SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Instruction (vs 1-2).
(2). Explanation (vs 3-5).
(3). Illustrations (vs 3-5).
(4). Application (vs 6).
(5). Clarification (vs 7-12).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• Did you know that the average person spends one-fifth of his or her life talking?
• That’s what the statistics say.
• If all of our words were put into print,
• The result would be this:
• A single day’s words would fill a 50-page book,
• While in a year’s time,
• The average person’s words would fill 132 books of 200 pages each!
Ill:
• Never underestimate the power of words:
• A judge speaks, and a man is condemned or set free.
• A physician speaks, and a person has surgery, or he goes home from the hospital.
• A government official speaks, and millions of dollars can be spent or withheld.
• A preacher speaks and an individual can move from spiritual death to life!
• Never underestimate the power of words:
• TRANSITION:
• In our own personal lives, we know the power of words.
• Words that can bless us and build us up and words that can cut us and knock us down.
• The apostle James in this chapter (#3) is dealing with the tongue,
• And therefore, the power of what we say!
Ill:
• The tongue is only a muscle in our bodies,
• Medically the tongue is a mass of muscles covered by a mucous membrane,
• It is made up of nerves that enables us to chew, taste, swallow food and articulate words.
• But…
• Redefined it is a beast, a mighty midget!
The Bible says this concerning the tongue:
• It frames deceit (Psalm 50 verse 59).
• It devises destruction (Psalm 52 verse 2).
• It devours (Psalm 52 verse 4).
• It is a sharp sword: Psalm 57 verse 4.
• It breaks bones (Proverbs 25 verse 15).
• It backbites (Proverbs 25 verse23).
• It flatters (Proverbs 28 verse 23).
• It poisons (Romans 3 verse 13).
• Now that my friends, is quite destructive for a piece of protein!
• For a slab of muscle!
Note:
• Now obviously the Bible is not talking about a piece of protein or a slab of muscle!
• When referring to the tongue.
• Jesus himself unmasks the real culprit that controls the tongue,
• (Matthew chapter 15 verses 10-11).
"Jesus called the crowd to him and said, ‘Listen and understand. What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.’".
The tongue is neither friend nor foe:
• It is merely a messenger that delivers the dictates of a desperately sick heart.
• So, each time the apostle James uses the word 'tongue' in this chapter,
• We could easily substitute the word 'heart'.
(1). Instruction (vs 1-2).
“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.”
• The chapter starts with a surprising command regarding teachers & preachers,
• He is warning those who teach and preach to be careful,
• To weigh carefully the cost of that ministry.
• The apostle James reminds us that,
• Teachers and preachers will be judged more strictly than other believers.
• The reason being they are responsible for teaching God's truth.
• As a preacher/teacher I am not here to peddle my own opinions or prejudices.
• I am here to share the Word of God!
Ill:
• A bank robber was caught, arrested and had his day in court,
• The judge asked him, “Why do you rob banks?”
• His reply was simple and straight to the point, “Because that is where the money is!”
• TRANSITION: Why as a preacher do I reach and preach the Bible,
• Because that is where the life is, the truth is!
• As a preacher/teacher I am not here to peddle my own opinions or prejudices.
• I am here to share the Word of God!
• And to point out and explain what it says.
(2). Explanation (vs 2).
“We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.”
• The reason a teacher/preacher is held more accountable than other believers is,
• The words that a teacher/preacher speaks or sows, will affect many lives.
Ill:
• Whenever I preach & teach, I am not giving a lecture.
• Question: Do you know the definition of a lecture?
“Lecture: An art of transferring information from the notes of the lecturer to the notes of the students without passing through the minds of either.”
• A lecturer is informing the mind,
• But a good teacher/preacher is not only informing the mind,
• They are feeding the soul and challenging the will of the hearer!
• Therefore, a teacher/preacher is expected to model what they are teaching.
• Especially in the area of the tongue!
• Now since no one is infallible, literally reads "Slip up".
• All of us teachers/preachers and hearers are prone to slip up!
