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The Power of Words: Taming the Tongue

This lesson explores the impact of words and the importance of controlling our speech. It includes teacher scenarios and offers possible actions for each situation. It also examines the teachings of James 3:1-12 and challenges readers to evaluate their use of words. The lesson concludes by emphasizing the need for Christians to tame their tongues and use their words to bless others.

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The Power of Words: Taming the Tongue

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  1. Tamingthe Tongue Lesson 12

  2. Introduction • The Power of Words • Lesson Context

  3. Teacher Scenarios • Given the facts of each scenario, what action should be taken (or should have been taken), if any? • Scenario 1 • My third-grade teacher in the public elementary school once called me “airheaded” when I didn’t have the right response to a question. • Possible actions?

  4. Teacher Scenarios • Scenario 2 • When a math teacher at our college couldn’t get a quadratic equation to compute, a student had to point out that he was trying to take the square root of a negative number! Such incompetence! • Possible actions?

  5. Teacher Scenarios • Scenario 3 • One professor at the local college really knows how to teach economics! The students hang on his every word. But from what I know of his life outside the college classroom, the man is a racist. • Possible actions?

  6. Teacher Scenarios • What if the scenarios changed? 1. Instead of a public school teacher, it was a Sunday school teacher. 2. Instead of a math course at college, it is a church class in basic doctrine taught by an elder. 3. The professor in economics is also a deacon at your church, and he excels at teaching Bible. • Would your recommendations change?

  7. Teacher Scenarios • Let’s see if James has some thoughts that can help us with solutions.

  8. Warning to TeachersJames 3:1, 2 • Future Consequences (v. 1) • Present Reality (v. 2)

  9. Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:1, 2. 1. You should aspire to be a teacher in order to receive God‘scommendation. • C. Teachers who are not careful with their words may receive greater condemnation.

  10. Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:1, 2. 2. If you can keep your mouth in check, you should be able to control yourwholebody. • A.

  11. What Do You Think? • How can our church help its non-teaching members evaluate whether they should become teachers? • Digging Deeper – What can be done to encourage current teachers to evaluate whether they have the spiritual gift of teaching (compare Romans 12:6, 7; 1 Corinthians 12:1-11; Ephesians 4:11, 12)?

  12. What Do You Think? • Although perfection isn’t fully attainable in this life, what is the single most important thing you can do to keep the standard of James 3:2 before you in the week ahead? • Digging Deeper – Which of the following passages challenges you most to do so: Matthew 5:48; 19:21; James 1:25; 1 John 4:18? Why?

  13. Power of the TongueJames 3:3-8 • Like Horses (v. 3) • Like Ships (vv. 4, 5a) • Like Fire (vv. 5b, 6) • Unlike Tamed Creatures (vv. 7, 8)

  14. Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:3-8. 3. Since we are able to control large horses with small bits and ships withsmall rudders, we should be able tocontrol our tongues. • C. Actually, our tongues, though small, are hard to control and able to spark great destruction.

  15. Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:3-8. 4. From all the parts of the body, thetonguehas the best potential fordoinggood. • C. It’s morelikely to cause a world of evil and defile the whole body.

  16. Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:3-8. 5. Just as we can tame animals, birds, serpents, and sea creatures, weshould be able to tame the tongue. • C. No human being can tame the tongue.

  17. Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:3-8. 6. It’s as if the tongue is full of deadlypoison. • A.

  18. What Do You Think? • What are some safeguards Christians can adopt to prevent boasting? • Digging Deeper – How do passages such as Psalms 44:8; 94:4; Romans 3:25-27; 2 Corinthians 10:7-18; 11:10-21; and 2 Timothy 3:1-5 influence your conclusions?

  19. What Do You Think? • What “emergency” tongue-control procedures would you propose for Christians when a conversation starts to shed more heat than light? • Digging Deeper – Under what circumstances, if any, should you merely walk away from such an occurrence rather than trying to help cool things down?

  20. What Do You Think? • What is the single most important thing you can do this week to tame your tongue better? • Digging Deeper – What problems have you seen in this regard concerning words “spoken” on social media? What Scripture passage can you keep near your keyboard to restrain your impulse?

  21. Image of GodJames 3:9-12 • Blessings and Curses (vv. 9, 10) • Water and Fruit (vv. 11, 12)

  22. Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:9-12. 7. It’s all right to use our tongues to curse other people as long as we use them to praise God. • C. It’s very wrong for praise to God and curses against human beings to come from the same mouth.

  23. Compare and Contrast • Do the following statements agree with (A) or contradict (C) James’s statements? • Read James 3:9-12. 8. It’s impossible for a bitter fountain to produce sweet water or for a fig tree to bear olives. • A.

  24. Conclusion • Consider Your Words • Prayer • Thought to Remember

  25. Tongue Troubles • James indicates that everyone has had tongue troubles. • From the following list, select the situation in which you’re most likely to have trouble controlling your tongue.

  26. Tongue Troubles • Pair off to discuss the following. • Reacting to criticism of your work. • Encountering aggressive drivers on the road. • Hearing juicy gossip. • Receiving “helpful” advice from your peers. • Being criticized by a family member. • Seeing your team lose because of a bad call.

  27. Thought to Remember The tonguemust be controlled.

  28. Two Kinds of Wisdom Next Week’s Lesson

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