Consistent Christianity - Part 3 (Phrases)

Michael Breeding

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Handout

Introduction

Attention:

Sticks and stones

Origin

“The rhyme is used as a defense against name-calling and verbal bullying, intended to increase resiliency, avoid physical retaliation, and/or to remain calm and indifferent.”

1800s

Lie

Receiving, giving

Cycle

Consistent Christianity

James 3

Need:

Weight of words

On autopilot (reactionary)

Body

The Big Idea: The consistent Christian flees from inconsistent speech.

The Big Question: How can the consistent Christian flee from inconsistent speech?

Admit the bigness of inconsistent speech.

Admit our inability to speak consistently.

Seek heart transformation.

James 3:1–6 (ESV)

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

Explanation:

Teachers

Vocational ministry

The Great Commission

V2: Second person plural = general application

Perfect maturity

Unachievable

Universal struggle

Consistency, not perfection

Three illustrations

Horse bits

Rudder

Forest fire

Taking the fire illustration further...

Sets your life on fire

No damage that can’t cause

Affects your entire life

Is set on fire by Hell

Inconsistent speech is demonic.

Stakes are high

Illustration:

Morgan Hutcherson (Matt. 12:34)

Application:

How downplay?

What damage?

Self-awareness

The Big Question: How can the consistent Christian flee from inconsistent speech?

Admit the bigness of inconsistent speech.

Admit our inability to speak consistently.

Seek heart transformation.

James 3:7–9 (ESV)

7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Explanation:

Ask: What part of the Bible does James 3:7 allude to?

Genesis 1:26 (the image of God)

Animals: tamable

Bear

Lion

Hippo

Gator

Tongue: untamable

Restless

1:8: “Double-minded, unstable in all they do.”

Consistency

Poisonous

V.9: The “doubleness” of the tongue

Bless Lord vs. curse people

image vs. image

A faith that lacks focus and stability

We need help (outside of ourselves).

Illustration:

Zebra

Application:

How fail?

Own strength?

Reach outside (bigger than us)

The Big Question: How can the consistent Christian flee from inconsistent speech?

Admit the bigness of inconsistent speech.

Admit our inability to speak consistently.

Seek heart transformation.

James 3:10–12 (ESV)

10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

Explanation:

Inconsistent speech = inconsistent heart

Three more illustrations

Fresh water vs. salt water

Fig tree vs. olive tree

Grapevine vs. figs

So… what can we do?

James 1:19 (ESV)

19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Be a good listener

Let others speak more than you do

Don’t jump to the worst-case scenario

“Words spoken ‘in the heat of the moment’”

Also...

James 1:26 (ESV)

26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.

Implied; bridle tongue, heart not deceived (transformation)

Heart transformation = consistent faith

Illustration:

Thermometer

Get the temperature down

Application:

Brief inventory

Where is heart?

Holy Spirit

Conclusion

Visualization

Sticks & stones… permanent damage

Determine

Reiteration

Self-Responsibility

Submit to God

PRAY

Lesson Overview

James 3:1–12 (ESV)

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

The Big Idea: The consistent Christian flees from inconsistent speech.

The Big Question: How can the consistent Christian flee from inconsistent speech?

Admit the bigness of inconsistent speech (3:1-6).

Admit our inability to speak consistently (3:7-9).

Seek heart transformation (3:10-12, 1:19).

Small Group Questions:

In what ways do teenagers most often struggle to control their speech?

Why does it sometimes seem like what we say doesn’t really matter?

How can we remind ourselves of the “bigness” of words?

If we are unable to tame the tongue, how can the tongue be tamed?

What does heart change in the life of a teen look like when it comes to his or her speech?