• Quote: Lord Fisher: "Life is strewn with orange peel".
• But preachers and teachers who are often good with words,
• Should not use the tongue negatively to criticise, slander, gossip or hurt others.
• Because the tongue is the tool of the teaching trade.
• Teachers/preachers must master the use of this tool,
• To avoid falling into the trap of a "stricter judgement".
(3). Illustrations (vs 3-5).
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or 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. Likewise, 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.”
Quote:
“Now I lay me down to sleep.
The sermon’s long the subject deep.
If he gets through before I wake,
Someone gives me a gentle shake”.
Ill:
• Story of the preacher who saw a man in the congregation asleep.
• He said to the person next to him; “Give him a nudge and wake him up”.
• The man replied: “You sent him to sleep, you wake him up!”
Note:
• While teachers/preachers are not entertainers,
• Part of the teachers/preacher’s gift or skill is to communicate and keep folks interested!
• And illustrations/stories do exactly that!
• Remember that humans have trouble grasping abstract concepts.
• So, we need them converted into pictures and examples.
• Quote: The great Baptist preacher Charles Spurgeon said:
• “Illustrations are like windows that let in the light”.
• Quote: we are told in Mark chapter 4 verse 34 (Living Bible):
• “In fact, in his public ministry Jesus never taught without using an illustration”.
• TRANSITION: In verses 3-5: The apostle James uses three illustrations,
• To emphasizes the power of the tongue
The first 2 illustrations remind us that the tongue is small but powerful.
• Illustration #1 (vs 3):
• With a length of rope or a small piece of leather and a small mouthpiece in a horse's mouth.
• A rider can easily control the horse's whole body.
• Likewise says James,
• The tongue is a 2-ounce bit or mouthpiece nestled in our jaws,
• And it has the power to control the direction of our lives.
• Illustration #2 (vs 4):
• This time the apostle James likens the tongue to a rudder.
• No matter the size of the ship they have their course determined,
• By a comparatively small slab of wood or metal called the rudder.
• Likewise says James,
• The rudder of the human body is the tongue.
• It may be small, but it can also direct the whole course of a person's life.
• Now James is not saying, "Silence is better than speech".
• His point is not abstinence but rather control.
• Illustration #3 (vs 5):
• Here we have James third and most extreme analogy – Fire!
• His point is simple, like fire the tongue is necessary but dangerous:
• It only takes a tiny spark to set off a forest fire.
ill:
• On the news we have seen reported that more than 500 wildfires,
• Have broken out across Greece since the beginning of August,
• These fires have caused immense destruction of forestry and wildlife,
• And forced thousands of people have had to be evacuated from their homes.
• These fires may have been started by a spark smaller than a fingernail.
• Yet it has the power to destroy thousands of acres of forestry and wildlife.
Note:
• All three things mentioned in the illustration:
• The bit (mouthpiece), the rudder, the fire.
• When under control are useful, beneficial, helpful things:
• But…when out of control.
• They are dangerous and can cause tremendous havoc.
(4). Application (vs 6).
“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
In verses 6-8 the apostle James develops his teaching from the images used in verse 5:
• As usual, James does not mess about with soft words,
• He goes straight for the jugular!
• Notice the phrase (vs 6); "A world of evil".
• He says that the whole world of evil finds its expression through the tongue.
• e.g., When we are proud, we boast using the tongue,
• e.g., When we are angry, we express that anger through the tongue,
• e.g., When we are deceitful, we flatter or mislead others with the tongue,
• e.g., When we want to hurt someone, we gossip or slander them.
• We use the tongue to communicate all those emotions and feelings and more.
• That is why this small slab of muscle is so dangerous!
Note: Another interesting term is found in verse 6:
• The apostle James quite deliberately uses the word "Gehenna" translated as "Hell".
• Instead of using the more familiar term that his readers would know, "Hades".
Ill:
• In New Testament times "Gehenna" translated as "Hell".
• Was an actual valley outside Jerusalem,
• It was used by the people of the city as their rubbish/garbage dump:
• In other words, all the filth of the city accumulated there.
