5.13.45 10.1.2017 James 3.1-12 Taming the Tangled Tongue

The Secret of Functional Faith • Sermon • Submitted 7 years ago

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Teaching would seem like a good measure of maturity, it is actually the result of self-control which all begins with control of our speech

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Oh be careful little tongue...

▾ Oh be careful little tongue...

Sticks & Stones may break my bones but words…

• 1 Entice: Sticks & Stones…may break my bones but words…Words only leave me permanently scarred with my reputation ruined for life with a self-image that

Words only leave me

permanently scarred

with my reputation ruined for life

can only be reconstructed though years of expensive, endless, and mind-numbing therapy. Words don't break the skin but they break the heart.

with a self-image

that can only be reconstructed though years of

expensive,

endless,

and mind-numbing

therapy.

Words don't break the skin but they break the heart.

• 2 Engage: Words will never hurt me? Words will never betray me? Words will never embarrass me? Words will never haunt me? Words will never…

Words will never hurt me?

????

Words will never betray me?

Words will never embarrass me?

Words will never haunt me?

Words will never…

• 3 Expand: Good words heal, inspire and save. Bad words poison, inflame and destroy.

Good words

Heal

Inspire

Save.

Bad words

Poison,

Inflame

Destroy.

• 4 Excite: If you want to talk about Christian Maturity you have to discuss the tongue.

If you want to talk about Christian Maturity you have to discuss the tongue.

You must have a conversation

About proper Christian speech

• Explore: We reveal more about our maturity in Christ through our speech than any other way.

We reveal more about our maturity in Christ through our speech than any other way.

Explain: So this morning we are going to investigate three questions James raises in this text.

Question 1: What does Real Maturity look like?

James 3:1–2 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.

James 3:1–2 ESV

▾ 1 Q: What does Real Maturity look like? A:Real Maturity means Self Control.

Higher standards?

▾ 1.1 Higher standards?

Better information?

• 1.1.1 Better information?

Smarter?

• 1.1.2 Smarter?

Greater, deeper, more penetrating insight?

• 1.1.3 Greater, deeper, more penetrating insight?

A Teacher!!

• 1.2 Nope. The capacity to control the uncontrollable tongue.

Nope.

The capacity to control the uncontrollable tongue

(And the desire)

• 1.3 A person in control of themselves is mature enough to undergo the higher scrutiny of being a teacher and to actually make a difference through their

A person in control of themselves is mature enough to undergo the higher scrutiny of being a teacher and to actually make a difference through their teaching.

teaching.

Answer: Real Maturity means Self-Control.

Question 2 : What does real Self-Control look like?

James 3:3–8 ESV

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. 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.

James 3:3–8 ESV

Disciplined guidance of speech.

Because

Despite it's size,

like a bit for a horse

or a rudder for a ship

The tongue is critical to the entire endeavor.

•The tongue makes big boasts because the whole operation of maturity rises or falls with it's discipline.

The tongue makes big boasts because the whole operation of maturity rises or falls with it's discipline.

▾ 2.4 Appreciation of the destructive power of the tongue.

We have to cultivate an appreciation of the destructive power of the tongue; for its ability to undermine our efforts and undo our progress toward Christian maturity.

Answer: Real Self-Control Means Controlling the tongue.

A: Real Self-Control Means Controlling the tongue.▾ 3 Q: What will Controlling my Tongue look like? A: Controlling the tongue means Consistency.

▾ 3 Q: What will Controlling my Tongue look like? A: Controlling the tongue means Consistency.

Question 3 : What will Controlling my Tongue look like?

There are a couple of basic principles of address that James provides for us

Value every person we address. James 3.9-10

Objects of our affection.

James 3:9–10 ESV

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.

Like begets like/Words Betray origin:

Fruit identifies the source:

James 3:11–12 ESV

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.

Answer: Controlling the tongue means Consistency.

▾ Shut Down:

For the Father up above...

O be careful little tongue what you say…

O be careful little tongue what you say..

for the person next to you is made in God's image too….

So be careful little tongue what you say.

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