The Power of Words: Taming the Tongue
Summary
In this sermon, I focused on the power of words and the importance of being mindful of what we say. I emphasized that our words carry immense weight and can have a significant impact on others. I stressed the need for us to be careful with our words, not having two different sets of vocabulary for different groups of people. I also highlighted the importance of our words being an overflow of our hearts, reflecting what is within us. I encouraged the congregation to seek God's help in cleaning up our lives and ensuring that our words reflect His love and truth.
In the second part of the sermon, I reminded the congregation about the upcoming revival and the importance of hearing from different speakers. I then delved into the issue of how our tongues can get us into trouble, emphasizing that what we say is a reflection of who we are. I used the book of James as a guide, explaining how it teaches us to build a solid foundation of love and to control our tongues. I also used metaphors to illustrate the power of the tongue, comparing it to a small bit that can control a large horse and a small rudder that can steer a huge ship.
Key Takeaways:
- Our words carry immense weight and can significantly impact others, so we must be mindful of what we say ([01:03:39]).
- What we say is a reflection of what is in our hearts, so we must ensure that our hearts are filled with love and truth ([01:04:18]).
- The book of James teaches us to build a solid foundation of love and to control our tongues ([01:05:54]).
- Our tongues have the power to direct people in positive ways, but only God can tame the tongue ([01:06:34]).
- The tongue is a small thing that can make grand speeches, but it can also set a great forest on fire, illustrating the power and potential danger of our words ([43:26]).
Study Guide
Takeaways from the sermon:
1. Our words are a reflection of what is in our hearts. If our hearts are filled with anger, frustration, or hatred, these emotions will manifest in our speech. Conversely, if our hearts are filled with love, kindness, and peace, our words will reflect these virtues. ([39:47])
2. The power of our words is immense. They can direct people in positive ways, but they can also cause great harm. We must be mindful of the weight our words carry and the impact they can have on others. ([42:32])
3. Our tongues can be tamed only by God. When we surrender ourselves to Him, He can use our words to teach others about His love and grace. ([45:19])
Bible Reading:
1. James Chapter 3
2. Matthew 12:34-37
Observation Questions:
1. What does James mean when he says that the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts?
2. How does Matthew describe the relationship between the heart and the mouth?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How does James 3:1-12 relate to the idea that our words reflect what is in our hearts?
2. What does Matthew 12:34-37 teach us about the power of our words and the importance of taming our tongues?
Application Questions:
1. Can you recall a time when your words had a significant impact on someone, either positively or negatively? How did that experience make you feel?
2. How can you ensure that your words reflect the love and grace of God?
3. What steps can you take to tame your tongue and use your words to uplift others?
4. Can you think of a situation where you could have used your words more wisely? How would you handle it differently now?
5. How can you use your words to teach others about God's love and grace?
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Our Words
Our words carry immense weight and can either build up or tear down. They are a reflection of what is in our hearts and can either bring life or death. We must be careful with our words, ensuring they are an overflow of a heart filled with love and grace. [01:03:06]
Proverbs 18:21 - "Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits."
Reflection: Reflect on your words from the past week. Were they life-giving or destructive? How can you ensure your words reflect a heart filled with love?
Day 2: The Need for God's Cleansing
God is the one who can clean us up inside and out. He is the one we can surrender to, the one who helps us in our time of need and struggles. We need to allow Him to cleanse our lives and let our tongues only speak of the things that He wants coming out of us. [01:04:18]
Psalm 51:10 - "Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me."
Reflection: In what areas of your life do you need God's cleansing? How can you surrender these areas to Him?
Day 3: The Impact of Our Tongue
Our tongue has the power to direct our lives. If we can tame our tongue, we can use it for great purposes. However, only God can truly tame the tongue. We need to allow Him to fill our hearts so much that His love and grace overflow from us. [45:19]
James 3:8 - "But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison."
Reflection: How have you seen the impact of your words in your life and the lives of others? How can you allow God to tame your tongue?
Day 4: The Danger of an Untamed Tongue
An untamed tongue is a flame of fire, capable of causing great harm. It can corrupt our entire body and set our whole life on fire. We need to be aware of the danger of an untamed tongue and seek God's help in taming it. [46:46]
Proverbs 21:23 - "Whoever keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps himself out of trouble."
Reflection: Reflect on a time when your untamed tongue caused harm. How can you seek God's help in taming your tongue?
Day 5: The Call to Speak Life
We are called to speak life into the lives of others. Our words should be an overflow of a heart filled with God's love and grace. We need to be intentional about the words we speak, ensuring they bring life and not death. [01:05:12]
Ephesians 4:29 - "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear."
Reflection: How can you be more intentional about speaking life into the lives of others? What steps can you take to ensure your words are an overflow of a heart filled with God's love and grace?
Quotes
1. "Our mouths have to be full of what our minds and our hearts are thinking and saying and doing. The untamed tongue can destroy a life, many lives, or even affect an entire people group. But when we realize that in these places where these fires have started that we can't put out on our own, we can't tame the tongue like scripture says. But Jesus is the only one that can do that. He's the one who makes us perfect, he's the one that when we're burned in life, he's the one that offers this healing balm to us." - 55:29
2. "James is our essential how-to book. How do we live our lives? He says it's by controlling the tongue, it's by surrendering ourselves over to God and living what's in our hearts in our lives, letting that come out of our mouth. If we can tame the tongue then we can use it for such great purposes. But in all of that, only God can tame the tongue." - 44:37
3. "Our words should be used to encourage other people. Our words are to be used to teach about who God is. We can't control our tongues like James says, but we can control what we take in, what we put into our heart. We can control the fact that we give ourselves over to God to be used by God." - 59:38
4. "It's our heart that matters the most. It's our heart that can change our tongues. It's our heart that can change what we speak, what we share with other people, the way that we talk with our kids, the way that we encourage our family and our spouses." - 01:01:04
5. "Our tongue is like a small spark that can destroy much. If you were to say to someone you're ugly, useless, and a despicable person, we might have ruined the possibility for relationship with that person for life. Words can continue to do harm for many, many years. A small spark in somebody's life could do harm to them for many, many years." - 53:29
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