Transforming Lives Through the Power of Speech
Summary
In the ongoing journey through the book of James, we are invited to consider what it means to live as people shaped by the resurrection—not just in belief, but in every aspect of our lives, including the way we speak. The resurrection is not a one-time event to be celebrated and then set aside; it is a reality that should transform our daily existence, especially our speech. James challenges us to recognize the immense creative and destructive power of our words. Just as God spoke creation into being, our speech has the capacity to build up or tear down, to set new worlds in motion or to perpetuate harm.
Speech is not merely an individual matter; it is deeply communal. The way we talk to and about one another shapes our relationships, our communities, and even our perception of reality. Our words reveal what is truly alive within us—our values, our biases, our hopes, and our fears. When our speech is double-minded—blessing God while cursing those made in God’s image—we betray the very resurrection life we claim to embody. James calls us to an internal audit, to examine not just the content of our words but the underlying logic and values they reflect.
Language forms the categories by which we perceive the world. The words we use, the ways we praise or criticize, the labels we accept or reject—all of these shape not only our own self-understanding but also the collective agreements of our communities. This is especially evident in the ways marginalized groups are expected to code-switch or conform to dominant speech patterns, and in the ongoing debates about language and identity. Our speech can either reinforce systems of hierarchy and exclusion or participate in the liberating work of resurrection.
We are entrusted with the power of speech because God trusts us to use it for good. This is not a threat, but a gift—a call to participate with God in the ongoing creation of a world marked by justice, healing, and love. Let us be people who speak plainly, with integrity, and who use our words to set a cosmos of resurrection ablaze in our communities. May our speech be a spiritual practice that steers us ever closer to liberation for all.
Key Takeaways
- The Power of Speech Mirrors the Power of Creation
Our words are not neutral; they carry the same creative potential that God demonstrated in speaking the world into being. Every time we speak, we participate in either building up or tearing down the world around us. This creative or destructive force is not limited to grand gestures but is present in the everyday ways we talk to ourselves and others. We are called to steward this power with humility and intention. [38:35]
- Speech Reveals and Shapes Our Inner Life
The words that slip out—especially those we regret—are windows into our true beliefs and values. Rather than dismissing these moments, we are invited to pause and reflect on what they reveal about our hearts. This self-examination is not about shame, but about aligning our inner logic with the logic of love that undergirds the resurrection. Healing the language we use with ourselves is as holy as the words we speak to others. [39:47]
- Language Directs Community Values and Perception
The way we speak about people, especially those on the margins, not only reveals our values but actively shapes the values of our community. When we reinforce hierarchies or diminish others through our words, we perpetuate systems of harm. Conversely, when we speak in ways that honor and uplift, we help create a community that reflects the justice and inclusion of the kingdom. Our collective agreements about language matter deeply. [45:47]
- The Burden and Liberation of Speech in Marginalized Communities
Code-switching and tone policing are not just matters of etiquette; they are reflections of power dynamics that burden marginalized people and privilege dominant voices. True resurrection community makes space for all forms of speech and cultural expression, refusing to demand conformity to dominant norms. We are called to examine whose voices are centered and to create space for authentic, liberating speech that honors the image of God in every person. [53:44]
- Integrity in Speech as a Spiritual Practice
James urges us to let our “yes” be yes and our “no” be no—to speak plainly and with integrity. This is not about performative niceness or shallow positivity, but about aligning our words with our deepest values and commitments. When we speak with integrity, we set in motion a cosmos of resurrection, participating with God in the work of liberation and new life. Our speech is a daily spiritual practice that shapes the world and the kingdom to come. [59:10]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[28:52] - Living as Resurrection People
[30:47] - The Power of Speech Begins Early
[31:54] - Children, Listening, and the Influence of Words
[34:08] - James on the Tongue: Creative and Destructive Power
[35:35] - Double-Mindedness and the Integrity of Speech
[36:52] - Speech as a Communal and Cultural Force
[38:35] - God’s Creative Word and Our Participation
[39:47] - Speech as Revelation of the Heart
[41:06] - Beyond Performative Words: Internal Audit
[43:16] - Language, Perception, and Social Categories
[45:47] - Speech, Hierarchy, and Community Values
[47:44] - The Impact of Praise and Self-Talk
[49:50] - Healing the Inner Voice
[53:44] - Code-Switching, Tone Policing, and Power
[57:21] - Personal Stories: Choosing Words that Build Up
[59:10] - Speaking Plainly and Setting a Cosmos in Motion
[01:30:09] - Communion: Embodying the Word
[01:42:11] - Announcements and Closing
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: The Power of Speech and Resurrection Life (James)
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### Bible Reading
James 3:1-12 (CEB)
> Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers and sisters, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all make mistakes often, but those who don’t make mistakes with their words have reached full maturity. Like a bridled horse, they can control themselves entirely. When we bridle horses and put bits in their mouths to lead them wherever we want, we can control their whole bodies. Consider ships: They are so large that strong winds are needed to drive them, but pilots direct their ships wherever they want with a little rudder. In the same way, even though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts wildly. Think about this: A small flame can set a whole forest on fire. The tongue is a small flame of fire, a world of evil at work in us. It contaminates our entire lives. Because of it, the circle of life is set on fire. The tongue itself is set on fire by the flames of hell. People can tame and already have tamed every kind of animal, bird, reptile, and fish. No one can tame the tongue, though. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we both bless the Lord and Father and curse human beings made in God’s likeness. Blessing and cursing come from the same mouth. My brothers and sisters, it just shouldn’t be this way. Both fresh water and salt water don’t come from the same spring, do they? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree produce olives? Can a grapevine produce figs? Of course not. And fresh water doesn’t flow from a salt water spring either.
