The document provides an outline and notes for a sermon on speaking blessings to others based on James 3:1-12. It discusses how the tongue has power to direct like a bit or rudder, destroy like fire or a dangerous animal, and delight like a flowing fountain or fruitful tree. It encourages asking whether what you say is necessary, emancipates, energizes, and dignifies others based on their needs. Christians are called to bless those who curse them and speak words that affirm others.

1. James 3:1-12
With Control
Speaking Blessings To Others
November 11, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

2. What’s the number one thing?
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3. The Glory of God!
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4. 1 Corinthians 10:31 NIV
31 So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it
all for the glory of God.
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5. November Memory Verses
Revelation 22:12-13 NIV
12 “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and
I will give to each person according to what they have
done. 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and
the Last, the Beginning and the End.”

6. Thank You For Your Service!

7. References
•Kendall, R.T., Controlling The Tongue (Lake Mary, FL:
Charisma House, 2007).
•Wiersbe, Warren, James: Growing Up In Christ.
•ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2008).
•Maier, Paul L., Eusebius, The Church History (Grand
Rapids: Kregel Pubications,1999).

8. Outline of Lesson Today
1. Introduction to James.
2. Read and study James 3:1-12.
3. How to “Speak Blessings” into the lives of others.
4. A test to know what to say.

9. Introduction to the Epistle of James
• Written by James – the brother of Jesus.
• James did not believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry.
• John 7:5 ESV
5 For not even his brothers believed in him.
• After the crucifixion, Jesus’ family joined the apostles in
praying in the Upper Room.
• Acts 1:14 ESV
14 All these with one accord were devoting themselves to
prayer, together with the women and Mary the mother of
Jesus, and his brothers.

10. Introduction to the Epistle of James
•Jesus appeared to James after the resurrection.
•1 Corinthians 15:7 ESV
7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the
apostles,
•James became the leader of the Christian church in
Jerusalem.
•When Paul appealed to Caesar and was sent to Rome,
James became the target for persecution and death.

11. James’ Martyrdom in 62 AD
•The Pharisees demanded that James deny that Jesus
was the Savior on the parapet (roof) of the Temple.
•James was asked, “What does the door of Jesus
mean?”
•When he did not deny Jesus as Savior, they push him
off the edge and begin stoning him.
•A laundryman used his club to hit him in the head.
•James prayed aloud for them as he was dying.

12. Spread of Christianity in 1st Century

13. The Purpose of James Writing the Epistle
•Christians had scattered from Israel because of
persecution by the Jews & Roman government.
•Christians everywhere lived in a hostile environment
and were opposed by Gentiles and Jews.
•James wrote to help Christians living in difficult
circumstances to display lives of spiritual maturity.
•James gives us 5 marks of a spiritually mature
Christian in his letter.

14. James: The 5 Marks of the Mature Christian.
1. He is patient in testing – James 1.
2. He practices the truth – James 2.
3. He has power over his tongue – James 3.
4. He is a peacemaker, not a troublemaker – James 4.
5. He is prayerful in troubles – James 5.

15. James begins addressing Christians’ speech in
Chapter 1.
•James 1:19-20 ESV
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be
quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the
anger of man does not produce the righteousness of
God.
•James 1:26 ESV
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle
his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's
religion is worthless.

16. James 3:1 ESV (A Warning to Teachers)
1 Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for
you know that we who teach will be judged with greater
strictness.
• There is a scale of accountability for the words spoken by
those teaching and preaching the Scriptures.
• Mathew. 18:6 ESV
6 but whoever causes one of these little ones who believe
in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a great
millstone fastened around his neck and to be drowned in
the depth of the sea.

17. James 3:2 ESV (The Measure of Spiritual
Maturity)
2 For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does
not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able
also to bridle his whole body.
•Perfect = becoming spiritually mature with a
controlled tongue.
•Controlling our speech is the measure of our level of
spiritual maturity.
•Our speech reflects the depth of our spirituality.

18. Paul says it another way in Galatians 5:22-23.
•Galatians 5:22-23 ESV
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace,
patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,
23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is
no law.
•A Christian under the influence of the Holy Spirit will
exhibit self-control, which is manifested in your
speech.

19. Proverbs is full of advice about self control and
our words.
• Proverbs 25:28 ESV
28 A man without self-control
is like a city broken into and left without walls.
• Proverbs 16:32 ESV
32 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty,
and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
• Proverbs 18:21 ESV
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits.

