Bible Readings:
Romans 3:9 – 31
James 3:1 – 12
Sermon Outline:
James 3:6 (NKJV)
6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.
I The power of the tongue
Matthew 12:34–37 (NKJV)
34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
35 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things.
36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.
37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
II The taming of the tongue
Matthew 15:11 (NKJV)
11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”
Matthew 15:18 (NKJV)
18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
Matthew 15:19 (NKJV)
19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.
III The abuse of the tongue
The vice of the tongue spreads and prevails over every part of life. It is as active and potent for evil in old age as ever it was in the days of our youth.
John Calvin
There is nothing more slippery or loose than the tongue.
John Calvin
Evil words show a wicked heart, and idle words a vain mind.
Thomas Manton
Most of a man’s sins are in his words.
Thomas Manton