"Taming the Tongue"

Introduction- “Words are Powerful”

Words are, of course, the most powerful drug used by mankind. —Rudyard Kipling, speech (1923)

Rudyard Kipling

James 3:1-5— The Tongue is a Powerful Tool

Ø The ______________ is a ______________ ______________ (James 3:1-5a)

· ______________ have ______________

· ______________ can ______________ up and they can ______________

“So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.” (James 3:5a)

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21)

“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 3:2)

James 3:5-6— James’ Warning: “The Tongue is Dangerous”

Ø James’ Warning: The ______________ is ______________ (James 3:5b-6)

· When we ______________ with our ______________, we ______________ how ______________ it is.

“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.” (James 3:6)

James 3:7-12— With God’s help, our tongue can be tamed

Ø With the ______________ of ______________, our ______________ can be ______________ (James 3:7-12)

· In ______________,we have been ______________ ______________ in ______________!

· In ______________ , the ______________ ______________ leads us

We must trust God to tame it. God tames our tongues in three ways. First, he puts his words on our lips. As we speak and sing Scripture, we retrain our tongues. Second, he regulates our tongues by his law. If we use our tongues in ways that are proper according to the Bible, avoiding gossip and lying, our tongues become tamed. Third, he tames our tongues by telling us to be quiet and listen to his Word. By being submissive, we learn to tame our tongues.

R. C. Sproul