Keep Talking
Word From Wiese
May 6, 2026
How many words do you speak each day?
Overall, would you guess the average American is verbalizing more or less words these days?
If you said less, you’re right. I just saw the recent study led by Valeria Pfeiffer and published in the journal of Perspectives on Psychological Science documenting a downward trend. Spoken words have declined by about 28%, dropping from roughly 16,600 words per day in the early 2000s to under 12,000 in more recent years. Which means about 338 fewer words each day. (I can hear some of you joking that you don’t mind hearing as much from certain people. 😀 And I hope no one is making jokes about shorter sermons).
Among younger adults, the drop is even steeper, approaching 44% fewer spoken words. Wow!
We can guess the reasons cited in the study.
Many of the small, everyday interactions that once filled our lives have shifted. We shop online rather than asking for help in stores. We rely on GPS instead of asking for directions. Even when we are around others, we often signal distance with headphones or retreat into text-based communication. As Pfeiffer observes, these small losses accumulate over time. “With every lost word,” she writes, “we wear away our connections with others.” That comment really caught my eye.
As Christians, I wonder if speaking aloud to each other carries both social and spiritual impact. The research notes that “face-to-face conversation builds trust, emotional connection, and psychological well-being, while typed communication tends to produce weaker social bonds and less positive emotion.” Ever since Covid, we’ve lamented at COS the reports of rising loneliness, anxiety and disconnection. While the study does not claim a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the take-away seems to be as spoken words decrease, so too does our sense of connection.
For Christians, we remember that God created the world by speaking things into existence. In just the third verse of the entire Bible we hear, “Then God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” (Genesis 1:3). Furthermore, Jesus was born to us so that he could speak our language. So that he could look people in the eye and have a conversation with folks, heal folks, teach folks. Words matter for God.
This means that our words, too, matter deeply. When Jesus tells His followers, “You are the light of the world” (Mt 5:14), he means the ordinary ways we bring his presence into everyday life. Like talking with each other. A simple conversation, a thoughtful question, or a word of encouragement can become a place where Christ’s light is made visible.
The study itself offers some good advice too.
Simple steps. Pfeiffer encourages something as easy as having “one more conversation” each day. Greet a neighbor, check in with a colleague, or extend a conversation just a little longer.
Along these lines, at COS, so many of you do a great job with the Two Minute Drill, using the first two minutes after service to talk to someone you haven’t met yet. Way to go. Those conversations of words and face to face interaction build bonds and positive culture. These are not dramatic actions, but they are critical human ones. For Christians, they are acts of faith. As Paul writes, “Encourage one another and build one another up” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). Such encouragement requires more than the efficiency of texts and emails alone. Encouragement needs face to face interaction, which can be fun and life-giving both. And throughout the week, how about a phone call instead of a text, every so often, so folks can enjoy your unique beautiful voice?
What do you think? Maybe our goal of “connecting to Jesus’ pathway to joy and life” includes the words Jesus gives us a chance to speak and hear. Each time we choose to speak with kindness, to listen with intention, or to engage rather than withdraw, we participate in God’s work of restoring connection.
So, my challenge to you is simple: speak aloud one more meaningful conversation than you otherwise would. Not more noise, but more connection. In doing so, we not only strengthen our relationships. We bear witness to the God who still speaks, and whose Word still brings life.
In Christ’s hope,
Pastor Fritz
Action Question:
Although a text or an email might work adequately, who might I call this week instead to share some words and let the conversation flow a bit?
Let us pray: Gracious God, you are the One who speaks light into darkness and life into our world. Thank You for the gift of words and the relationships they nurture. Teach us to speak with kindness and listen with patience. Give us courage to reach out, to have one more conversation and to reflect your love in the simple words we share. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
