Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, lies Arabella Young, Who, on the 24 th of May, began to hold her tongue.

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4 Beneath this stone, a lump of clay, lies Arabella Young, Who, on the 24 th of May, began to hold her tongue.

5 James 3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body.

6 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires.

7 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

8 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

9 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

10 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. NKJV

11 James 3 My brethren, let not many of you become teachers (didaskaloi), knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. NKJV

12 There is no special honor in preaching. There is only special pain. The pulpit calls those anointed to it as the sea calls its sailors; and like the sea, it batters and bruises and does not rest To preach, to really preach, is to die naked a little at a time and to know each time you do it that you must do it again.

13 In our day, the cell group has become a phenomenon. Every breed of cat now is an authority on God's Word. Some cell leaders set themselves up as authorities and do not take due note of the authority of their pastors. They come to know a little truth and think that they know the entirety of truth. We live in a day that denigrates recognized authority and carry this to the point of imbecility.

14 Rebellion against authority is an extension of liberal thinking that pervades North America. This attitude is a narcissistic idea that the ultimate authority resides in the individual regardless of what he knows. People place themselves and personal opinion above the pastor who carefully studies God's Word. No doubt this autonomy titillates their personal pride. Dr. Grant Richison

15 James 3 2 For we all stumble(ptaio) in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. NKJV

16 It would be nice if conversion resulted in a total makeover of the mouth, but it is not so! Although we become new creatures in Christ (2 Cor. 5:17), we also carry around with us the old nature or the flesh, which wars against the Spirit (Gal. 5:17). The tongue is one of the major battlegrounds in the war. To become godly people, we must wage war daily on this front. Pastor Stephen Cole

17 1John 1 8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. NKJV

18 Matthew For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.

19 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. NKJV

20 1) A bit in a horse's mouth (3:3) 2) A small rudder in a huge ship (3:4) 3) A small spark in a great forest (3:5-6) 4) The taming of different animals (3:7,8)

21 James 3 3 Indeed, we put bits in horses mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. NKJV

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23 Psalm Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. NKJV

24 1Peter 3 10 For the Scriptures say, If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies. NLT

25 Psalm Does anyone want to live a life that is long and prosperous? 13 Then keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies! NLT

26 Proverbs 13 3 Those who control their tongue will have a long life; opening your mouth can ruin everything. NLT

27 Proverbs There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. 19 Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue is but for a moment. ESV

28 James 3 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. NKJV

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30 Both the bit and the rudder must overcome contrary forces. The bit must overcome the wild nature of the horse, and the rudder must fight the winds and currents that would drive the ship off its course. The human tongue also must overcome contrary forces. We have an old nature that wants to control us and make us sin.

31 There are circumstances around us that would make us say things we ought not to say. Sin on the inside and pressures on the outside are seeking to get control of the tongue. This means that both the bit and the rudder must be under the control of a strong hand. The expert horseman keeps the mighty power of his steed under control, and the experienced pilot courageously steers the ship through the storm.

32 When Jesus Christ controls the tongue, then we need not fear saying the wrong things or even saying the right things in a wrong way! Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 358). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.

33 Proverbs Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit. NKJV

34 Proverbs 15 A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger. 2 The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness. NLT

35 Proverbs Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. NLT

36 James 3 5 See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell (geenna). NKJV

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39 Most Christians would shrink back from sins like homosexuality, molesting children, or murder as being satanically depraved. Yet we tolerate gossip, slander, deceit, half-truths, sarcastic put-downs, and other sins of the tongue as if they were no big deal. James says that all such sins have their origin in the pit of hell. They defile the one committing them. They destroy others. As a believer in Christ, you must confront these sins in yourself and you must be bold enough to confront them in others. Pastor Stephen Cole

40 1. It s evil. How else would you describe an act that s so often included among lists of sinful acts in scripture (Rom 1:29, 2 Cor 12:20, 1 Tim 5:13)? In fact, gossip is sometimes included as a marker of lostness not Christianity. 2. It s idolatrous. Gossips love having information, even if it s wrong and harmful. They even get angry if others have information they don t have. Having the dirt becomes their god and that s idolatry.

41 3. It s self-centered. Those who gossip put themselves in the middle of everything. And, if they re not in the middle, they talk about those who are so they draw attention back to themselves. 4. It s divisive. Talking about other people behind their backs never promotes unity, especially when the conversations take place in the back room or the parking lot.

42 5. It s often deceptive. Sometimes the reported information is cloaked in a prayer request ( now I don t want to spread rumors, but we need to pray for because ). That s gossip, and it s a lie to call it anything else. 6. It harms reputations. It takes only one rumor to harm a brother or sister, and it s tough to recover once the rumor s out. We only weaken the family of God through gossip.

43 7. It destroys trust. Here s where gossips are often so focused on spreading their news that they miss their own foolishness. Gossips may be trying to hurt others, but what they prove is only that they themselves are completely untrustworthy.

44 8. It indicates hypocrisy in the church. James puts it this way: the tongue is a world of unrighteousness (3:6), a restless evil, full of deadly poison (3:8). When the same tongue blesses God and curses others including through gossip hypocrisy is in the room (3:10-12).

45 9. It risks God s judgment. Jesus told us that we ll answer for every word we say (Matthew 12:36-37). Gossips who continue in their pattern (and most gossips do) are inviting judgment and judgment on one member affects the entire church.

46 Leviticus Do not spread slanderous gossip among your people. NLT

47 James 3 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. NKJV

48 Romans 12 2 Don t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. NLT

49 James 3 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing (kataraomai). My brethren, these things ought not to be so. NKJV

50 James 3 11 Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? NKJV

51 James 3 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh. NKJV

52 Small and influential, the tongue must be controlled; Satanic and infectious, the tongue must be corralled; Salty and inconsistent, the tongue must be cleansed.

53 Proverbs 4 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. NIV

54 Matthew But the words you speak come from the heart that s what defiles you. 19 For from the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, all sexual immorality, theft, lying, and slander. 20 These are what defile you. NLT

55 Galatians 5 16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh. NKJV

56 2Corinthians 10 5 We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ. NIV

57 Psalm Your word I have hidden in my heart, That I might not sin against You. NKJV

58 Ephesians 4 29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. NKJV

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