Oh Be Careful Little Tongue

Oh Be Careful Little Tongue

February 17, 2013 Morning Service

Immanuel Baptist Church, Wagoner, OK

Rick Boyne

Message Point: The tongue must be controlled so that we might bless instead of curse and edify instead of destroy.

Focus Passage: James 3:1-12

Supplemental Passage: Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29 NASB)

Introduction: I was mowing with my riding lawnmower and all of a sudden, when I went to turn the corner, the mower wouldn’t turn, but kept going on straight. No matter how much I turned the steering wheel, the mower didn’t respond. I finally ended up pushing the mower to where I wanted it. I couldn’t use the motor, for it had too much power without any control. As it ended up, there was a small little nut that came off the steering rod that attached the steering wheel to the front wheels. That tiny little nut was the cause of all my problems.

I. The Tongue: Full of evil

a. A world of iniquity

b. Defiles the entire body

c. Sets on fire the course of life (wheel of life)

d. Gossip, slander, bitterness, rudeness, hatred,

e. and there must be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. (Ephesians 5:4 NASB)

II. The Tongue: Out of control

a. A horse is controlled by the bit

b. A ship is controlled by the rudder

c. The tongue can only be controlled by the Holy Spirit

d. "It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man." (Matthew 15:11 NASB)

III. The Tongue: A vessel of honor

a. Blessings

b. Praises

c. Prayers

d. Songs & hymns

e. Edification

f. Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear. (Ephesians 4:29 NASB)

Invitation: