**This Week’s Scriptures
James 3
Tip: The text boxes on the right are there for you to take your own notes as we go.
1. Listen to the Message
1. The tongue is small but
James 3:2-5a
2. The tongue is small but
James 3:5b-8
3. The tongue is small but
James 3:9-10, Matthew, 12:34
Our
is the of our heart.
James 3:11-12, Proverbs 15:4, 1 Peter 3:10
The tonguemore than any other area of our behavior.
James 1:19, Proverbs 10:19
Rules of Thumb for the Tongue
1. Is what I’m about to say
2. Is what I’m about to say
3. Is what I’m about to say
Steps to Start Taming Your Tongue
1. Surrender your heart, mind and tongue to the Holy Spirit every day.
2. Pray that God will make you very aware of the words that you are considering using.
3. Surrender your right to complain.
4. Request forgiveness for hurtful words or ugly attitudes
5. Practice speaking words that build-up, comfort, encourage, and inspire others.
2. For further reflection and study
READ
2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things.
See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? —James 3:2-11
DISCUSS
1. Discuss the ways our tongue can be Powerful, Dangerous, and Revealing.
2. Discuss how our speech can be the window of our heart.
3. Discuss why sarcasm can be so hurtful.
4. how our speech can be the window of our heart.
5. DIscuss the 5 things you can do to start taming your tongue and speak about times you have “blown it” wth your words or have been on the receiving end of harsh or demeaning words. How did you handle it?
3. Pray