Reality Check: Bite your Tongue
James 3:1-12
Connect:
Share how you have seen God in the Highs and Lows of your week.
Discuss how resolutions made last week in “growing more like Jesus” worked themselves out – what God did in and through you (Phil. 2:13) Celebrate and thank God for those together and pray with those who experienced some “Lows” this week, for God’s encouragement for them.
Prayer:
Pray that God would lead your discussion time and bring fresh insight, conviction, and hope through your time together.
Review:
We are launching into a new series on the book of James and how we can be challenged to examine the authenticity of our faith! We have looked at navigating trials and temptations, and turning faith into action( e.g. not playing favorites). This week we are looking at “taming the tongue”.
The Grand Tour of the message: Thinking back on what you heard this Sunday…
o What did you learn about God?
o What did you learn about people?
o What did you learn about yourself?
o What do you want to commit to putting into practice?
Reflect:
Read James 3:1
o Discuss some ways that we "teach" or at least influence people around us in our everyday lives.
o What does God's Word tell us about the source of our words? (Luke 6:45, Romans 7:21-25, Galatians 5:15-17)
Read Read James 3:2-5
o How does pride cause us to "stumble" in our words? (Hebrews 12:15, Proverbs 11:2, Daniel 4:37, 1Peter 5:5-6)
Read James 3:5-12
o What tends to spread the "fire"? (Proverbs 16:28, and 18:8, and 26:20-22) … and what tends to put out the "fire"? (Matthew 5:23-24 and 18:15-16,, Romans 12:18)
o What does God command about forgiveness toward each other, as key to dousing the "fire"? (Matthew 6:12-15, Colossians 3:12-13, Matthew 18:21-35)
o Does every offence have to be confronted? (Proverbs 19:11 and 17:9, Ecclesiastes 7:21-22)
o How should we be using our words? (Philippians 2:14-15, Ephesians 4:29, Romans 15:1-2, 2 Corinthians 13:9-10)
Respond:
Scott ended the message this weekend by saying, “Only God can tame your tongue”! That’s a humbling thought! Spend some time in prayer together offering your thoughts and words this week to God for His purposes and His glory.
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