1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. —James 3:1-12

The tongue is one of the

I. A caution 3:1-2a

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. —James 3:1-2

• A. About being a teacher 3:1
• B. About the inconsistency of life 3:2a
  

Who you are will inevitably be

II. The importance of the tongue 3:2b-5

2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! —James 3:2-5

• A. The principle stated 3:2b
• B. The principle illustrated 3:3-5
  
  1. Bit for a horse 3:3
  2. Rudder for a ship 3:4
  3. Spark for a fire 3:5
     

The size of the tongue does

III. The danger of the tongue 3:6-12

6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water. —James 3:6-12

• A. It defiles the body 3:6
• B. It is a deadly force untamable by man 3:7-8
• C. It is inconsistent 3:9-12
  
  1. It is inconsistent towards God 3:9-10
  2. It is contrary to nature 3:11-12
     a. Illustrated by a natural spring 3:11
     b. Illustrated by fruit-bearing plants 3:12
     

Faith living requires that we understand the

Small Group Questions

1. What did God teach you through this passage and sermon? Share the work of God in your heart with the group.

2. What questions did this passage and sermon raise in your mind? This would be a great opportunity as a group to use the Ask a Pastor feature and that way we can address it either directly or in the messages in the future.

3. Why do you think James starts by cautioning his readers about becoming a teacher? What is the lesson for us today as we carry out the Great Commission?

4. Share with the group when you experienced words affecting you significantly, whether positive or negative.

5. Why is the tongue so hard to tame? What are things that you can do to practice reigning in your speech?