Power of the Tongue: Teacher Notes

Power of the Tongue:

Main Scripture:

James 3 

Controlling the Tongue

2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.

3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.

7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

True Wisdom Comes from God

13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 15 For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. 16 For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind.

17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. 18 And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness

NOTES:

Your tongue is controllable; the way you speak and the words you use are all choices you make. Whether to be negative or positive, nice or rude, gossiping or defending. You choose how you respond, and though it can be hard, we can assure ourselves that we don't have to respond like the world.

5 ways to speak:

1. Self-Talk

2. Talking about others

3. Lying/Truth telling

4. Gossip

5. Mind talk

Controlling your mouth and the way you speak can be very hard and almost seem impossible but when your eyes are focused on Jesus and your mind is set on His word, you can do all things through Christ (Philippians 4:13). 

Now we aren't perfect. Nobody is perfect but God, so don't expect yourself to always speak correctly or say the right thing, but work at recognizing those moments so that you always strive to be better and create healthy habits.

 Your mouth is small but it holds so much power. When you recognize this, it will change your mindset. 

Proverbs 18:21 

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love to talk will reap the consequences.

“If we don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say it at all.”

1. Self-talk 

How do you talk about yourself to others?

How do you talk to yourself when you are alone?

What do you say about yourself?

What does God say about you?

James1 5. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.

But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire.

How you speak about you reflects you.

• Are you humble or boastful?

• Are you optimistic or pessimistic?

• Are you fearful or fearless?

• Are you loving or hating?

  
  

  2. Talking about others: 

How you speak on others has a direct impact on you and them. Your words are powerful and whether you speak life or death, they are not just words that go away; they stick.

James 1: for when you know your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.

will you choose to grow or will you shrink back?

Will you continue to handle your speech in a negative way, or are you wanting to change and be a light in the world that is already full of so much darkness? 

Don’t be the person who makes everyone feel bad about their life; don’t be the villain in others’ stories. 

• How do you feel after someone encourages you?

• How do you feel after someone is negative and rude to you?

• How do we react to positive and negative talk?

3. Lying and truth-telling:

   
   

   How credible are you? 

Are you speaking truths or are you speaking lies?

Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord. Proverbs 12:22

Abomination: a thing that causes disgust or hatred

James 1:13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. 

4. Gossip:

“Before you point out the ugly in others, look at the ugly in you.”

Where does gossip stem from?

Jealousy and selfish ambition

We all at some point will have a thought that is negative but will you allow that thought to become speech and therefore make your words powerful?

This generation is so okay with telling people what they do wrong instead of encouraging them, as though the person who messed up doesn’t already know. 

Nobody loves being talked about negatively.

Sometimes when we even choose to be the positive in a world full of negative, we hear others more that are negative because the enemy wants nothing more than to turn you against what you believe. Will you choose to stand up and be set apart? Will you be the light in others stories or will you choose to be just like everyone else?

• Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles; moral uprightness:

• What kind of integrity do you want to set your future self up for?

5. Mind talk:

How do we win the war of our mind? All our speech stems from our thoughts and our thoughts come from our mind. How can you set your mind on that which is peaceful, loving, and kind?

James 1:17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace-loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere.

Set your mind on Jesus; we are not guaranteed freedom from thoughts but we have a savior who wants to take those thoughts from you and speak life into you. 

Get in His word and remind yourself of the truth, and don’t listen to the lies of the enemy.