Words Matter!
James 3:1-12
Powerful Words
June 13-14, 2015
Sermon Summary
I. Words are important
II. Words are influential
A. In the church
B. In our spiritual lives
III. Words are inflammatory
IV. Words are infiltrated
V. Words are inconsistent
Words are important
We see at the beginning of Genesis that God created everything through his words. Then throughout the Old Testament, we read over and over again that the “word of the Lord came to…” a prophet. In fact Jesus is called the Word – he is the exact expression of God. If you want to know what God is like, look at Jesus who is called the Word of God. Words are important!
Words are influential
Throughout the history of the Church, words have been central and teachers in the Church have often communicated these important words. It is an amazing thing when someone begins a relationship with God through Christ, but in order them to grow spiritually, they need someone to teach and instruct them. This is often done through the power and influence of words. On the contrary, false teaching such as the prosperity gospel or the promise that God always heals has been incredibly destructive in the Church. Words carry great influence!
James says that if we wonder why we are struggling to grow spiritually, the first step is to focus on the words we say. If we can get our words under control, we can get the rest of under control!
Words are inflammatory
Rich used the illustration of a bucket of gas and a bucket of water. Our words have such incredible power. When we hear someone talking negatively about someone else or a situation, we can through water on it and dowse the negativity and gossip. Or we can through gasoline on it and it rages and burns even hotter! On the other side, our words can fuel the fires of passion for the Lord, a passion to serve others, or a passion to step out and take a risk in a key area of our life.
Words are infiltrated
Words can also be infiltrated by Satan himself. Through our speech towards another person or even towards ourselves, we can bring such hurt, pain, and destruction. We can help advance the purposes of Satan through our words! We’ve all seen it and most of us have done it at some level or another. Whether it is through sarcasm, criticism, hateful speech, or unrestrained anger, we can literally unleash hell on a person through our words.
Words are inconsistent
Finally, when we find ourselves praising God but then cursing human beings who are made in the image of God, we become hypocrites! It is impossible, as James said, to truly worship God for who he is when we curse people who reflect the very nature of God. As James says, “Brothers and sisters, this cannot be.”
This Week’s Passage for Study & Discussion
James 3:1–12 (NIV) — 1 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
Background & Context - James
Jesus had several siblings; one of them was named James (not to be confused with two of Jesus’ disciples who were also named James). Although initially skeptical about his brother, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, James became a believer and an important leader of the church community in Jerusalem. He was respected for the advice he gave and for the wise decisions he helped the Christian community make. It appears that at one point, he decided to write down some words of instruction and send them to other Jewish believers who were scattered throughout the Roman Empire. And though we cannot be sure of the exact date, James the brother of Jesus may have written his work as early as AD 45. We know this practical treatise on the Christian life as the book of James.
This book begins like a letter, but it’s actually different from other letters of the time. It is a collection of short sayings, perhaps ones that James repeated often as he advised people. It also includes longer discussions of everyday issues that Jewish believers might face. James addresses these topics with the same techniques employed by speakers of the day. For example, sometimes he anticipates and answers a question someone might ask. Also, unlike most letters, this book does not treat its topics in logical or sequential order. Instead, it interweaves various themes as James raises subjects, leaves them, and then comes back to them again. The conversational style, the short, pithy sayings and the interweaving of themes, all make this book similar to the “wisdom” writings found in Proverbs and Ecclesiastes.
Like those other wisdom books, the book of James concentrates primarily on questions of daily living. When James discusses what it means to be wise, he explains that wisdom is demonstrated in practical conduct: “the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.” The practical issues he considers include concern for the poor and underprivileged; the responsible use of wealth; control of speech; purity of life; unity within the Christian community; the nature of effective prayer; and above all patience and endurance during times of trial.
At the core of Jamesʼ message is a discussion regarding faith: belief in who God is and what he has done ought to translate into acts of service and love. It was so with great men and women in the Old Testament, it’s no different for those who follow Christ now. After all, James declares, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” The apostle Paul clearly taught that good deeds do not earn God’s grace. But in this letter, James is addressing those who have already experienced this undeserved grace and who should, therefore, reflect that reality in their actions toward others. The people James encouraged faced many challenges as they sought to practice their faith in the circumstances of life. As we face similar challenges today, his godly wisdom remains as valuable as it was when he first shared it centuries ago.
Study & Discuss
Have someone in the group read the passage out loud.
1. What is the most encouraging thing someone has said to you lately? What effect did these words have on you?
2. In v. 2, James makes a very strong connection between the words we say and the ability to become spiritually mature (The NIV translates it perfect, but the better translation is mature). Do you agree or disagree? How have you experienced your words being like a “bit in a horse’s mouth” or a “rudder of a ship” in your own life whether positively or negatively?
3. In v. 6, what does James compare the tongue to? When have you witnessed the destructive power of “fiery” words from someone else? What effect did these words have?
4. In v. 7-8, James seems to speak rather hopelessly about our ability to tame our tongue. What is an area of your life that you find it difficult to control your speech?
5. In v. 9, why does James say cursing another human being is so serious? How could remembering that every human being is made in God’s likeness change the way we speak about each other?
An important key in this question is remembering that we praise and worship God for who he is. If we then turn around and curse people who are made in God’s image, the image that we reflects the God we just worshipped, then we are at least inconsistent and at worse complete hyporcites!
6. In vv. 9-10, we read that the tongue is not only a danger and tool for evil but can also be used as a way that we praise our “Lord and Father”. What are some ways that you have found to incorporate praising God into your speech?
7. At the end of this passage, we are left with the challenge to make a decision – either we fill our speech with words of praise and blessing OR evil and cursing. What ways have you found to be successful in changing the way you speak about your family, your work, your finances, or other areas of your life? What has been the impact on your life overall? Share them with the group to encourage one another!
Ministry Time
Allow time to welcome the presence of God and wait for the Holy Spirit to speak—giving specific guidance for prayer and ministry time. Here are a couple suggestions:
1. This week how can you be intentional with your words? Give the persons in your group time to pray quietly, asking the Lord to bring some ideas to mind. Break up in smaller groups sharing what the Lord brought to mind for accountability and pray for one another.
2. It may be that through this discussion, memories or wounds from hurtful words have come back up to your group members. Encourage the persons in your group, if comfortable, to share with another person and receive prayer for these hurts.