Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Every year there is a massive forest fire that comes up in California and BC.

Forestfire starts in one of two ways: natural cause or human cause.

Natural cause in a sense that lightning strikes on a very dry wood.

Human cause in a sense of being irresponsible, such as throwing a cigar on a dry plants.

But, wildfire usually starts off in a tiny area and then fire could spread from ten to hundred thousand acres, or it could spread to 6km - 20km radius.

but it usually starts small.

Research conducted by fire scientist Anthony Westerling shows that between 1973 and 1982, fires burned for an average of six days.

Between 2003 and 2012, this number skyrocketed to nearly seven and half weeks (52 days).

As destructive and dangerous as wildfire is, James will instruct us of something that is probably just as dangerous and destructive as wildfire, and that is the issue of not knowing how to control your speech with your tongue.

Please turn to .

READ.

Big Idea: To Control Your Speech, Your Must Be Prepared To Know The Battle That You Face.

Wildfire is something that we can visibly see and (if you want) touch tangibly.

But, spoken words is something that we cannot see and touch.

We can hear and process the information of the words, and we can feel the impact of what words can do to us.

Words can move people into joyful tears in a wedding.

Words can inspire people for action and change in the “I Have A Dream” speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. Words can shock people into fear upon hearing the doctor’s report on cancer.

Words can transform a wicked sinner and atheist into a follower of Jesus Christ.

But for today’s lesson, words can destroy people’s life.

James is dealing with the negative aspect of speech.

He first mentioned tongue back in 1:26 where the true mark of a person’s religion is that he knows and learns to control his tongue.

Failing to control the tongue makes the person’s religion and devotion worthless.

But for today’s lesson, words can destroy people’s life.

contains the single most weighted discussion in the New Testament on the use of the tongue.

So, as we study this passage, my hope is that you would feel the weight of the responsibility to control your speech.

VERSES 1-5

Exposition

Two weeks ago, we talked about faith without works, James will go from works to words.

In reality, works and words are not isolated topics, but they are interconnected with each other.

Faith that demonstrates good works also includes both actions and speech.

James sets up the topic of tongues by telling the Christians that not many of them should become teachers.

Being a teacher is one of the highest ranks of the list of gifts that the Holy Spirit gives to the church, but it is also the most dangerous responsibility.

It is dangerous because James himself and others recognize that teachers will be judged with greater strictness.

Too many people want to seek the status of a teacher without a pure motive.

James’ readers think being a teacher would advance their reputation and personal status.

If you are thinking of being a teacher of the Bible, then you need to consider seriously the intention of being a teacher and also the battle that you have to face with your tongue.

Whether if you’re in GO2 or youth leader or a church leader, God expects teachers to be faithful in that responsibility to teach the Bible and being able to control your speech.

For teachers, their ministry often involves speech.

As James will teach us, the tongue is the hardest of all parts of the body to control.

The constant use of the tongue could mean that they can sin easily and leading other astray at the same time.

In verse 2, James is conscious of his own sin and folly.

He acknowledges that we, as in the teachers and James himself, all stumble or sin in many ways.

And one of the many ways to sin is in what you say.

If you do not sin in your speech, then you are a perfect/mature man who can control your whole body.

Because of the use of tongue, James tells them not to be hasty in becoming a teacher.

This is not simply just about the qualification of being a teacher, but it is also an instruction for all Christians, whether if they are teachers or not.

Our speech has an enormous influence for good or bad.

What can learn about about the tongue?

1.

The Tongue Is Powerful (3:1-5a)

Being a teacher comes with a great responsibility to teach the Bible.

Being a teacher comes with a great responsibility to teach the Bible.

God expects teachers to be faithful in that responsibility.

Some strived to become a teacher in the church because it had a rough equivalent to being a Jewish Teacher (or Rabbi).

Because of that, there would be benefits and prestige.

Some people from the lower class may seek this opportunity to advance their personal status and reputation.

James the readers a further reason for why

Why do you want to be a teacher?

What’s your motivation?

Let me offer you 4 wrong motivations for being a teacher.

You want to be a teacher because you are looking for popularity.

You want to be a teacher because you want to be like your youth leader.

You want to be a teacher because it’s cool.

You want to be a teacher because it fulfills your volunteer hours.

To the boys,

In verses 3-5, James will

This is not just talking about those who want to be teachers, but I think that also includes those who desire to

The Tongue Is Powerful (3:1-5)

The Tongue Is Powerful (3:1-5)

Our Tongue Is Powerful (3:1-5)

The Tongue Is Powerful (3:1-5)

The tongue is the world’s smallest but biggest troublemaker.

In verses 3-4, James gives an illustration of a horse and ship to describe the power of the tongue.

If we can control the horses’ mouths with bits, then we control their whole bodies as well.

If the pilot can control the whole ship with a very small rudder, then he can control the whole ship to the direction to which it is sailing.

If we can control the horses’ mouths with bits, then we control their whole bodies as well.

In verse 4,

And the point is simple: don’t underestimate the power of something very small.

The tongue is powerful because......

a.

It can determine the destiny of a person.

Talking about someone’s body image could influence that individual to do something about it or feel embarrassed.

The tongue is powerful because......

b.

It causes the whole body to lack control and discipline.

Think about this one…do you always feel the need to always express your opinion?

Is it difficult to restrain yourself from speaking?

In verse 5, James shows us that the tongue is a small member, but it is capable of boasting and putting our pride/ego on display.

The tongue is powerful because it controls the human desire.

The tongue is powerful because......

c.

It reveals our human heart.

Pride is probably the major cause of our misuse of tongue.

There are many words to describe boasting in the Greek NT, but this word, “boast,” in the Greek is only mentioned here.

This type of boasting is to express an unusually high degree of confidence in someone or something being exceptionally noteworthy.

We think we are smart and know better than other people in our lives.

Some people may have been using their tongue to express their own human wisdom as opposed to God’s wisdom (3:13-18), to have a heated argument and to slander other Christians (4:11).

The greatest problem with our communication, speech and words is not in our behaviour, but it is the matter of our heart.

Jesus says:

Luke 6: