Talk is cheap - or is it? James 3:1-12

Message by Glen Miller
May 6, 2007

1. The tongue - small but powerful! 3:1-4
   • Power to drive and direct
2. The tongue - powerful but dangerous! 3:5-8
   • Power to destroy and defile
3. The tongue - potent but unpredictable! 3:9-12
   • Power to bless and curse!
4. An evaluation!
   (Put a check by the 3 you struggle the most with)
   • Complaining
   • Bragging
   • Grumbling
   • Lying
   • Flattering
   • Gossiping
   • Slandering
   • Criticizing
   • Talking crudely
   • Talking flippantly
   • Talking condescendingly
   • Talking too much
   • Talking abrasively
5. A game plan for tongue control!
   • Admission - of the fact that you need help!
     Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips. Ps. 141:3
   • Belief - the root problem is the heart!
     For out of the overflow of his heart the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45
   • Commitment - to purity in your speech!
     Let no unwholesome word proceed out of your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear. Eph. 4:29
     • Is it true?
     • Is it clean?
     • Does it encourage?
     • Does it honor God?
   • Discipline - to control your input!
     Watch over your heart with all diligence, for from it flow the springs of life. Proverbs 4:23
   • Submission - to the Holy Spirit!
     Do not get drunk with wine, for that is dissipation but be filled with the Spirit. Eph. 5:18

• Praise the Lord
• Share Christ
• Lift up the burdened
• Strengthen the fearful
• Encourage the faint hearted