us.
I. If someone wants to raise their voice to us we will have just as much volume and maybe more.
J. It is as if Peter pointed to this kind of situation and shook his head.
K. Do not return evil for evil, scream for scream, yell for yell.
L. For Peter this may have been a real challenge.
M. If you will keep you finger here let’s turn together to Mk. 14.
N. At this point in the gospels Jesus has been mistreated.
O. The Lord had been spit upon and hit.
P. People had told Him to “prophecy” about who had struck Him.
Q. Peter was sitting outside the palace and a woman came to where he was.
R. She alleged that Peter had been with the Lord (verse 67).
S. Peter’s response to her charge is in verse 68A – READ .
1) Peter denied the charge by using an aorist verb.
2) This would be like someone asking us a question and we simply say “no.”
3) This woman made her charge a second time.
4) Peter’s reply is in verse 70A – READ .
5) Instead of using the aorist, Mark changed to the imperfect.
6) Instead of a single denial, the imperfect tense describes repeated denials.
7) Since the continuous tense is used, what would we say about Peter’s voice?
8) As he made one denial after another, did his voice stay calm and controlled?
9) Jesus predicted that Peter would deny Him three times.
10) Here is what Peter said on the third occasion – verse 71 – READ.
11) The idea is that Peter began to take oaths.
12) He “swore” (perhaps something like, “As God is my witness”) I do not know Jesus.
13) He also “cursed.”
14) That is, “If I am not telling the truth may God curse me. May he strike me dead.”
15) This is what curse and swear mean.
16) These words help explain why after Jesus looked at Peter the apostle wept so bitterly.
17) Peter took oaths that said that he was not associated with Jesus.
18) He denied Jesus in the worst kind of way.
19) It is hard to imagine a stronger kind of denial.
29. We can relate this information to today’s study.
30. Peter demonstrated a natural tendency of mankind.
31. It is not hard for people to allow a situation to escalate out of control.
32. Peter did. He went from a simple “no” to taking oaths.
33. We were not there but it is not hard to imagine that Peter’s voice got louder and louder.
34. The man who had this experience wrote the words in 1 Pet. 3.
35. He said, “do not return evil for evil.”
36. If we apply this principle to our communication, it means, do not respond to screaming with screaming.
37. If one person is shouting at the top of their lungs, we do not need to join them.
38. This is consistent with the rest of the information in 9a of 1 Pet. 3.
39. Peter added that we do not want to have “reviling for reviling.”
40. Christians do not meet abusive speech with abusive speech.
41. Most would agree that screaming and yelling often falls into the category of abusive speech.
42. The world tells us to fight fire with fire.
43. God has a different technique.
44. This is stated in 1 Pet. 3:11 – READ .
45. THE LAST THINGS WE PROBABLY WANT TO DO WHEN SOMEONE YELLS AT US IS TRY TO BE OBEDIENT, COOPERATIVE, , SPEAK IN A WAY THAT IS SOFT, BEAR THE NOISY ABUSE, AND OVERCOME THE DESIRE TO YELL BACK.
46. God tells His people to do all these things plus more.
47. Peter added that we must strive to be “good” to the person who, in our example, is yelling.
48. There needs to be an effort on our part to “make peace.”
49. Someone may say that this sounds nice but it is not possible or realistic.
50. This information is difficult but it is not impossible.
51. In Jas. 1:19 we read that we are to be “quick to hear and slow to speak.”
52. Jas. 1:20 says that “wrath of man” does not “work God’s righteousness.”
53. In other words, screaming back at those who are hollering at us is not pleasing to God.
54. Two chapter later (Jas. 3) there is a lot of information that can be related to screaming.
55. The tongue is a little member but it is a fire (verses 5-6).
56. The tongue is hard to tame (verse 8); it is fully of deadly poison.
57. Some use it to both bless God and curse men (verse 9).
58. God has given us the ability to yell and there are times when we need to use this ability.
59. We can holler at people to warn them of danger.
60. Some like to scream at the amusement park or another recreational activity.
61. Last night Beth and I yelled at our dog to bring him back from the rabbit he was chasing.
62. We need to yell only when it is right.
63. When others are screaming we need to keep a cool head.
64. These things are some of the qualities that make God’s people the best people in the world.
65. Are we a Christian who is striving to live as God wants?