Taming the Tongue

Lesson 7
Memory Text:
Matt 12:37 (NKJV) For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.

Q1: In the pre-Advent judgment, what words have you spoken that could be used to justify you?
1. Do you remember back in James Chapter 1, we looked at this verse:
22

James 1:22 (NKJV)

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

2. And we talked about what that meant when it came to the gospel.
3. If we hear the gospel (Christ died for our sins) and believe the gospel, but dont do anything to receive the
gospel, the gospel does us no good.
4. Last week we studied that even the devils believe and tremble.
5. The demons that Jesus cast out all knew that He was the Son of God.
6. So we just cant believe something about Jesus, we must receive Him as our own personal Lord and Savior
from sin.
7. So how do we do that? Does it involve words? Does it involve prayer? Does that prayer bring justification?
(Yes!!)
8. We need to pray a prayer with words that will allow God to justify us.
9. So we sincerely kneel and pray to God the sinners prayer.
10. And we say words something like this:
11. Dear God, I confess to you that I am a sinner, that I have broken your commandments, and I deserve the
wages of sin: eternal death.
12. But I have heard the good news written in your Word about how you loved us and sent your Son to die for our
sins.
13. I believe it is true, and I want to be forgiven today and have eternal life instead of eternal death.
14. Lord Jesus, I am sorry for my sins and for what they did to you as you paid the penalty for me on the cross.
15. I accept you today as the Lord of my life and as my personal Savior from sin.
16. Please forgive me for all of my sins, and send your Spirit to live in my heart so that I can live a life that pleases
you.
17. Thank you for forgiving me and giving me eternal life.
18. I love you for what You did on the cross for me and for what you have just done for me in forgiving my sins.
19. Please remember me when you come back that I might live with you in glory.
20. In Jesus name, Amen.
21. If these words are sincerely spoken, would the one who spoke them be justified? (Yes!)
22. Now this is the short form of the sinners prayer.
23. The long form would be to actually confess and repent of specific sins and express our sorrow and regret for
each one.
24. But these words bring justification.
25. Do you remember the story Jesus told about the two men that went up to the temple to pray?
26. The one who smote upon his breast and cried, Lord be merciful to me a sinner,
27. That man, went down to his house justified. Forgiven. Just-as-if-I had not sinned. Declared not guilty in
the courts of heaven.

Q2: What words have you spoken that could be used to condemn you?
1. No doubt, Satan will have a long list of the idle words that I have spoken to accuse me in the judgment.
2. And had I not found Christ and received Him as my Savior by the above words, no doubt those words would
be sufficient to condemn me.
3. During my college years, I became an atheist, and my mouth was as foul as all my worldly friends.
4. I denied that God even existed. At least the devils believe, I didnt!
5. O thank God that I made it through those rebellious years. Someone was praying for me.
6. Thank God for second chances, and third chances, and millionth chances.

Hazards of Teaching

/ Read James 3:1

Q1: What is the most common tool that a a teacher uses to teach?
1. The most common tool for teaching is the tongue which forms and communicates words.
2. A teacher can use visual aids such as a PowerPoint presentation or a blackboard.
3. But in essence, he is still communicating with words that are normally spoken and heard.
4. In fact, in these presentations, we speak all the words shown on the screen, along with a lot of other words in
my notes.
Q2: If a teacher is always using his tongue, what dangers does he risk?
1. A teacher is always risking making a mistake, saying something that is wrong, or saying something in the
wrong way.
2. James will go on in this passage to describe the dangers of a wrong use of words and the tongue.
3. And since a teacher is always using words to communicate truth, hes always taking a risk.
4. So here James starts by pointing our the responsibility of teachers and the dangerous character of the
instrument that they have to use.

Q3: How can a teacher of the gospel minimize using his tongue in harmful ways?
1. First he must speak the truth.
2. The word of God is truth.
17

John 17:17 (NKJV)

Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.

3. A good teacher must teach the truth of Gods word, not his own opinions.
4. There are many things in Gods word that are very clear.
5. Other things sincere teachers disagree on, and perhaps the Bible is not so clear on these things.
6. So my plea to you is, dont believe anything because you hear it from me.
7. Pray about it and check it out in the word of God for yourself.
8. Let the HS lead you into all truth.
9. I do my best to understand the word and teach the truth, but there is no guarantee that I am right on every
point.
10. Second, a good teacher must teach the truth in love.
11. Paul writes:
1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV)
2

And though I have the gift of prophecy (or preaching), and understand all mysteries and all
knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
Ephesians 4:15 (NKJV)
15

but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the headChrist
12. We can beat someone over the head with the truth, but that is not the best way to get them to accept the truth.
13. We need to speak the truth in love.
14. Third, a good teacher leads by example.
15. His life cannot contradict his words.
16. Actions speak louder than words.
17. If our actions do not live up to our words, we will be seen as hypocrites and phonies.
18. So, as James says, there is a great deal of responsibility that falls on a teacher.
19. Those who aspire to be teachers should do so, not for the prestige of the position, but to be faithful un using
the gift that God has given them.

Word Power
Read James 3:2
Q1: Where do words get their power, and how much power do they have?
1. Words are used to communicate ideas.
2. Ideas can motivate people to action or demotivate them to inaction.
3. Action involves making choices that we believe will make us happier.

