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LIFE Group Lessons
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LIFE GROUP DISCUSSION GUIDE
Wednesday Night, October 10, 2007
“Oh, the Power of our Words”
James 3:1-12
5 Minutes - Welcome / Prayer
5 Minutes - OPEN
If we are honest with ourselves, most of us would have to say that some of our biggest regrets have to do with hurtful words we have said. We wish we could recall those words, but we can’t. The damage is done.
Conversely, some of our greatest joys can come from encouraging words we have heard others speak to us.
Isn’t it ironic that words have the potential for great harm or for great good? In what camp do you find yourself most often?
15 Minutes - DIG
A horse has a wild nature. A horse wants to go his own way, but amazing enough, a bit in a horse’s mouth can control this huge animal.
A small rudder is the instrument that steers a boat.
You know a small spark can start a huge forest fire.
Having given these three examples, James then says, “Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts . . . it is a world of evil among the parts of the body” (v. 5, 6).
What’s the point?
Some people are verbal arsonists. They strike a match - a little bit of slander; gossip; a verbal jab; a lie; or an insult – and oh the fire it starts! James calls all this “a restless evil, full of deadly poison” (v. 8).
Why are these attacks so evil and poisonous?
As if James hasn’t already called us out, he then speaks to the hypocrisy of one minute finding us praising God and then not a minute from the church house we are enraged by someone’s actions on the interstate and we are cursing them.
“Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be” (v. 10).
Why does James make light of the sinfulness of cursing someone with whom you are annoyed when we are in effect asking God to do something that He will not do?
“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? Can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water” (vv. 11-12).
Here is the point. Our tongue reveals our true person. It reveals our bitterness, volatility, selfishness, judgmental attitude, hateful spirit, evil thoughts, self-righteousness, hardness of heart, hypocrisy, etc. It reveals our spirituality or lack thereof (Mt. 12:33-37; 15:16-20; Lk. 6:43-45)!
It is intriguing why James starts off this section about taming the tongue with the warning that not many of us should presume to be teachers. Why do you think he starts in this way?
He intensifies this statement with this reasoning – “because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly” (v. 1).
What’s the point?
Once again James says, “We all stumble in many ways” (v. 2).
Some of us try to substitute words for works. Some talk all the time about spiritual matters, but when it comes to volunteering to help when called upon, there are some who never agree.
Listen to Paul’s words on this subject:
“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Colossians 4:6
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.”
Ephesians 4:29-32
“But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practice and have put on the new self which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”
Colossians 3:8-10
15 Minutes - REFLECT
Why is there such a close connection between the heart of a man and what comes out of his mouth (Ps. 34:12-14; 37:30; Prov. 10:20; 20:10)? Why is what we say the “real revealer” of our true spiritual maturity?
Does it trouble you at all that the kinds of things that have come out of your mouth this week reveal the work that still needs to be done in your life to get rid of the poison and corruption deep in your soul?
5 Minutes - CLOSING PRAYER
From this discussion, what are those things you feel compelled to pray about tonight?
Pray about these matters one by one and bring them before your Heavenly Father.
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