Genesis 1:1-3
> In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.
John 1:1-5
> In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
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### Observation Questions
1. In James 3:1-12, what images does James use to describe the power of the tongue? How do these images help us understand the impact of our words?
2. According to the sermon, what does it mean for our speech to be “double-minded”? What are some examples given of this in the sermon? [[35:35]]
3. How does the Genesis creation story connect to the way James talks about the power of speech? [[38:35]]
4. What does the sermon say about the communal impact of our words, not just the individual impact? [[36:52]]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think James compares the tongue to a small flame that can set a whole forest on fire? What does this say about the potential consequences of our words?
2. The sermon talks about “double-mindedness” in our speech—blessing God but cursing people made in God’s image. Why is this such a serious issue for a resurrection community? [[35:35]]
3. The sermon mentions that language forms the categories by which we perceive the world. How might the words we use shape not only our own self-understanding but also the values of our community? [[43:16]]
4. The sermon discusses code-switching and tone policing as burdens placed on marginalized communities. How does this relate to James’ call for integrity and justice in our speech? [[53:44]]
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### Application Questions
1. Think about a recent time when your words either built someone up or tore someone down. What was the impact? How might you approach a similar situation differently in light of James’ teaching? [[57:21]]
2. The sermon invites us to do an “internal audit” of our speech. What is one phrase or way of speaking to yourself that you want to change because it doesn’t reflect the logic of love or resurrection? [[49:50]]
3. Are there ways you have participated in or witnessed code-switching or tone policing in your community or workplace? How can you help create space for authentic, liberating speech that honors everyone’s identity? [[53:44]]
4. The sermon says our words can set a “cosmos of resurrection ablaze” in our communities. What is one practical way you can use your speech this week to bring justice, healing, or inclusion? [[59:10]]
5. When you catch yourself saying something you regret, either out loud or in your head, what steps can you take to pause and reflect on what that reveals about your heart? How can you realign your speech with the logic of love? [[39:47]]
6. James urges us to “let your yes be yes and your no be no.” Where in your life do you struggle to speak plainly or with integrity? What would it look like to practice more honest and straightforward communication? [[59:10]]
7. The sermon reminds us that God entrusts us with the power of speech as a gift, not a threat. How does this change the way you think about your responsibility to use words for good? [[59:10]]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
God, thank you for the gift and power of speech. Help us to use our words to build up, to heal, and to set a cosmos of resurrection in motion in our lives and communities. Give us courage to speak plainly, to honor every person’s voice, and to align our speech with your love and justice. Amen.
Devotional
Day 1: The Power of Speech to Create or Destroy
Our words hold immense power, shaping not only our own lives but the world around us. Just as God spoke creation into being, our speech can build up or tear down, bringing life or harm to our communities. The way we speak reflects our deepest beliefs and can set entire worlds into motion—are we using our tongues to create a cosmos of resurrection and hope, or one of harm and destruction? Let us be mindful that every word we utter participates in the ongoing work of creation, and may we choose to speak life, justice, and love into being. [38:35]
James 3:3-10 (ESV)
If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 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. 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! 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. For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.
Reflection: Think of a recent conversation where your words had a noticeable impact—did they build up or tear down? How might you use your speech today to intentionally create life and hope in someone else’s world?