• Just as all the evil of our sinful hearts seems to accumulate through our tongues.
(5). Clarification (vs 7-12).
“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and saltwater flow from the same spring?
My brothers and sisters, can a fig-tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”
• For the fourth time in these few verses,
• The apostle James uses another illustration to drive home his point,
• Regarding the uncontrolled power of the tongue.
• This time he goes to the world of nature, to animals.
Ill:
• If you go to any circus or animal show you will know he means.
• As human beings we can train whales, dolphins, lions, elephants etc.
• But not even the great Barnum could tame the tongue.
ill:
• Do you remember the old cowboy movies when the Native American Indians?
• Would say to the cowboys, "White man speak with forked tongue"?
• TRANSITION: That is the point James is making,
• Our tongues are like a poisonous snake full of deadly venom.
• But as with his other illustrations,
• James the goes on to remind us that the tongue is both helpful but inconsistent.
Quote:
“The tongue has a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde personality; it can help mend bones, or it can break them. It can build people up or it can tear them down. It can bring life, or it can bring death.”
ill:
• Story of a Christian family sitting around the table to have a meal.
• The father said grace, gave thanks for the food and they started to get stuck in!
• As they started to eat, the began moaning about how it was cooked.
• The potatoes were overdone, the carrots we too hard, the gravy was too runny etc.
• His daughter turned to the father and said:
• "Dad did God hear what you said when you gave thanks?"
• Confidently he replied, "Of course he did!".
• Then she said, "Did God also hear what you said just now to us?"
• Less confidently he said, "Yes I guess so".
• Then the daughter said,
• "Well, which of those two things does God believe?"
• TRANSITION: Good question!
• The answer of course is both,
• Because all of the dads’ statements,
• Reveal the inconsistency and the real condition of his heart.
The apostle James then goes on to demonstrate that:
• His point in verses 9-12 is,
• The nature of the human heart is like nothing in nature.
• Let me clarify,
• Unlike humankind nature is consistent.
• Peach trees don't produce poisonous mushrooms.
• Apple trees do not produce acorns,
• Pear trees do not produce thorns.
• TRANSITION:
• Only the human heart is capable of producing such inconsistencies.
And finally…
• Now as we draw to a conclusion,
• Let me give you three simple words that bring home the truth of the human heart.
FIRST: THE TONGUE 'DEFILES'.
• But remember the words of Jesus in Matthew chapter 15.
• That it is actually the heart which is defiled.
• The tongue is merely a messenger that delivers the dictates of a desperately sick heart.
SECOND: THE TONGUE 'DEFIES'.
• The tongue defies every attempt at human control.
• I like the story…
ill:
• There is a story about a pastor who was fixing a broken wooden fence.
• As he pounded away, he saw that a little boy was watching him.
• The youngster didn’t say a word,
• So, the pastor kept on working, thinking the lad would just leave. But he didn’t.
• Finally, the pastor asked,
• “Well, son, are you trying to pick up some D.I.Y. tips on maintenance?”
• The boy replied, “No,”
• “I’m just waiting to hear what a preacher says when he hits his thumb with a hammer.”
• TRANSITION: The tongue defies every attempt at human control.
• So be careful if you think you (forgive the pun) have it licked!
THIRD: THE TONGUE 'DISPLAYS'.
• We don’t like to admit it, but the tongue displays what you really are.
• The tongue reveals what condition a person’s heart is in!
Quote: Justin Martyr (c. 100 – 165) who was one of the early church fathers.
"By examining the tongue, physicians find out the diseases of the body.
And philosophers, the diseases of the mind and heart".
Now my time has gone, so here is your homework:
• In Psalm 39 David the Psalmist writes on the topic,
• ‘How to muzzle your mouth.’
• See if you can spot the four ways David tries 4 ways to try to muzzle his mouth.
• His conclusion is "Lord you handle this for me."
• David learns to lens on the Lord's strength instead of his own.
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=2VczNEjcMWnROPUUXYSHpqHkEZ0qhC7s
