James 3:1-18

James 3:1 – Teachers will be subject to a stricter judgment. Servants of God must be able to teach, though. II Timothy 2:24; Romans 2:17-24. We can’t be the reason that God is dishonored. People are looking at us!

• Matthew 5:19

• Luke 12:48 – We are blessed to have the complete word of God, but this gives us greater responsibility.

• Matthew 25:14-30 – Parable of the talents.

James 3:4 – Compare I Peter 3:10. If we are doing God’s will, our life will be better! Controlling our speech is part of that.

James 3:5-6 – Proverbs 16:27; Matthew 15:11, 17-20

James 3:7-8 – We can tame all kinds of animals, but not the tongue! The tongue is a restless evil.

• The tongue is small but damaging. A few examples:

  • Chatter – Proverbs 10:8; 12:8; 29:20

  • Lying – Proverbs 12:19, 22

  • Arrogant boasting – Proverbs 18:22

  • Gossip – Proverbs 10:18

James 3:9-12 – The tongue is small but revealing.

• Mark 12:33-35 – We should be characterized by our good fruit!

• Luke 6:43-45

• Matthew 15:18-19 – What comes out of our heart is what defiles us.

• James 2:3 – Our tongue can reveal our partiality!

• Ephesians 4:29; 5:4

• Don’t forget that technology leaves a visible record of our words!

James 3:13-18 – The solution to the problem of the tongue

• James 3:13 – Speak in the gentleness of wisdom.

• I Peter 4:11

• Ephesians 4:15, 25, 31-32