Words Matter

Introduction:

· Words are powerful! You said/heard something that annoyed you…

LET’S LOOK AT HOW THIS IS A WARNING FOR ANYONE IN AUTHORITY, FOR ANYONE WHO COMMUNICATES, AND WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.

I) A Warning For Teachers (vv. 1-2)

A. Teachers Will Be Held to a Higher Standard

i. Teachers can have prestige attached to their role (see vs. 1)

1. Teaching is a privilege…with a warning for all who are or wish to teach

2. A side comment: in Celebrity Culture be careful of who “teaches” us

ii. But teachers will be held to high standards (vs. 1b)

1. Those in leadership will be held accountable for what they taught

2. Teaching isn’t just info transfer, shaping lovesà personal formation

3. ILLUSTRATION: Personal – weighs on me, Spurgeon, nervous?

B. Therefore Teachers Must Guard Their Words Carefully

i. Though all misspeak, teachers therefore must be extra careful

1. WE (not “you!”) all (including teachers) make mistakes (vs. 2)

2. However, James cautions teachers especially about the words

ii. A word to teachers (and elders, youth leaders, parents)

1. ILLUSTRATION: teaching preachers that their opinion matters very little

2. APPLICATION: Think about who you influence: what are you speaking?

JAMES BUILDS ON THIS BY APPLYING THESE WORDS NOT JUST TO TEACHERS BUT TO ALL WHO SPEAK.

II) A Warning for All Communicators

A. Our Words Have an Outsized Impact (vv. 3-5a)

i. We underestimate the power of our words – for good or ill

1. Bit & bridle, rudders, A380: all small instruments with large effect

2. “offhand” comments or “casual remark”, “just joking” (coach? Parent?

ii. But what we say can have far-reaching effects

1. But even small comments can make a massive difference

2. ILLUSTTATION: Gunter Shabonsky;

3. ILLUSTTATION: encouraging ministry; A DM that humiliates you

B. Our Words Can Be Highly Destructive

i. Far reaching can mean good, right? (Not usually!) (vs. 5b-6)

1. ILLUSTRATION: Hiking in Mill City – reminder of wildfires

2. Progressive Destruction of words: person, life, hell!

3. APPLICATION: “You’ll never amount to anything…” àWorkàlife

ii. Taking Stock: How are you doing?

1. Where do you see your words doing damage?

2. Critical? Gossip? In the online world – sharing without fact checking?

BEFORE HE SHOWS US HOW THINGS CAN BE BETTER, HE SHOWS US THAT IT’S WORSE THAN WE THINK. WHY? TWO REASONS.

III) A Promise For Those Whose Words Fall Short (vv. 7-12)

A. Two Reasons We Can’t Fix The Problem On Our Own(vv. 7-8)

i. The Problem is Too Big: Our Words Are Untamable

1. Is the tongue like a dog you can train…or a cat?

2. James says that our tongues are untamable (like a cat!)

i. The Problem is Too Serious: Our Words are poisonous

1. BUT: Can’t we count to ten? bite your tongue? don’t say anything?

2. “Full of poison”:  The entire human condition was corrupted by words

B. But God Renews Us From The Inside (vv. 9-12)

i. The word God speaks to us

1. Why do you speak hardh?

i. I’m insecure and I need to prove myself

ii. I’m prideful and self-righteous

iii. I’m bitter and angry

ii. Fresh & Salty, Figs & grapes, all point to inward (rather than outward) change

1. This final illustration shows us external action flows from internal heart

2. EXAMPLE: singing in the sanctuary, mocking in the fellowship hall,

3. 1. God’s Gracious & true word to & about us (Jn. 1:14)

John 1:14 ESV

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

Transition:

Conclusion

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