Sticks and stones
James 3:1-13
Intro: sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.
1: sound familiar
a) Do words hurt?
b) Absolutely, yes they do!!!
c) Words can build and uplift, bridge gaps and restore relationships
d) But they can also destroy and be harmful and cause a lot of pain.
Point: what we say matters, words can not only be hurtful but can define us in the eyes of a lost and dying world.
2: everyone struggles with their mouth
a) Sometimes it just escapes before we realize it
b) Hurtful words, slander, gossip
c) It just spills out and gets on everything and everyone around
d) It’s hard to control our tongues at times in our lives
Point: some of the largest vessels or animals are controlled by the smallest devices. The horse controlled by the bit or the ship controlled and directed by the helm. The person controlled and defined by the tongue and what they say with it.
Body: James 3:6
1: tongue is a fire
a) So small yet can cause so much trouble
b) James refers to fire an element we are all familiar with
c) Fire is dangerous
d) Fire is devastating
e) When left unattended and alone
Point: fire has the ability to destroy anything in its path, a wildfire starts small with just a spark or one ember but so quickly can become uncontrollable and unstable. No different with words!!!!
2: Matt 15:16-20
a) What comes out of the mouth comes from the heart
b) The heart is deceitful and wicked Jer 17:9
c) Prov 10:20 the tongue of the just is as choice silver the heart of the wicked is little worth
Point: the condition of our tongue is ruled and controlled by the condition of our hearts. You got to have the right heart condition.
Closing: v 17&18 James
a) Pure- true and certain
b) Peaceable- brings peace with it
c) Gentle- fair, suitable
d) Easy to be entreated- easily obeying
e) Full of mercy- kindness, goodwill towards others with the desire to help
f) Good fruits- Gal 5:22 fruit of the spirit
g) Without partiality- without uncertainty, treats all the same
h) Without hypocrisy- undisguised, sincere
Conclusion: fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
Matt 5:9 blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the children of God
Hebrews 12:14 follow peace with all men, and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord.
Matt 5:8 blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
It’s all about the condition of the heart!!!
Illustration: Tooth paste, give each kid a tube of toothpaste, tell them to squeeze all the toothpaste out. When finished ask them to put it back in the tube. Words are the same way once they come out you can’t put them back in!!!!