Day 2: Speech Reveals and Steers the Heart
The words we speak are not just sounds; they are windows into our inner world, revealing what we truly value and believe. Our speech can expose double-mindedness—when our words do not align with our deepest convictions—and can also steer our hearts and communities toward justice or injustice. By paying attention to our patterns of speech, we can discern what we have internalized and begin to transform both ourselves and our relationships, choosing to align our words with the logic of love that undergirds all creation. [39:47]
Matthew 12:34-37 (ESV)
You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.
Reflection: When you catch yourself saying something that surprises or unsettles you, can you pause and ask what belief or value lies beneath those words? What might God be inviting you to notice or change in your heart today?
Day 3: The Language We Use Shapes Reality and Belonging
The way we speak about ourselves and others not only reflects our values but also shapes what is possible in our communities. Language can reinforce harmful hierarchies or open up space for justice, inclusion, and belonging. When we choose words that honor the dignity and identity of others—especially those who have been marginalized—we participate in building a resurrection community where all are valued. Let us be attentive to whose voices are centered, whose speech is considered “proper,” and how we can use our words to liberate rather than exclude. [47:44]
Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)
Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.
Reflection: Is there a way you can affirm the identity or experience of someone who is often marginalized or overlooked, using your words to create a more just and welcoming space today?
Day 4: Healing Our Inner Voice and Speaking Life to Ourselves
The words spoken to us—especially in our formative years—often become the words we speak to ourselves. Many of us carry internalized messages of shame or unworthiness, but the work of healing these wounds is holy and resurrection work. By intentionally speaking kindness, truth, and love to ourselves, we participate in God’s ongoing creation, replacing the language of death with the language of life. This inner transformation not only blesses us but also empowers us to speak life to others. [49:50]
Psalm 139:13-14 (ESV)
For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.
Reflection: What is one negative phrase or belief you have internalized about yourself? How can you begin to replace it with words of truth and love today, trusting that you are fearfully and wonderfully made?
Day 5: Integrity and Accountability in Speech
True devotion is not just about saying the right things but about living and speaking with integrity—letting your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no. James calls us to be accountable for our speech, to avoid both performative words and harmful language, and to speak plainly and truthfully. This means examining whether our words build up or tear down, whether they align with the resurrection hope we profess, and whether they foster genuine community. God has entrusted us with the power of speech; let us use it with humility, clarity, and love. [57:21]
James 1:26-27 (ESV)
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.
Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to practice greater integrity or accountability in your speech? What is one step you can take today to ensure your words and actions are aligned with your deepest values?
Quotes
Speech has creative and destructive power. We see this in our own stories of how God moves. And God said, let there be light. The whole Genesis 1 creation story is about God speaking things into being. And when we speak in ways that build the kingdom, we are participating with God in that creative beauty. And when we speak in ways that destroy, we are undermining that very function of creation. [00:38:35] (32 seconds)
If those who claim devotion to God don't control what they say, they mislead themselves. Notice, mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless. True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this, to care for the orphans and widows in their difficulties, and to keep the world from contaminating us. [00:33:38] (23 seconds)
If we live as the resurrection is real, if we are coming into this new moment of reality in the resurrected body as though Christ and the kingdom are promises that are worth pursuing, then our speech should reflect our hope. And it should not anchor us in the world as it is, but build the foundations of the world to come. [00:38:10] (24 seconds)
When we engage in speech we set whole new worlds into motion so are you birthing a cosmos of resurrection when you speak or a cosmos of evil which here again the greek matters evil has a lot of connotations in our world but the greek word here that is often translated as evil is also just translated as harm are you putting harm out into the world are you creating patterns of destruction that will come and intervene on the kingdom resurrection promise and bring it back down into empires of hierarchy and dominance we want to engage with the word with god with the logic of love in a way that sets loving cosmos ablaze in creation not destruction or harm. [01:10:12] (62 seconds)
Resurrection-aligned speech supports justice and healing and community. And so when we speak in ways that undermine justice, healing, and community, we are speaking the tongues of death. [00:41:06] (15 seconds)
Is my speech building up or tearing down is the way that i speak to myself to others to god is it resurrection language or am i committing to the ways of death these have really big implications and really small implications. [01:05:19] (19 seconds)
How we speak about one another, how we speak to one another, shapes how we behave and how we approach relationship. And when I say relationship, I mean relationship between people, our neighbor and ourself, with God, how we think God speaks to us, how we speak back to God, and our relationship with ourself. [00:47:44] (25 seconds)
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