Sermon Tone Analysis

Recap

Trials

We kicked off the series learning about trials and how these are actually important.

Without trials we would have no measure or standard to see how faithful we are to God.

If everything was fine all the time, why would we call on God or even worship him.

If we’re honest, a lot of us forget to worship God in the good times.

We only do it in the bad times.

So we should see trials as a joyful thing for we are being tested in our faith which means we are in fact part of the kingdom.

We are to endure these and show that we are committed to God and that no matter what comes our way, he is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

Favoritism

From here we moved into favoritism.

We learned that our preferences need to be thrown to the way side.

Everyone is worthy of our time.

If we do choose to serve some and not others, we are sinning.

We are going against loving our neighbor.

This was something of great importance that Jesus taught.

In fact, the last 6 commandments pertain solely to loving your neighbor as yourself.

We have this command in both the New and Old testaments.

Our Tongue

Last week we took another look at our tongue.

Quick to listen, slow to speak is what we are should be doing.

You have no idea how hard it is to bite my tongue when something does not go my way.

When someone comes up and just hits me with something from left field, I want to go on the defense and fight back.

We can not do this.

Now there is a time when you should fight back but 95% of the time, we just need to listen and form our words carefully.

Awkward silence is okay while you prepare a response.

A quick verbal jab back wrecks relationships and has a lasting ripple affect.

I’d rather take awkward silence over a years worth of repair work.

Selfishness & Pride

Today I want to attack pride and selfishness.

These are two things that just love to rule over us.

It is awful when you see someone else and you know you’re wasting your breath with them because of their pride and arrogance getting in the way.

I wonder how many people might say that about you?

Ever thought about that?

So today I want to unpack this and bring this to the light because it can be easy to get lost in the darkness.

Shot, some of you today may not even agree with the teaching because you are prideful and arrogant.

My prayer is that God would open your eyes to this sin in your life and do a wondrous work through it.

Slide

Week 5

Text:

Text:

Topic: Influence, Responsibility, the Tongue, Communication

Topic: Pride, Humility, Lust

Big Idea of the Message: Our words can cause new life or cause destruction.

Big Idea of the Message: Strife and struggles come from our pride and selfish actions.

Application Point: We must make a habit of thinking before we speak.

Application Point: Asking in faith and humility will always cure worldliness within us.

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

Sermon Ideas and Talking Points:

1. Certain positions require a particular amount of responsibility and come with a large amount of influence—for instance, teachers, mentors, and any kind of supervisor role.

Communication is the way in which human beings thrive, grow, and make progress in the world and relationships.

In verse 1, James expresses the caution against too many people in the community becoming teachers; he warns that teachers receive stricter judgment.

Since teachers have such a great influence on people and their progress, they have a much larger responsibility than others.

Like I said, I want to attack the pride and selfishness in our life’s today with this text.

James as usual, does a great job at bring this easy sin we commit to the light.

Slide

Question from James

James poses a question to begin his discussion concerning pride and how it can cause strife and quarrels.

1. James poses a question to begin his discussion concerning pride and how it can cause strife and quarrels.

He specifically asks where quarrels and fights begin (v. 1) and tells us that our desire for pleasure is what causes these conflicts.

Not only is our desire for pleasure a contrast to our desire for God’s will, but it is filled with futility.

We may lust, covet, and fight, yet we don’t obtain anything profitable by these impulses (v.

2).

Not only can we find our inner self warring against our members, but the inner desires we have can affect our community, causing war amongst each other.

He specifically asks where quarrels and fights begin (v. 1) and tells us that our desire for pleasure is what causes these conflicts.

Not only is our desire for pleasure a contrast to our desire for God’s will, but it is filled with pointlessness.

Slide

Human anger cannot accomplish the righteousness of God.

We may lust, covet, and fight, yet we don’t obtain anything profitable by these impulses (v.

2).

Does a toddler get their way when they throw a temper tamptrum?

99% of the time no.

Why do we resort to lusting, coveting, and fighting when we do not get what we want?

We have to become aware of this.

Not only can we find our inner self warring against our members, but the inner desires we have can affect our community, causing war amongst each other.

It has a ripple affect.

Our actions have a ripple affect.

Crab Illustration

Explain to your congregation the concept of “crabs in a bucket.”

2. The tongue is compared to two things that are considered small compared to the force they exert.

A horse, as big as it is, can be moved by the use of bits (v.

3).

A ship, as large and intimidating as it and the winds that drive it might be, can be maneuvered through the sea by a small rudder (v.

4).

In the same way, the tongue is a small part of the body that can cause much damage or much prosperity.

It is the tongue that can control our lives.

These examples James gives make the point that many things, especially animals (v.

7) have been tamed, ruled, and dominated by humankind.

The beasts of the field can be tamed; however, the tongue is far harder to tame (v.

8).

The crabs continually try to get themselves out of the bucket by crawling on top of each other and pulling each other down.

It is an endless cycle, as each crab is only trying to help themselves, thus fighting with all the others.

Getting themselves out of the bucket is the thing they are lusting after, which is only causing futility.

In a similar way, the things that James speaks of are due to selfish desires, bringing the community down instead of helping it.

3. Use this video of a match domino effect to illustrate verse 5–6.

One match quickly sets fire to the entire set of matches.

In a similar way, the tongue can quickly do the same (vv.

5–6): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vee61VS0YcA.

(Note: Remind watchers not to try dangerous experiments like this at home.)

When we go about making decisions our own way without being led by the Spirit, we can find ourselves living in a cycle of pointlessness.

Pick up in Verse 3.

Slide

This way of trying to get what you want is the way that the world does it—going about it in a lustful way instead of asking in faith (vv.

1–3).

The strife described in verse 1 comes from the pride of knowing you’ve got God and the Spirit of God in you, yet instead of asking him, you become adulterers by compromising your commitment to God, cheating on God with the world.

This decision-making rooted in lust and pride can put us at odds with God; the pride keeps us from asking.