Why Leaders Must Write

Leaders write because words matter and because the written word matters longer and reaches farther than the words we speak.

--Albert Mohler, The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2012), 172.

Not Settling for Average Words

Average leaders are satisfied to use average words in an average way. Effective leaders, those who aspire to lasting and extended influence, will learn to use words as arrows fired from a bow, carefully chosen and aimed in order to accomplish a purpose.

--Albert Mohler, The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2012), 170.

Christian Leadership and Communication

For Christian leaders, the commitment to words is a matter of discipleship and personal devotion, for our faith is communicated by words.

--Albert Mohler, The Conviction to Lead: 25 Principles for Leadership that Matters (Minneapolis: Bethany House, 2012), 170.

We are Always Representing Jesus

We are always representing the Lord. It is never okay to communicate in ways that contradict his message, methods, and character.

--Paul David Tripp, War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2000), 202.

Internal Idols Govern Our Speech

Whatever controls our hearts will control our words. In fact, you could argue that if a certain desire controls my heart, there are only two ways I can respond to you. If you help me get what I want, I will enjoy and appreciate you. But if you stand in my way, I will experience (and probably express) anger when you are around. I want something, but because of you I cannot get it, so I will quarrel and fight!

--Paul David Tripp, War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2000), 58.

Word Problems Reveal Heart Problems

Word problems reveal heart problems. The people and situations around us do not make us say what we say; they are only the occasion for our hearts to reveal themselves in words.

--Paul David Tripp, War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2000), 55.

Out of the Heart the Mouth Speaks

Word problems are always related to heart problems. That's why we will not solve communication problems by dealing only with our words, any more than we would solve a problem with a plant's fruit production by dealing only with the fruit.

--Paul David Tripp, War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2000), 54-55.

Godly Communication Depends on Truth

Good, godly communication is always dependent on truth. Lies, falsehood, and deception always subvert it. Lies not only distort facts, but they destroy the trust necessary for people to talk with one another. Every word we speak is rooted either in the truth or in a lie. Most of our communication problems come because we deceive, distort, and manipulate with our words. We reshape the facts to our advantage. We recast events, often to the point of convincing ourselves that our perspective is true.

--Paul David Tripp, War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2000), 23.

We Speak Based on What We Believe

We do not say the right thing because we do not believe the right thing. This is what happened in the Garden. A Pandora's box of trouble opened as, for the first time, Adam and Eve heard and believed an interpretation that was not consistent with God's.

--Paul David Tripp, War of Words: Getting to the Heart of Your Communication Struggles (Phillipsburg, NJ: P & R, 2000), 22.