Stick And Stones Series

James: Practical Faith 

James 3:1-12

Pastor Jefferson M. Williams

Chenoa Baptist Church 

10-20–2024

Turtle

When I was in junior high, I made the basketball team. The coach, who was known for verbally berating players, quickly gave me the nickname “turtle.” (I had not developed the puma-like quickness I have now!) He not only called me turtle on the court but, as the health teacher, he called me turtle in class. I can still remember being embarrassed when I would raise my hand and he would say, “Make it quick, turtle!” The class would laugh and I would too, but I was not laughing on the inside.

When I was in high school English class, we were supposed to find an epic poem and write an essay on it. Me and a friend named Melissa decided to write our own epic poem, which ended up being about ten pages long.

We had a student teacher named Ms. Black and when she handed me back the paper leaned down and whispered in my ear, “Your writing is extraordinary. You might just be a professional writer one day.”

Two teachers’ words. One mocked me and scarred me. The other spoke blessing and purpose into my life.

As my mother-in-law alway said, “Words are spirit. Use them wisely.”

Recap

Last week, we studied James’s controversial claim that faith without works is dead. He wrote:

“In the same way, faith by itself, if not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17)

John Calvin famously said it this way, “We are saved by faith alone, but not by a faith that is alone.”

There is a type of faith that is actually a dead, lifeless, external faith that will not result in salvation. It’s a matter of all talk and no walk. Unfortunately, that kind of faith is very common today, especially in the churches of North America.

Here’s a question that I was asked as a baby Christian that I’ve never forgotten:

If you were put on trial for being a born again Christ-Follower, would there be enough evidence to convict you?

James makes the case that born again believers show their faith by their love and compassion for others.

This morning, James will continue to highlight what pure and faultless religion is in God’s eyes, an ability to control the tongue.

In chapter 1:19, James writes:

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry…”

At the end of the chapter, James makes this strong statement:

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless.”

Or as Matt Smethurst has said of our digital age, “If anyone thinks he’s religious without controlling his thumb, his religion is worthless and he deceives himself.

Our words have the power to bless or curse, to hurt or to heal, to give light or to bring darkness.

Sticks and stones may break your bones….but words can break your heart.

What happens when you go to a doctor to get checked out? What’s one of the first things he or she asked you to do?

Stick out your tongue and say, “Ahhhhh.”

That’s what James is going to ask us to do this morning.

Turn with me in your copy of God’s Word to James 3.

Prayer.

A Caution to Teachers

James begins this section with a verse that makes the hair stand up on the back of my neck. In Greek, it is a strong command - “Stop becoming teachers!”

Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

In that culture, the rabbi, or later, the pastor, was held in high regard and shown great respect.

[By the way, research has shown that the trust of clergy in our culture is at an all time low.]

There were some people drawn to the position of teacher for all the wrong reasons.

A decade later, Paul would write that some preach Christ "out of selfish ambition.” (Phil 1:17)

Paul told Timothy

"For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions.” (I Tim 1:6-7)

Some people like to be the center of attention, like the Pharisees that Jesus rebuked:

“Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long; they love the place of honor at banquets and the most important seats in the synagogues; they love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and to be called ‘Rabbi’ by others.:” (Matt 23:5-6)

Some people rush into teaching without really weighing the responsibilities. As Elvis sang, “Only fools rush in.”