Mission -- Ministry Needs -- Staff -- Lessons and Studies -- By-Laws

Ministry Friends -- Archive

A Spiritual Lesson In Toon Language: Lesson 22d

Topic: The Chlorhydris Files IV - Influence Of The Tongue

Series: Smurfs

Episode: Stop And Smurf The Roses

Lesson PDF link: 22d.pdf

Introduction

We are talking about the influence of the tongue. This is interesting in the fact that we use Laconia and Chlorhydris figuratively as the same entity in the Smurfs episode "Stop And Smurf The Roses" because I want to show that we as humans are capable of either the pure love inside Laconia which we need in the Christian walk to get God's Great Commission done or the things that Chlorhydris would do (hateful and hurtful). Chlorhydris's way will never get God's Great Commission done.

Scriptures Used Include:I John 4: 7-8, 16; Proverbs 15: 1-4; Ephesians 5: 1-21; James 3: 1-12; Matthew 28: 18-20

Remember Our Bible Point: Does everyone remember our Bible Point for this Chlorhydris series of lessons? Please read I John 4: 7-8, 16.

Today we are talking about the tongue and its obvious possible influences. When you use or hear the word influence, what does it mean to you? Before we get to our cartoon, let's read a very small passage of scripture to prime ourselves for our main study. Let's read Proverbs 15: 1-4. What does this mean to you?

Cartoon Show: Smurfs: "Stop And Smurf The Roses":

Smurfs: "Stop And Smurf The Roses" Direct link for video/webm

Bible Study I: Ephesians 5: 1-21, James 3: 1-12

After the cartoon, what do these scriptures, that of course would include our Proverbs scripture, mean to you linking to our cartoon? I want you to use your imagination. This is to see how much you see about the good and bad that come out of one's mouth. You may have had a tough time because this is very figurative. If you didn't have trouble, then great!!! Let's break this down together. The hint here is that all of those flowers in the cartoon symbolize all the people in one's circle of influence. The wand represents the human tongue. Surprisingly, Laconia and Chlorhydris are figuratively the same entity or person in this lesson. Now, plug the scriptures into this figurative discussion and see what you come up with. What do you see now that links to this cartoon in the scriptures? Now if you separate Laconia from Chlorhydris at this point in your minds you will see something interesting. In this cartoon, killing all of the flowers of the world puts Laconia into a coma. Since the flowers represent people, we see that the whole world's population is Laconia's influence circle.

This comes from Matthew 28: 18-20. The Bible States:

Mt 28:18 Then Jesus came to them and said, 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

Mt 28:19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

Mt 28:20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.'

Laconia represents the true Christian's mission: to make disciples of the nations, to love the people, build them up and bring Jesus into their lives. When Chlorhydris did what she did, she represented the evil of the tongue and crushed the flowers with the wand. What do you feel like when someone hurts someone in your influence circle? The snapdragon represents someone like Chlorhydris who hurts people (inadvertently or intentionally) and helps to perhaps destroy spiritual lives. Have you had to deal with a real live snapdragon; have one of those hurt you? Have you ever because of one of these experiences turned into who Chlorhydris is, in other words become one of her snapdragons, or worse yet like Chlorhydris herself (mad at the world and not very nice) because of it? You might feel somewhat like Laconia (in a coma). You don't know how to help and sometimes you can't pray very well for the people you love, feel that are special, a stranger or otherwise yourself. Enter Natural Smurf in this picture, who is very loving. Enter Papa Smurf who destroyed the influence Chlorhydris had. These symbolize God's undying love. God is Love. The insects that started and continued to sting Chlorhydris in her moat represent God's chastising on Chlorhydris. How much are you like Chlorhydris (hurtful tongue), Laconia (healing tongue)? Do you see the connection between this cartoon, and the Great Commission that Jesus is talking about here? The simple truth is that if we don't allow Jesus to help us tame our tongues, we won't be able to fulfill His Great Commission. How can you be as Laconia, show that God is Love, and fulfill the Great Commission scripture?