Speaking the Church's Language

Aim: To perpetuate the church's language—the the glory of Christ.

Doctrine: It is a great sin to mix the church's language with that of the world. This happens when Christians ''marry'' themselves to those who serve other gods, and yet still want to maintain a claim to Christ.

Exegesis: Why speaking the church's language is an inviolable requirement: because otherwise our children are confused (vv. 23-24), the true religion is compromised (v. 25), and our covenant benefits are conceded (lost) (vv. 26-27).

Further application: How we help foster the continuation of the church's language: by abiding in Jesus and His doctrine, by faith, and by bonding to one another, in His church covenant.

Key verse: v. 24 ''And half of their children spoke the language of Ashdod, and could not speak the language of Judah, but spoke according to the language of one or the other people.''