James 3:1-12

Announcements:

In-person worship gatherings start back this Sunday, June 7th at 8:15 and 10:30.

We will worship family-style as we transition more ministries over the summer.

We need some volunteers to help with a few jobs like

Welcome Table

Disinfecting Sanctuary Between Services

Opening and Closing Doors Each Week

You can sign up on our website. There is also a link on our FB page.

Also, as we move into our time in the word I would like to invite you to share a prayer request with us. We will pray for them as we bring our time to a close.

ME

Have you ever said something that you wish you could take back?

I am talking about sticking your foot in your mouth and leaving it there kind of situation.

Give me a thumbs up, if so.

I sure have. I know that’s an absolute shocker to most of you.

Illus.: Talk about my second pastorate and how I was called into a meeting with two deacons and a lady in the church who had some grievances with me. She had a three pages of things she wrote down that she wanted to share with me. It was a pretty humbling three hours to endure. Some of what she said was probably true, but one moment I remember well, which is probably why she had the three pages of notes.

She recently lost a member of her family. When I saw her at church the following Sunday I asked her how she was doing. Her complaint was that I hadn’t asked her how she was doing with the passing of her loved one. I ressponded to her complaint with, “What was wrong with that?” That was a moment I wish I could have gotten back.

WE

We’ve all had moment when we either said what we thought or didn’t think before we spoke. Either way we’ve had moment when we wish we could retract our statement.

Bottom line - we all struggle with the words we speak. Sure some of us may be more eloquent with our words than others. Yet, at some point or another, we all say something that we shouldn’t. And it happens way more often than we think.

GOD

Here’s the good news - YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Not only are you in a room full of people who struggle with what they say. The people that James - the half brother of Jesus - was writing to had trouble with the same thing. As a matter of fact a few weeks ago we read this statement...

James 1:19 ESV

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

So, today in James 3:1-12 he takes the time to unpack this idea and bring quick to hear and slow to speak. Today, we are going to discover the connection between faith in God and the words we speak. They are far more connected than we think and practice.

As we dig into James 3 there are three things that we will learn about the words we speak. The first one is...

Your Words Impact You More Than You Know

James 3:1–5 ESV

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 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. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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. 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!

Here James talks about the impact that our words have on us. He uses two illustrations to break this truth down for us.

Illustration #1 - Putting a bit into a horse’s mouth.

Illus.: Talk about living at the Dye’s after moving to Middle TN and how they had a walking horse name BIG DEAL. They had others they were so beautiful. The cool thing was how well trained the horse was. The man could ride him without the reigns and get him to stop at a simple command. He was this way because he had been trained with a bit in his mouth.

Illustration #2 - A boat and a rudder.

Illus.: Talk about fishing with my dad in his john boat and how he would steer the boat with the motor. The smalles adjustment would make a big difference the further you went.

Both of these illustrations prove that the words we speak have a big impact on the direction of our lives.

For instance...

If you are someone who talk about all of your problems with everyone you meet. Youi will find that people will start to avoid you. You will wonder why folks don’t return your calls and texts. The reason is becuase your words are impacting you.

If you are someone who gets mad and pops off at your wife and kids, don’t be surprised if they are afraid of you and don’t want to be around you. The reason is that your words are impacting you.

If you are someone who is hyper critical of everyone, dont’ be surprised is you end up all alone in life. The reason is that people don’t want to be constantly criticized, and your words are directing you.

If you are a know it all at work, don’t be surprised if your boss never promotes you and your co-workers despise you. Your words are directing you.

If you are constantly gossipping about folks, don’t be surprised when people start to gossip about you. You reap what you sow and your words are impacting and directing you.

One more thing before we move one. Notice, ...

James 3:5 ESV

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!

It doesn’t take a lot of words to make a big impact on the course of your life. That works positively and negatively.

Illus.: When Julie and I got married we said - I do. As a result we have been able to spend the last 17 years together. Sure there has been a lot of work and compromise over the last 17 years, but it all began with a simple - I do. What would have happened had Julie been asked the question, "Do you take Aaron to be your lawfully wedded husband...?" and she said - NO. That would have changed everything. That would have changed everything for both of us.

Your words impact you more than you know.

The next thing that James tells us is...

Your Words Go Farther Than You Know.

James 3:5–8 ESV

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! 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. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Here James uses two more illustrations to help us understand how our words go farther than we could possibly image.

Illustration #1 - Fire.

The picture here is of a raging fire that is totally out of control.

Illus.: Talk about how I would ride through Arkansas each summer on the way to see family and watch farmer burning fields. Though these fires were intentional, they would rage for acres and had to be watch fiercely.

The same way fire can get out of control, so can the words we speak. We can say something in anger, pride or jealousy and it will run out of control. We never know how far our words will go. Or the impact they will have on those around us.

Illus.: Talk about how hardly a week goes by with out me meeting someone and them saying - “A friend of mine goes to your church. They were telling me about you.” This reminds me of James 3:1

James 3:1 ESV

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

Illustration #2 - Taming Animals

Illus.: Talk about how my wife is the animal trainer in our home. They love her. They tolerate me. Though I have to admit that they are growing on me. It’s cool how she can get them to do stuff, though it takes time and patience.

James tells us that it is easier to tame an animal than to tame our tongues.

Illus.: Remember my smart remark to that lady. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve done that. I am grateful that I am far better at keeping my tongue than in years past.

Remember, your words go farther than you think.

The final thing James tell us is...

Your Words Do More Than You Know

James 3:9–12 ESV

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

We think words are just words, but James tells us here that our words have the power to do only two things - BLESS or CURSE. They are doing one or the other.

What does he mean by BLESS?

In v. 9 he makes it pretty clear...

James 3:9 ESV

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

Illus: Talk about how it is each to bless God at church, but harder to be so in rush hour traffic. Yet, we are called to use our words to bless God in both.

Here’s the thing - you can bless God by simply saying something kind to someone.

Illus.: Talk again about the power of calling servers and workers by their name. It shows that your care. It shows that you value them and aren’t there just to use them.

What does he mean by CURSE?

Illus.: Talk about the words we speak in anger. Talk about how I used to argue with my sister and how it upset my mom. Talk about how I get that now. It breaks my heart to hear folks harm one another with their words even though I still do it.

This is what James meant in....

James 3:9 ESV

With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

When we are harm folks with our words, we are assault those who bear God’s image and thus God himself.

Illus.: Talk about how I don’t let anyone talk bad about or to Julie.

God feels the same about his creation.

YOU

So, what is the connection between the words we speak and faith in God?

Here’s the conneciton...

BEFORE YOU SPEAK LET GOD SPEAK.

Before you open you mouth to say something in response to someone trust God to speak to both of you.