X Close Menu

HOPE Covenant Sermons

Surviving The Tongue

March 8, 2015 Speaker: Series: Survivor: 2015

Topic: General Verse: James 3:1–3:12

SURVIVOR: 2015
“Surviving The Tongue"

Pastor Duane Cross | 03.08.15

 

"Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 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. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong 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. 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. People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.” - James 3:1-12 (NLT)

 

I. MARVEL AT THE POWER OF THE TONGUE TO SET THE COURSE OF A LIFE.

“Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirits.” - Proverbs 15:4 (NLT)

“Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.” - Proverbs 26:22 (NLT)

“Fire goes out without wood and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.” - Proverbs 26:20 (NLT)


II. MARVEL AT THE POWER OF THE TONGUE TO REVEAL THE HEART.


III. MARVEL AT THE POWER OF THE TONGUE TO BLESS.

But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light. “Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people. Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.” - 1 Peter 2:9-10 (NLT)

More in Survivor: 2015

March 22, 2015

Surviving Submission

March 15, 2015

Surviving Selfishness

March 1, 2015

Surviving Prejudice