AVBC - Sunday - 11/08/26 - Sermon Title: “Taming the Tongue” - The power of speech in relationships” - James 3:1-18 - “The Book of James” – Sermon Series – (Part 4 of 6)

 Sunday 11/08/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “Taming the Tongue” - The power of speech in relationships” - James 3:1-18 - “The Book of James” – Sermon Series – (Part 4 of 6)

(Cover Picture – James 3:1-18- Taming the Tongue - Picture)  

 

          So, I remember hearing as a young child, this rhyme: 

“Sticks and stones may break my bones
But words will never hurt me” (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticks_and_Stones). 

Has anyone here ever heard this famous British rhyme before? Just a little bit of the history behind the “Sticks and Stones” rhyme, is this:

-         Alexander William Kinglake in his Eothen (written 1830, published in London, John Ollivier, 1844) used "golden sticks and stones".

-         An article by F.R. Horner in Liverpool's Northern Times on July 23, 1857, included the phrase (as quoted text): Sticks and stones (says the schoolboy’s rhyme) may break men’s bones, but bad names will not hurt me.

-         An article in The Coleraine Chronicle and North of Ireland Advertiser on January 18, 1862 included the phrase (also as quoted text): Sticks and stones break one’s bones, but names will never hurt one (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sticks_and_Stones).

The general idea behind this famous English rhyme is that we can be physically hurt, but mere words alone, well they can never hurt us. How many of us here reject the idea completely that words can never hurt us? My mother Susan went to a Christian Women’s conference once, where a woman that spoke there told the attendees that “words wound.” It is amazing to me that this little thing in our mouth called our tongue is used to help us speak and say words. If you do not believe me, then try to say something while at the same time holding your tongue when you speak. If anything, you will sound really funny and get a good laugh.

          The general idea around the famous “sticks and stones” rhyme is that words are something that we can just forget, and that just bounce off us. It is a great thought, but sometimes “words wound.” For the past three weeks we have been walking through the Book of James in the New Testament, where we are challenged to have both faith in Christ, and to live and love like Christ. If we are seeking Jesus, if we are seeking God, are we also challenging ourselves through the Holy Spirit to live and love more like Jesus? This can be seen in how we love our neighbors, how we serve others, how help in the world, how we give, and this morning how we “tame our tongue.” This morning’s message is called “Taming the Tongue” - The power of speech in relationships.”

          I said in my weekly Wednesday check-in video that I make on our church Facebook Page, that when I first thought about this sermon based on the Book of James chapter 3, I thought of the Bounty paper towel commercials on tv. There is a spill and the spill is getting closer to falling on the floor or something else. The person who accidentally spilled a drink or some other liquid says the word no in slow motion, saying “Noooooooooooo!” suddenly then, they have a bounty paper towel that saves the day and contains the spill. Has anyone here ever said something, and within a fraction of a second in your head you thought “Noooooooooo!” Maybe in the same second you realized that what just came out of your mouth has likely just gotten you into big trouble, and unfortunately a Bounty paper towel will not fix it! All of us, if we are honest, have mis-spoken, and perhaps we have said things that we regret and wish we could take back.

          As we have been hearing the past three weeks of this Book of James sermon series, and this morning, this book of scripture calls us to not just have faith, but to live that faith out. Or as we like to say here at Adams Village Baptist Church, to “Live It Out Loud!” When what we believe though, when our faith in Christ, connects to how we live and love every day, then we are living the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and our Christian faith. This, however, is not always easy, but we are called to not just have faith in Christ, but to continue to strive after and be like Christ. Coming to Christ is forgiveness, salvation, and eternity, but sanctification is our continued pursuit and longing to be fully like Jesus. For the goal of the Christian life is to be like Jesus.

(James 3:1-9- Scripture Picture) 

          In looking at our scripture for this morning from the Book of James chapter 3, which is also James 3:1-18, we hear about the need to “Tame our Tongues,” but there is more to this chapter, as well. So, let us walk through this scripture again. Starting in James 3:1, we hear, once again:

Taming the Tongue

3 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, for you know that we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness. ² For we all make many mistakes, and if any one makes no mistakes in what he says he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body also (Jas. 3:1-2, RSV).

Striving to be holy and trying to live and love like Jesus. We hear that teachers are to be judged with “greater strictness” than others. Are we able to make no mistakes and be perfect? In fact, James 3:3-4, then says:

³ If we put bits into the mouths of horses that they may obey us, we guide their whole bodies. ⁴ Look at the ships also; though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs (Jas. 3:3-4, RSV). 

In the way that a bit in a horse’s mouth might make the horse obey, and in the same way ships are guided by a rudder, so are we called to be holy, righteous, and be like Christ.

          Specifically, picking up James at 3:5, James then takes us in the direction of what we speak, and the things that we say. Of course, our tongues allow us to speak and allow our words to make sense when we speak. Picking up in James 3:5, we hear:

⁵ So the tongue is a little member and boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by a small fire! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire. The tongue is an unrighteous world among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the cycle of nature, and set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by humankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue—a restless evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who are made in the likeness of God (Jas. 3:5-9, RSV).

