The Elements Of Being A Christian

The elements of being a Christian

James 1:19-27

A well-known painter was traveling one day in Europe when he lost his passport. As he came to a crossing the customs agent wanted to see his passport. “I am who I say I am.” The officer would not believe it, handed him a pencil and paper, and told him to draw something. He sketched the scenes that were behind them and when the officer saw it, he said you may pass for no one else could draw like that. This brings us to say that one can say, “I’m a Christian.” The proof comes by the life we live and our actions and words show for sure if we are a follower of Christ. A Christian will be Christ like.

1. we will have a controlled tongue. We can be careful to be in church on Sunday morning, be one who carefully tithes the correct amount in his tithe, be one who sings with what seems joy from the heart and be very prayerful looking doing that time of the service. Some have the appearance of a Christian in their actions, dress, behavior and words spoken in public. We look at what James says here is the first reality of a Christian. If we fail here, our religion is in worthless.

a. Just think of how small the tongue is in comparison to the rest of your body. Let us look at what the bible says about that little member. James 3:3-11

1. We can put a little piece of metal in a horse’s mouth and control the way it goes. There is a small part of the ship called a rudder that is hidden below the water and very small but it controls where the ship goes even against the strong wind and waves that come.

2. This we say about small things what do we say about the small thing called the tongue. The tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. The tongue sets our lives on fire, and is itself set on fire from hell. It is a world of evil among the parts of our bodies, and it completely contaminates our bodies. The tongue is a small part of the body, but it can brag about doing important things. It is an uncontrollable evil filled with deadly poison. No one can tame the tongue. With our tongues, we praise our Lord and Father. Yet, with the same tongues, we curse people, who were created in God’s likeness. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life.

3. No one else can tame the tongue but the one with the tongue. We can ask for God’s help but it is still our choice. Man came forward to an altar to pray that the Lord would fill him so he would be what he should be. His wife stood listening and told the Lord he leaks. We need to pray and perhaps there are a few of us who need to ask the Lord to plug up the holes. I have not heard many people pray that God would fill their tongues with His Spirit.

How are you doing with your tongue? It is under your control. Do you need to tame it?

Dropping three Pebbles

Drop a pebble in the water, just a splash, and it is gone, / But there’s half a hundred ripples circling on

and on and on; / Spreading, spreading from the center,/ flowing out into the sea, / But there isn’t any way of telling where the end is going to be. / Drop a pebble in the water; in a minute you forget, / But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet, And there’s little ripples flowing, to a great big wave have grown. And you’ve disturbed a mighty river just by dropping in a stone.

Drop an unkind word or gesture; in a minute it is gone, / But there’s half a hundred ripples circling on and on and on; / They keep spreading, spreading, spreading / from the center as they go, / And there isn’t any way to stop them once you start them on to flow. / Drop an unkind word or gesture, in a minute you forget, / But there’s little waves a-flowing, and there’s ripples circling yet, / And perhaps in some sad heart a mighty wave of tears you’ve stirred, / And disturbed a life that’s happy when you dropped that unkind word.

Drop a word of cheer and kindness; just a flash and it is gone, / But there’s half a hundred ripples, circling on and on and on, / Bearing hope and joy and comfort on each splashing, dashing wave, / ’Till you wouldn’t believe the volume of the one kind word you gave. / Drop a word of cheer and kindness; in a minute you forget, / But there’s gladness still a-swelling and there’s joy a-circling yet, / And you’ve rolled a wave of comfort, whose sweet music can be heard / Over miles and miles of water, just by dropping a kind word. Author Unknown.