Week 6: James 3:1-12

To open, we sang this worship chorus. I love these words.

I will bless you, Lord.

I will bless you, Lord. 

With all of my praise,

I'll worship you always.

I will bless you, Lord.

Let your life be seasoned with salt – a picture that people will thirst after. Let your SPEECH be like salt.

Don’t desire to be a teacher – James points out the strict judgment that follows those who teach. You have to SPEAK it and walk it. Concentrate on what you say.

No one is perfect – stick to the Word, it’s perfect.

Glenda read dictionary definition of the tongue: fleshly muscular organ…humans use for articulating speech.

-          Has power

-          Has the ability to bless and curse

-          Can’t be tamed

Things we say that bring a curse 

Here are some things the ladies shared: 

-gossip

-complaints

-lies

-comparisons

-criticisms

-blame

Things we say that bring a blessing

The ladies shared:

-praise

-encouragement

-apologies

-affirmation

-thanksgiving

-truth

-hope

An example for us is the horse's bit and bridle. A horse's bit and bridle can be changed depending on its attitude – one even with spikes if needed. God can use the same effect on us – He doesn’t want to, but will use it as necessary to guide/change etc. If you are interested in watching a POWERFUL, real life visual of ourselves via a green horse being broken, I invite you to check out these amazing videos by Riding High Ministries. It is a beautiful illustration and you will never look at yourself and what God does for us in the same way.

Unless you ask God to help you with your tongue, you’ll never be able to manage it.

Another example: One "beautiful" Saturday, our family was sailing on Lake Minnetonka in Minnesota. We were very new at this activity but ‘thought and acted’ like we knew what we were doing. All of a sudden, a storm came out of nowhere and our response clearly indicated we had nooooo clue what we were doing. The sail was not tied down and was flapping all over the place. We almost capsized. Our lives flashed before our eyes. We were a sight!

We need to operate in God’s wisdom, not our own. Saying the wrong thing can cause turmoil. Use God’s word as your base.

Psalm 5:9 – What you do not want your words to be

You want your words to be authentic, reliable, trustworthy and bring encouragement.

Proverbs 12:18 – We want to have/speak words of wisdom – it brings healing.

Pray for the Lord to show you how to say things in a loving way (example of difficult situation where a sharp answer will turn other person away).

Ecclesiastes 3:7 – There is a time to be silent.

Matthew 10:19 – The Spirit has the power to give you what to say in all situations.

Ephesians 5:19 – A heart that loves God and knows God made everyone. Take what He’s done in you to minister to others.



Here is your homework for Week 7 and it is a GREAT passage on wisdom. I'm looking forward to next week!

A special thanks to Catherine C. who took excellent notes in my (Hannah) absence so that you wouldn't miss a beat!