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James Tongue

Summary

Sermon Outline “Fully Devoted, Fully Engaged Christ-Follower: The Tongue Tamer - James 3:1-12 That children’s song - “Be careful little eyes/ears/hands” should include “Be careful little tongues what you say!” Last week: James 2:14-22 - Saving faith is living, active faith, exhibited in what we do and how we live. Saving faith drives the believer to obedience, sacrifice, allegiance to God, lifestyle change. James 3:1-12 - “The demonstration of a living faith in controlling what we say” (Gudzik). Vs1 - A warning to teachers - accountable for what we teach. Vs2 - Our common weakness (including teachers): difficulty in taming the tongue (comes with spiritual maturity). Vs3-5a - “Bit and rudder are small, but very important. If they are not controlled,” [then neither are the horse and ship]. “Something as small as the tongue can have tremendous power, for either good or evil.” (Gudzik) Vs5b-8 - The danger of an uncontrolled tongue. “The [uncontrolled] tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness” - many have been burned! “Sticks and stones” - untrue! Lives are shaped by words spoken! An uncontrolled tongue “stain[s] the whole body” (life), “setting on fire the entire course of life!” Ephesians 4:29, Proverbs 12:18 The uncontrolled tongue “is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” You can never get back what you say, nor the hurt that is caused. Vs9-12 - The contradictory character of the tongue: Praise, blessing God - our highest calling. Cursing others - the lowest evil. “In those born-again (Christ-followers), it shouldn’t be said that out of the same mouth come [both] blessing and cursing.” (Gudzik) It should be as incongruent as a spring producing both sweet and bitter water or a tree producing 2 different kinds of fruit or a salt pond yielding fresh water. We should consistently glorify God, including with our speech - I Corinthians 10:31 Vs7-8 - The dilemma of the tongue - “no human can tame the tongue!” Note that James didn’t say the tongue couldn’t be tamed, but that we can’t do it. Note that he didn’t say we shouldn’t try to tame the tongue (we bear responsibility for what we say), but that we can’t do it ourselves. Ultimately what the tongue says comes directly from the heart. The only way the tongue can be tamed is by transformation of the heart - we need a new heart which only comes through faith in Jesus Christ. It’s out of a living faith relationship with Christ that we are changed. It’s not that we shouldn’t try, even fight to control our tongues, or overcome lust, anger, selfishness, pride, fear, etc, but we must realize the futility of that by ourselves. Living faith in the living Lord Jesus is what changes us, from glory to glory - II Corinthians 3:18. It’s knowing Him, growing in Him that changes us. Psalm 19:14 Fully devoted, fully engaged Christ-followers have a living faith in a living Lord, which changes their lives, including the taming of their tongues.