James 3:1-13

Bringing the sermon home:

There is a sense in which the most powerful tool any of us have ever wielded is our tongue. As you consider the greatest advancements and the greatest atrocities in human history, they all find their origin in ideas communicated through words. The great power of words is likewise evident even as we zoom in on our individual lives – from our families to our workplaces to our churches.

Nothing matches the power of words to tear down, and nothing matches the power of words to build up. As such, our tongues wield a disproportionate influence upon our lives, so that the use of our tongues actually determines the usefulness of our lives. One way to put it is that our tongues are the rudder of our lives, directing us either toward success or ruin.

James bemoans the fact that “no human being can tame the tongue”. However, implicit both in the wording of this verse and in the flow of thought throughout the letter is the understanding that God can tame our tongues, for He “gives grace to the humble” (4:6). Humbly seek His purifying grace, and He will begin to use your tongue for His good purposes.

Sermon Outline:

1. Our tongues wield a disproportionate influence upon our lives. (vv. 1-5)
2. Nothing matches the destructive power of words. (vv. 6-8)
3. We are to speak only to seek the good of others. (vv. 9-13)