          James is telling us that our tongues, that our mouths, can get us into a lot of trouble, can do a lot of damage, but can also do a lot of good. What we say, how we say, and when we say it, with our tongues can do great and terrible things.

(Taming the Tongue – James 3 – Fire Picture) 

          In looking at our slide for this morning on “Taming the Tongue,” and the potential fire of our tongues, we see the power of the tongue. We also see other scriptures that speak to power of the tongue and the power of our words in this slide.

 

In this slide, we really see how the tongue can create a forest fire of trouble and problems. As we look at this slide, we can see the power, once again of our tongues, of our words. We can do so much good, but we can also quickly cause a lot of harm. What do we do with our words, with our tongues?

(James 3:10-18- Scripture Picture) 

 

Picking up in the second half of James 3:10-18, we hear, once again:

 

¹⁰ From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brethren, this ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, yield olives, or a grapevine figs? No more can salt water yield fresh (Jas. 3:5-9, RSV).

As we saw in the slide, from our same mouths, we can bring forth blessings and curses. James says that this should not be the case, and we should use our mouths to bless only, and not curse. Using another analogy, James then says, picking up in 3:11, once again, ¹¹ Does a spring pour forth from the same opening fresh water and brackish? Brackish water is a mixture of fresh water and sea water. How can a freshwater spring have both fresh water and a mixture of fresh water and salty water at the same time? I guess it could technically happen, but James is talking about two things that do not coincide with one another. James then gives another analogy of a fig tree. Can a fig tree produce olives and grapevine figs? A fig tree only produces figs, and not olives. In the same way, salt water cannot yield fresh water.

          All of this then is to remind us that our mouths, our tongues can be both used for good and for evil. God designed our tongues, our mouths to speak and talk like Jesus would. James then finishes chapter three with verses 13-18, discussing two kinds of wisdom. Once again, this is duality of good and evil. In looking at the last portion of James 3, we hear in 13-18, this, once again:

Two Kinds of Wisdom

 

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good life let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom is not such as comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. ¹⁶ For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insincerity. ¹⁸ And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

In the same way that the tongue or the mouth can do good and do harm, James tells us, once again, about “Two Kinds of Wisdom.” James asks us, who is wise and understanding among us? James says by our lives let us show the world our works in the meekness of wisdom. This is to say giving, displaying, and showing wisdom through humility, gentleness, and controlled strength. On the other hands, James tells us in 3:14 if we have “bitter jealousy and selfish ambition” in our hearts, that we are not to be boastful and be false to the truth. True wisdom James tells us comes down from above, but fake and evil wisdom is earthly, unspiritual, and devilish. There is difference or dichotomy from what is holy and what is evil. Good wisdom, versus fake or evil wisdom. Specifically, James tells us that if we have jealousy and selfish ambition, we have disorder and bad things will happen in every vile or evil practice. On the other hand, though, wisdom from God, wisdom from above is pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, without uncertainty or insecurity.

          Lastly, James chapter three ends with 3:18, telling us, once again, this:

 

¹⁸ And the harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace     (Jas. 3:18, RSV). 

James is telling us in chapter three that what we say and what we do can yield peace, hope, love, and righteousness, or evil, harm, and destruction. What great power then, God has given to us all. In summarizing James 3 or James 3:1-18, I have this slide that explains the whole third chapter of the Book of James:

(James 3:1-18- Explained - Picture) 

We see again about teachers being judged strictly and held to hirer standard than others. We see again, about “Taming the Tongue,” and how the tongues we have are small, but can do great good and great damage. We see again about holy and heavenly wisdom, and earthly wisdom that is jealous, selfish, and disorderly. We also see the fig tree that cannot produce both figs and olives and remember that a freshwater spring cannot produce both fresh and brackish or saltwater at the same time. We are then given this prayer in this slide summarizing James 3 that says, “Lord, help us to tame our tongues and fill our hearts with Your wisdom. Amen.”

          To then summarize this message “Taming the Tongue” - The power of speech in relationships,” we have heard how our mouths, our tongues can cause great good or harm, and we have also heard in various ways how we should not do good and not do evil. That good and evil are not compatible. Given all of this then, how can we take this message on James chapter three with us out of this church, and into Adams and the world? Here is our application slide for James chapter three for this morning.

(Closing Picture – James 3:1-18 – How Can We Better Tame Our Tongues - Picture) 

 

When we stay surrendered to God, to Jesus, when we are quick to listen and slow to speak, when we speak life, hope, and love, when we seek God’s wisdom before we speak, and when we practice self-control, then our mouths, our tongues can be used for holy, righteous, and Godly reasons. Or we can use our mouths or tongues for evil, but we must choose which one we will pursue. So, brothers and sisters who will we use our mouths and our tongues to do good or to do evil? Amen.