Tame That Tongue!Tame That Tongue!

Speaker: Doug Humphrey Senior PastorSpeaker: Doug Humphrey Senior Pastor

1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.

5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.

The Bible: Handle With Care The Bible: Handle With Care

• Bible teachers are dispensers of truth.Bible teachers are dispensers of truth.• A teacher’s teaching affects many A teacher’s teaching affects many

lives.lives. • Teachers are expected to embody the Teachers are expected to embody the

truth they teach.truth they teach.

Ezra 7:10

10 For Ezra had set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.

2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well.

Tame That TongueTame That Tongue

I.I. The tongue is The tongue is small small but but influential.influential. (3:3-5)(3:3-5)

II.II. The tongue is The tongue is necessarynecessary but but evil.evil. (3:5b-8)(3:5b-8)

III.III. The tongue is The tongue is beneficialbeneficial but but inconsistentinconsistent. (3:9-12). (3:9-12)

3 Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires.

5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things…

Tame That TongueTame That Tongue

I.I. The tongue is The tongue is small small but but influential.influential. (3:3-5)(3:3-5)

II.II. The tongue is The tongue is necessarynecessary but but evil.evil. (3:5b-8)(3:5b-8)

III.III. The tongue is The tongue is beneficialbeneficial but but inconsistentinconsistent. (3:9-12). (3:9-12)

5b See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire!6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.

7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race.8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

Psalm 141:3

Set a guard, O Lord over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Do not incline my heart to any evil thing, to practice deeds of wickedness with men of iniquity...

Ephesians 4:29

29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Before You Speak…

1. Is it wholesome?

2. Does it edify?

3. Is the timing appropriate?

8b It is a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

Before You Pass Along Information

1. Does this person need to know this information in order to faithfully carry out their responsibilities? If not, keep quiet.

2. Do I know for a fact that this information is true? Have you checked the source? If not, keep quiet.

Tame That Tongue

I. The tongue is small but influential. (3:3-5)

II. The tongue is necessary but evil. (3:6-8)

III. The tongue is beneficial but inconsistent. (3:9-12)

9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God;10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.

11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?

12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh.

Mark 7

20 He went on: “It’s what comes out of a person that pollutes:21 obscenities, lusts, thefts, murders, adulteries,22 greed, depravity, deceptive dealings, carousing, mean looks, slander, arrogance, foolishness—

Mark 7

23 all these are vomit from the heart. There is the source of your pollution.”

Application/Challenge

1. Ask God to help you control your tongue. (Psalm 141:3)

2. Commit yourself to use your tongue to edify, not to destroy. (Eph. 4:29)

3. Complete the Proverbs study on the tongue.