The Power of Words James: 3:1-10

The difference between St Paul and St James is as follows The difference between St Paul and St James is as follows. St James is endeavouring to prevent faith from boasting of its own humility and St Paul to prevent works from boasting of their own humility. St James is not concerned to deny justification by faith alone: rather he is urging the believer not to rest content on the laurels of faith, but to get on with the work of obedience. This is his way of leading him to genuine humility. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Nachfolge/The cost of discipleship

The Bible, Christian theology is abounding in ‘Words’: The power of words The Bible, Christian theology is abounding in ‘Words’: The Word God spoke into darkness in creating the world and all in it – Genesis 1 The Word that became flesh (Jesus) – John 1 The Word through which God reveals himself (Bible)

The Bible, Christian theology is abounding in ‘Words’: The power of words The Bible, Christian theology is abounding in ‘Words’: The Word God spoke into darkness in creating the world and all in it The Word that became flesh (Jesus) The Word through which God reveals himself (Bible) The letter of James addresses: The ability given to mankind to speak, write, communicate, express ourselves, be creative …

The Bible, Christian theology is abounding in ‘Words’: The power of words The Bible, Christian theology is abounding in ‘Words’: The Word God spoke into darkness in creating the world and all in it The Word that became flesh (Jesus) The Word through which God reveals himself (Bible) The letter of James addresses: The ability given to mankind to speak, write, communicate, express ourselves, be creative … practical, pastoral guidance for our daily lives

Pieter Breugel the elder (1563)

James 3:1-10 (New International Version) 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.

Isaiah 61, 1-4, 8-11 (New International Version) 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.

Isaiah 61, 1-4, 8-11 (New International Version) 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.

1. Warning about teaching 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. John 4: 1-3 4 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3 and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God.

2. The disproportional power of the tongue 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. 5a Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.

Titanic

Titanic

Titanic

Need for (anonymous) words of hope Suicide line calls in Flanders

2. The disproportional power of the tongue 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. 5a Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.

3. The devastating power of the tongue 5b 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.

3. The devastating power of the tongue 5b Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire a world (κόσμος) of evil among the parts of the body. it corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire it is itself set on fire by hell (γεέννα)

4. The humanly uncontrollable power of the tongue 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.

5. The hypocritical power of the tongue 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.

Colossians 3: encouragement and exhortation 5 Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature (…) 7 You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. 8 But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. 9 Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices 10 and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. (…)

Colossians 3: encouragement and exhortation 12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. 13 Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. 14 And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. 15 Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.

Colossians 3: encouragement and exhortation 16 Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.