The Power of Words: Taming the Tongue
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Presentation Transcript
Tamingthe Tongue Lesson 12
Introduction • The Power of Words • Lesson Context
Teacher Scenarios • Given the facts of each scenario, what action should be taken (or should have been taken), if any? • Scenario 1 • My third-grade teacher in the public elementary school once called me “airheaded” when I didn’t have the right response to a question. • Possible actions?
Teacher Scenarios • Scenario 2 • When a math teacher at our college couldn’t get a quadratic equation to compute, a student had to point out that he was trying to take the square root of a negative number! Such incompetence! • Possible actions?
Teacher Scenarios • Scenario 3 • One professor at the local college really knows how to teach economics! The students hang on his every word. But from what I know of his life outside the college classroom, the man is a racist. • Possible actions?
Teacher Scenarios • What if the scenarios changed? 1. Instead of a public school teacher, it was a Sunday school teacher. 2. Instead of a math course at college, it is a church class in basic doctrine taught by an elder. 3. The professor in economics is also a deacon at your church, and he excels at teaching Bible. • Would your recommendations change?
Teacher Scenarios • Let’s see if James has some thoughts that can help us with solutions.
Warning to TeachersJames 3:1, 2 • Future Consequences (v. 1) • Present Reality (v. 2)
Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:1, 2. 1. You should aspire to be a teacher in order to receive God‘scommendation. • C. Teachers who are not careful with their words may receive greater condemnation.
Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:1, 2. 2. If you can keep your mouth in check, you should be able to control yourwholebody. • A.
What Do You Think? • How can our church help its non-teaching members evaluate whether they should become teachers? • Digging Deeper – What can be done to encourage current teachers to evaluate whether they have the spiritual gift of teaching (compare Romans 12:6, 7; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Ephesians 4:11, 12)?
What Do You Think? • Although perfection isn’t fully attainable in this life, what is the single most important thing you can do to keep the standard of James 3:2 before you in the week ahead? • Digging Deeper – Which of the following passages challenges you most to do so: Matthew 5:48; 19:21; James 1:25; 1 John 4:18? Why?
Power of the TongueJames 3:3-8 • Like Horses (v. 3) • Like Ships (vv. 4, 5a) • Like Fire (vv. 5b, 6) • Unlike Tamed Creatures (vv. 7, 8)
Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:3-8. 3. Since we are able to control large horses with small bits and ships withsmall rudders, we should be able tocontrol our tongues. • C. Actually, our tongues, though small, are hard to control and able to spark great destruction.
Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:3-8. 4. From all the parts of the body, thetonguehas the best potential fordoinggood. • C. It’s morelikely to cause a world of evil and defile the whole body.
Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:3-8. 5. Just as we can tame animals, birds, serpents, and sea creatures, weshould be able to tame the tongue. • C. No human being can tame the tongue.
Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:3-8. 6. It’s as if the tongue is full of deadlypoison. • A.
What Do You Think? • What are some safeguards Christians can adopt to prevent boasting? • Digging Deeper – How do passages such as Psalms 44:8; 94:4; Romans 3:25-27; 2 Corinthians 10:7-18; 11:10-21; and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 influence your conclusions?
What Do You Think? • What “emergency” tongue-control procedures would you propose for Christians when a conversation starts to shed more heat than light? • Digging Deeper – Under what circumstances, if any, should you merely walk away from such an occurrence rather than trying to help cool things down?
What Do You Think? • What is the single most important thing you can do this week to tame your tongue better? • Digging Deeper – What problems have you seen in this regard concerning words “spoken” on social media? What Scripture passage can you keep near your keyboard to restrain your impulse?
Image of GodJames 3:9-12 • Blessings and Curses (vv. 9, 10) • Water and Fruit (vv. 11, 12)
Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:9-12. 7. It’s all right to use our tongues to curse other people as long as we use them to praise God. • C. It’s very wrong for praise to God and curses against human beings to come from the same mouth.
Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:9-12. 8. It’s impossible for a bitter fountain to produce sweet water or for a fig tree to bear olives. • A.
Conclusion • Consider Your Words • Prayer • Thought to Remember
Tongue Troubles • James indicates that everyone has had tongue troubles. • From the following list, select the situation in which you’re most likely to have trouble controlling your tongue.
Tongue Troubles • Pair off to discuss the following. • Reacting to criticism of your work. • Encountering aggressive drivers on the road. • Hearing juicy gossip. • Receiving “helpful” advice from your peers. • Being criticized by a family member. • Seeing your team lose because of a bad call.
Thought to Remember The tonguemust be controlled.
Two Kinds of Wisdom Next Week’s Lesson