4. Our words have the power to save us or condemn us.

5. Our words can reinforce our own thoughts and ideas.
6. People learn, grow, and develop character in response to words.
7. We can build others up or tear others down with words.
8. Words can motivate us to die for a noble cause.
9. Words can motivate to love or hate, to save or destroy life, to make peace or make war.
10. It is hard to overestimate the power of words.
11. It is with words that we preach the gospel and bring eternal life to others rather than eternal death.
12. In the end, words and the ideas they convey make all the difference in our eternal destiny.
13. The word of God has power to create and destroy because it expresses the plan and intent of God.
14. Jesus is the Word made flesh.

Q2: What illustrations does James use to indicate the power of words in relation to the size of the tongue?
(James 3:3-5a)
1. A bit in the horses mouth turns the whole horse; the rudder of the ship turns the whole ship.
2. So the tongue, though very small, can do great things.

Jesus and Words

Q1: How did Jesus respond to James and John when they wanted to call fire down from heaven to destroy a Samaritan
village? (Luke 9:56)
Q2: What lesson is there for us in Jesus response?
1. We should not try to force religion down the throats of those who reject it.
2. Unlike the current ISIS terrorists who are killing Christians who wont convert, Jesus moved on to another
village.
3. So too, when our efforts are obstinately resisted, we can feel free to move on to more fertile ground.

Q3: What kind of words did Jesus use? (Luke 4:22)

1. Jesus spoke gracious words. His words ministered grace to those who heard Him.
Ephesians 4:29 (KJV)
29

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying,
that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
2. For some, such as the Pharisees, He had to use a sterner approach to try to break through their prejudice.
3. But Christs intent was always redemptive.
John 3:17 (NKJV)
17

For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through
Him might be saved.

Deadly Poison / Read James 3:7-8

Q1: What hope do we have of taming our tongue if no man can tame it?
1. What is impossible with men is possible with God.
Matthew 19:26New King James Version (NKJV)
26

But Jesus looked at them and said to them, With men this is impossible, but with God all things are

possible.
Philippians 4:13New King James Version (NKJV)
13

[a]

I can do all things through Christ

who strengthens me.

2. We must rely on God to do that which we cannot do in our own power.

Q2: What is the secret to gaining control over the untamable tongue?
1. First we need to come to Christ and have our sins forgiven so that we can be born again.

2. Second we need to be filled with the Spirit every day so that the fruit of the Spirit will be growing in our life.
3. It is the HS that gives us agape love. Instead of loving ourselves, we begin to love God and others.
4. As we grow in love for God and His truth, He replaces our evil hearts with good hearts.
5. Then in speaking out of the abundance of our hearts, we speak good words instead of evil.
6. We need to abide in Christ and remain surrendered to Him.

Q3: What happens to words and stories that get passed from person to person?
1. Stories have a way of changing as they are passed from person to person.
2. This is captured in a Norman Rockwell painting shown on the following slide.
3. As Christians, we need to THINK before we speak. [Review slide after next]
THINK before you Speak
T

Is it True?

Is it Helpful?

Is it Important?

Is it Necessary?

Is it Kind?

Bitter and Sweet / Read James 3:9-12

Q1: How do we use our tongues here in church?

1.

We use our tongues here to praise God in word and song, to pray, to preach, to teach, to share and discuss,
to be thankful to God, to encourage each other in the faith.
2. Such uses James calls sweet water or fresh water.
3. But how do we use our tongues in the home.
4. Do we have the same sweet disposition at home as we do when we come to church?
Q2: How do we use our tongues at home?

1. Our home is often the place where we let our guard down.
2. Instead of praising God and encouraging each other, we are often complaining about something and pointing
the finger.
3. The gift of complaining is NOT one of the gifts of the Spirit.
4. We need to be as positive and gracious and patient and kind at home as in church.
5. Think of the fruit of the Spirit.
6. If we are filled with the Spirit, we should be living these character traits regardless of where we are.
Q3: How do we use our tongues when we think no one is listening? Should there be a difference?

1. Do we sometimes say things to ourselves that we would not say out loud in church?
2. A few weeks ago when my laptop fell off the podium and wouldnt boot up, nobody heard me use any strong
language to express my anger and frustration.
3. Had I been alone, I probably would have been more expressive toward the podium and myself.
Summary

Jesus said that by our words we will be justified and by our words we will be condemned.
This one truth demonstrates the awesome power of words: our words will decide our eternal destiny.
Words of faith spoken in prayer to receive Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, to confess and repent of sin, to ask
for forgiveness, and to express our love for Him bring justification.
Words of rebellion, rejection, and indifference bring condemnation.
The tongue is a very small member in relation to the power it wields. Syn.: exert/apply/exercise/
It has the power to destroy like a forest fire out of control.
No man in his own power can tame the tongue. But what is impossible with man is possible with God.
By receiving Christ, being born from above, and being filled with the Holy Spirit, our tongue can be tamed
to praise God and bless others, whether in church, in the home, at work, or by our self.
Will you ask God today to tame your tongue that it might be used to minister grace and love to all who
hear your words?