Every Word Matters! Series

Wild Thing – Every Word Matters – James 3:1-12

Opening Video Illustration: Kids talking about what they hear their parents say to them!

Thesis: James tells us that if we want to pursue perfection in Jesus then we need to control our tongues and make sure the words that come off it are fruitful Godly words. The warning he throws at us is the uncontrolled tongue leads to the whole body being set on fire by hell’s flames.

Opening Illustration: Have the tongue in the box covered. Ask people to guess what powerful force is in the box?

Contributed by Bill Butsko “The Tongue”

A biblical writer said, “The tongue can no man tame.” A Greek philosopher asked his servant to provide the best dish possible. The servant prepared a dish of tongue, saying: “It is the best of all dishes, because with it we may bless and communicate happiness, dispel sorrow, remove despair, cheer the fainthearted, inspire the discouraged, and say a hundred other things to uplift mankind.”

Later the philosopher asked his servant to provide the worst dish of which he could think. A dish of tongue appeared on the table. The servant said, “It is the worst, because with it we may curse and break human hearts; destroy reputations; promote discord and strife; set families, communities, and nations at war with each other.” He was a wise servant.

Solomon said, “Whoever guards his mouth and tongue keeps his soul from troubles” (Proverbs 21:23).

--J. Whitcomb Brougher

Tell them this has been one of the most powerful forces in this world in which we live it can either bring life or death into relationships. It can either bring harmony or chaos into relationships. It can either bring peace or war. It is one of the most feared and praised forces in the world and each one of you possess one of these little atomic tools. This week in James 3 we are going to discover just how dangerous this weapon can be if it is not kept in check. Let us read James 3:1-10.

Texts: James 3:1-12

1Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.3When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.7All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and creatures of the sea are being tamed and have been tamed by man, 8but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.9With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

Proverbs 12:18: Reckless words pierce like a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Proverbs 18:21: The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

James 1:26: If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Introduction: Words have been responsible for starting wars and ending wars. Words either unite people or divide people into this world. Words of individuals will determine that person’s future and life. Words of individuals will affect other people’s attitudes and emotions. Words, the little sounds that spill out of our mouths everyday will impact the world around us. These sounds which flow out of the heart and into the mouth and out into the air carry an amazing amount of power. I believe that words are the most powerful force in the universe.

Mike Murdoch has this to say about the power of words:

Words created the world Genesis 1:1-31; Words create your world Proverbs 18:21.

Jesus said that your words reveal what kind of heart you possess “…for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speak” Luke 6:45. Jesus said words can move mountains Mark 11:23 (Pages 121,122).