Taming the Tongue
Notes
Transcript
Order of Service
Order of Service
Welcome
Welcome
Prayer
Prayer
Hymn -
Hymn -
Notices
Notices
Prayer Meeting - 7:30pm
Friday 7pm - Online
Sunday Morning 11am & 6pm
Tithes & Offerings - £
Main Prayer
Main Prayer
Hymn -
Hymn -
Reading
Reading
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 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. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 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. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Sermon
Sermon
What we say matters
David knew he needed help to control his tongue...
Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!
Faith with out works is Dead
The unbriddle tongue
Discipline of Speech
Discipline of Speech
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
Teaching & the use of the tongue go together
reminder of what James has already stated...
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.
James will go on to say...
James 4:11-12 avoid slander
James 5:12 speak the truth
Jesus said ...
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak,
return...
Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.
we express ourselves in words that reflect our thoughts, intentions, and personalities
what we say influences others
the early church gave prominence to othe office of teacher
many people wanted to be teachers
Teachers influence and that is a responsibility with lasting consequences
Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
Why do you pass judgment on your brother? Or you, why do you despise your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God; for it is written, “As I live, says the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” So then each of us will give an account of himself to God.
Examples
Examples
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.
James speaks sympathtically to thr reader, as a thoughtful pastor
He do not elevate himself
He identifies with the reader
“We stumble in many ways”
We all sin, and make mistakes
Sin robs us of our spirirtual maturity
The sin we commit most is that os speaking carelessly
James teaches of the perfect man
Faith during testing leads to perseverence
And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
A perfect man, is not a sinless man but one who has reached spiritual maturity
speaks the truth in love
is filled with wisdom and understanding
and keeps his body and tongue in check
Small bits control the whole
If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire!
Horses - use of bits, mouth controls the action
Boats - a small rudder, compared to size of ship
tongue - small member, bit boasts of great things
wildfire - small spark/flame
so often due to human carelessness or neglect
examples: local fields or forest fires
The tongue can (positive)
instruct the ignorant
encourage the dejected
comfort the sorrowing
soothe the dying
But also (negative)
crush the human spirit
destroy reputatiions
spready distruct and hate
bring nations to war
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.
The tongue is a fire
out of control and destroys everything in its path
tells lies, slanders, kindles hate, creates discord, incites lust, and gives rise to numerous sins
there are few sins in which the tongue is not involved
The tongue corrupts (stains)
because of our inclination to unrighteousness, the tongue corrupts the man’s total being
Jesus said
And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
The tongue sets on fire
Probably a phrase based on a Mediterranean saying
“The tongue … sets the whole course of [a persons] life on fire”
The tongue is set on fire (hell)
Gehenna, the valley of the son of Hinnom (outside Jerusalem)
Became a place of burning refuse
The new Gospel era the name was used to speak of the place of punishment where the devil and the doomed are banished
Implication in this verse is that Satan jimself sets man’s tongue on fire
For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
James returns to Mankind’s role as ruler of the animal kingdom
God has given man the power to rule His creation (Gen 1:26, 28)
Yet, man is unable to control his own tongue
When adam sinned he lost his ability to govern himself
Mankind lost control of themselves and is now ruled by their tongue
James makes no exceptions
He likens it to a snake whose fangs are filled with lethal venom
He uses an ugly picture that shows the destructive nature of sin
Praise and Cursing
Praise and Cursing
Many Christians will object to what James has said
They believe that those whom the Grace of God has touched are able to control their tongues
Ask these questions...
Do Christians who praise the name of God the Father act differently from people who refuse to praise his name?
Do Christians speak with the tongies of angels?
Certainly not!
James reflects on the Christian’s inconsistency of praising the name of the Lord and cursing their fellow man.
With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Contradiction
Jews were (and still are) prone to curse their fellow man
likely a common phrase that was used “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing”
James reminds us that God created man in his own image and likeness
When we curse men, we indirectly curse God
We also act contrary to the explicit command of Jesus
bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you.
Paul reminded the churches in Rome...
Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.
Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.
Consideration
The questions provide the answers
You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles?
Conclusion
Should not man’s tongue praise the name of man’s creator and redeemer?
If nature is unable to go against its created functions, then neither should man
Hymn -
Hymn -
Q&A
Q&A
Hymn -
Hymn -
Closing Prayer
Closing Prayer
Doxology
Doxology