James 3

  Faith at work is powerful!  Power to control the powerful tongue, 3:1-12  Power to chose and use wisdom from above, 3:13-18 James 3 2

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  To be a responsible teacher, 3:1  God chose teaching to spread truth and save lost, 1 Cor 1:21  Parents teach children, Eph 6:4  Older women teach younger, Titus 2:3-4  Elders, evangelists and teachers, Eph 4:11-12 Faith Tames the Tongue 4

  Teachers must have the faith to control their words, Prov 10:19; 17:27 (Acts 6:8-10)  To speak the word of God, 1 Pet 4:11  To speak the truth in love, Eph 4:15  To speak truth and reason, Acts 26:25  To speak gracious words, Col 4:6  Speech that cannot be condemned, Titus 2:6-8 Faith Tames the Tongue 5 Stricter Judgment (2:12)

  Maturity, 3:2; Prov 21:23  Understanding, 3:3-6  Power, 3:3-4 (Prov 13:3)  Potential, 3:5-6 (Prov 12:17-22)  Consistency, Jas 3:7-12  Tame it to bless God and man, 3:7-9; Matt 5: 43-44; Psa 39:1; 34:13  It is faithless to bless and curse, 3:10-12; Matt 12:33-37 Tongue Control: Constant Work James 3:2-12 6

  Tongue control is heart control, Matt 12:34  Faith at work speaks the truth, Eph 4:25  Faith at work refuses profanity and corrupt speech, Eph 4:29  Faith at work is committed to being a blessing whenever it speaks, Eph 4:29; Col 4:6 Tongue Control: Constant Work James 3:2-12 7

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  Words and conduct will show, 3:13 Prov 12:15; 9:10 (Meekness of wisdom, 3:13)  Earthly wisdom is faithless, 3:13-16  Boisterous and prideful, 3:13  Bitter, envious, selfishly ambitious, 3:14  Earthly, fleshly and devilish, 3:15  Outcome is confusion and evil, 3:16 Who is Wise and Understanding? 9

  Words and conduct will show, 3:13 Prov 12:15; 9:10 (Meekness of wisdom, 3:13)  Wisdom from above is full of faith, 3: Understanding (hearing) heart, 1 Kgs 3:9-12  Pure: Free of contamination, 1:5; Prv 2:10-15  Peaceable: Removes strife, 3:16; Rom 12:18; Heb 12:14  Gentle: Fair, moderate, Titus 3:1-2 Who is Wise and Understanding? 10

  Words and conduct will show, 3:13 Prov 12:15; 9:10 (Meekness of wisdom, 3:13)  Wisdom from above is full of faith, 3:17-18  Full of mercy and good fruits: Goodwill bears good fruit, cf. 2:13  Without partiality: Equitable, Jas 2:1  Without hypocrisy: Deceit, 1 Pet 2:1 Who is Wise and Understanding? 11

  The wise (and the foolish) are known by their fruit, Jas 3:18  Fruit of righteousness…Peace  Note: Peace is “made”, not merely wished! Matt 5:9 Who is Wise and Understanding? 12

  Faithful person knows the great power of the tongue to build up, strengthen, make peace and save  Faithless person uses the tongue selfishly to tear down and cause great destruction Use Your Tongue Wisely 13