"The Heavenly Accent"

Sunday Worship

8:45 AM SERVICE 10:00 AM Sunday School & Adult EdUCATION 11:00 AM SERVICE

by: Pastor Eibel

07/24/2025

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Good morning, and a blessed Thursday morning to you. Would you please open your Bibles to Proverbs, chapter 15, for our time in God’s Word today?

Accents. Accents.
To be honest, I’ve always wanted an English accent. I think it sounds so beautiful.

My father, every now and then, lets a word slip that reveals his upbringing in New York—just a tinge of that New York accent. I remember when we moved from Washington to Texas, the congregation in Washington said they hoped I’d send them a sermon in a couple of years, just so they could hear if I had picked up a Texas twang.

Accents—they tell where you’re from.

In Proverbs 15, what’s revealed is something I’d like to call a heavenly accent.

It’s an accent that, honestly, isn’t heard all the time. Is it? But there are some distinct characteristics to this heavenly accent. Let’s take a look together.

Proverbs 15:1 — “A soft answer turns away wrath.”
The first aspect of a heavenly accent is this: it’s soft.

The soft answer. The tender answer. The gentle answer.

I think of what Paul writes in Philippians 4, when he says, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.” You see, it’s not just what we say—it’s also how we say it, isn’t it?

So first, a heavenly accent is soft.

Let’s go on to verse 2:
“The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge.”
Here’s the second aspect: it’s thoughtful. It reflects thoughtfulness in speech—a measured, intentional way of speaking that builds up.

So, a heavenly accent is soft.
A heavenly accent is thoughtful.

Now skip down to verse 4:
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life.”

That phrase “gentle tongue” literally means a healing tongue. It’s communication that brings life to others.

I think of Colossians 4, which says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Salt, in the biblical sense, is both a preservative and something that adds flavor.

So, let’s summarize:

  • A heavenly accent is soft.

  • A heavenly accent is thoughtful.

  • And a heavenly accent gives life.

But if we’re honest—do you ever feel like your accent wanes a bit?

The good news is this: God is not a disinterested observer in any of this.
Look at verse 3:
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Thanks be to God for the gracious Word that is ours through Jesus Christ.
Jesus went to the cross and paid for all of our sin—our thoughts, our words, our deeds. What we’ve done and what we’ve left undone—He paid it all. And on that cross, He won. His Word of forgiveness speaks directly to us.

Our sin, in all its expressions, should separate us from God for all eternity.
But God, in His grace, has redeemed us through the cross of Christ.
From the cross, we hear His words: “Paid in full.”
The debt of our sin is canceled.

And now, the One who has redeemed us continues His work—through Word and Sacrament—shaping our accent. He forms in us a new way of speaking, a heavenly accent that is clear, distinctive, and reflects Him.

Let us pray.
Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for this time in Your Word. Your Word is truth.
Thank You, O Lord, that through Word and Sacrament, You are at work in us, giving us the heavenly accent You desire.
We praise Your holy and precious name.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

God bless you—encourage someone.

Pastor Eibel

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Good morning, and a blessed Thursday morning to you. Would you please open your Bibles to Proverbs, chapter 15, for our time in God’s Word today?

Accents. Accents.
To be honest, I’ve always wanted an English accent. I think it sounds so beautiful.

My father, every now and then, lets a word slip that reveals his upbringing in New York—just a tinge of that New York accent. I remember when we moved from Washington to Texas, the congregation in Washington said they hoped I’d send them a sermon in a couple of years, just so they could hear if I had picked up a Texas twang.

Accents—they tell where you’re from.

In Proverbs 15, what’s revealed is something I’d like to call a heavenly accent.

It’s an accent that, honestly, isn’t heard all the time. Is it? But there are some distinct characteristics to this heavenly accent. Let’s take a look together.

Proverbs 15:1 — “A soft answer turns away wrath.”
The first aspect of a heavenly accent is this: it’s soft.

The soft answer. The tender answer. The gentle answer.

I think of what Paul writes in Philippians 4, when he says, “Let your gentleness be known to everyone.” You see, it’s not just what we say—it’s also how we say it, isn’t it?

So first, a heavenly accent is soft.

Let’s go on to verse 2:
“The tongue of the wise dispenses knowledge.”
Here’s the second aspect: it’s thoughtful. It reflects thoughtfulness in speech—a measured, intentional way of speaking that builds up.

So, a heavenly accent is soft.
A heavenly accent is thoughtful.

Now skip down to verse 4:
“A gentle tongue is a tree of life.”

That phrase “gentle tongue” literally means a healing tongue. It’s communication that brings life to others.

I think of Colossians 4, which says, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Salt, in the biblical sense, is both a preservative and something that adds flavor.

So, let’s summarize:

  • A heavenly accent is soft.

  • A heavenly accent is thoughtful.

  • And a heavenly accent gives life.

But if we’re honest—do you ever feel like your accent wanes a bit?

The good news is this: God is not a disinterested observer in any of this.
Look at verse 3:
“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good.”

Thanks be to God for the gracious Word that is ours through Jesus Christ.
Jesus went to the cross and paid for all of our sin—our thoughts, our words, our deeds. What we’ve done and what we’ve left undone—He paid it all. And on that cross, He won. His Word of forgiveness speaks directly to us.

Our sin, in all its expressions, should separate us from God for all eternity.
But God, in His grace, has redeemed us through the cross of Christ.
From the cross, we hear His words: “Paid in full.”
The debt of our sin is canceled.

And now, the One who has redeemed us continues His work—through Word and Sacrament—shaping our accent. He forms in us a new way of speaking, a heavenly accent that is clear, distinctive, and reflects Him.

Let us pray.
Gracious Heavenly Father, thank You for this time in Your Word. Your Word is truth.
Thank You, O Lord, that through Word and Sacrament, You are at work in us, giving us the heavenly accent You desire.
We praise Your holy and precious name.
In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

God bless you—encourage someone.

Pastor Eibel

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