A Faith that Works in Taming the Tongue

REFLECTION QUOTES

“Ultimately, words have power.”

~Toni Morrison (1931-2019) in “The Pieces I Am”

“Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.”

~Unknown

“Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs.”

~Pearl Strachan Hurd, 20th century writer and poet

“All I need is a sheet of paper and something to write with, and then I can turn the world upside down.”

~Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), German philosopher and cultural critic

“Words are seeds that do more than blow around. They land in our hearts and not the ground. Be careful what you plant and careful what you say. You might have to eat what you planted one day.”

~Unknown

“Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world.”

~Lawrence G. Lovasik (1913-1986), priest and author

“Speech has power. Words do not fade. What starts out as a sound, ends in a deed.”

~Abraham Joshua Herschel (1907-1972), famed rabbi and theologian

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”

~Proverbs 15:28 (ESV)

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue…”

~Proverbs 18:21 (ESV)

SERMON PASSAGE

James 3:1-18 (ESV)

1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. 3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at the ships also: though they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs. 5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things.

How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. 10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh and salt water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield fresh water.

13 Who is wise and understanding among you? By his good conduct let him show his works in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.