20. Proverbs is full of advise about our self control
and our words.
•Proverbs 12:16 ESV
16 The vexation of a fool is known at once,
but the prudent ignores an insult.
•Proverbs 29:11 ESV
11 A fool gives full vent to his spirit,
but a wise man quietly holds it back.
•Proverbs 25:11 ESV
11 A word fitly spoken
is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

21. A Book of Scriptures and Stories (1962)

23. James Gives Us Classifications and Pictures of
the Power of the Tongue.
1. Power to Direct: The Bit and Rudder (James 3:3-4).
2. Power to Destroy: The Fire and Animal (James 3:5-
8).
3. Power to Delight: The Fountain and Tree (James
3:9-12).

24. James 3:3-4 ESV (Power to Direct: Bit and
Rudder)
3 If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they
obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. 4 Look at
the ships also: though they are so large and are driven
by strong winds, they are guided by a very small rudder
wherever the will of the pilot directs.

25. Bit in the Mouth to Guide Horse

26. Ship’s Rudder

27. James 3:5-6 ESV (Power to Destroy: Fire)
5 So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of
great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a
small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of
unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our
members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the
entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.

29. The Fire of the Tongue
•Affects the whole body – your total witness for Christ
can be destroyed by your words (staining the whole
body).
•A life can be ruined by your words (setting on fire the
entire course of life).
•Satan uses your tongue for evil (set on fire by hell).

30. James 3:7-8 ESV (Power to Destroy: Dangerous
Animal)
7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea
creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by
mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It
is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
•Satan will continually tempt us to lose control over
our tongues as long as we have earthly bodies
(restless evil).
•Deadly poison – the power to destroy.

31. The Final Test For Police Dog School!

32. James 3:9-11 ESV (Power to Delight: A Flowing
Fountain)
9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we
curse people who are made in the likeness of God.
10 From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My
brothers, these things ought not to be so. 11 Does a
spring pour forth from the same opening both fresh
and salt water?

33. Our Tongues: A Flowing Fountain of Praises
• Psalm 34:1 ESV
1 I will bless the Lord at all times;
his praise shall continually be in my mouth.
• Psalm 86:12 ESV
12 I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole
heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
• Ephesians 5:19 ESV
19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with
your heart,

34. The Most Important Words You Will Speak.
•“Jesus is Lord”
•Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the
dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one
believes and is justified, and with the mouth one
confesses and is saved.

35. James 3:12 ESV (Power to Delight: A Tree
Bearing Good Fruit)
12 Can a fig tree, my brothers, bear olives, or a
grapevine produce figs? Neither can a salt pond yield
fresh water.
•Trees are considered vitally important to life – food,
shade, shelter, oxygen.
•Words of love and encouragement are vital to sustain
us through life.

36. Our Words Should Not Be A Dichotomy.
•Matthew 15:18-19 ESV
18 But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from
the heart, and this defiles a person. 19 For out of the
heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual
immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
•Jesus said the real problem is not the tongue, but the
heart.
•Our words should not praise God in one breath and
curse our fellow man in the other.

37. Warren Wiersbe: “Twelve Words That Can
Transform Your Life.”
•“Please”
•“Thank you”
•“I’m sorry”
•“I love you”
•“I’m praying for you”

38. How to “Speaking Blessings” to Others by R. T.
Kendall
•Colossians 4:6 ESV
6 Let your conversation be always full of grace,
seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to
answer everyone.
•1 Peter 3:9 ESV
9 Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but
on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that
you may obtain a blessing.

39. Two Kinds of People in the World
1. “The Energizers” – Their words have a way of
affirming, dignifying and energizing you.
‐ You walk away feeling special and important.
2. “The Drainers” – Their words leave you feeling
negative, criticized, drained and inadequate.
‐ You find yourself avoiding them.

40. How do you decide what to say? (Positive vs.
Negative Words)
•Ephesians 4:29 ESV
29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but
only such as is good for building up, as fits the
occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.
•The goal of your words should be to meet another
person’s needs from a Christian perspective.

41. R. T. Kendall – 4 Questions to Ask Yourself
Before Speaking.
•Goal: Speak to Meet Another’s NEED
•N – Is it necessary?
•E – Does it emancipate?
•E – Does it energize?
•D – Does it dignify?

42. N – Is it Necessary?
•Do I really need to say this?
•Am I saying this for their benefit or mine?
•You seldom regret what you did not say.
•You may not have all of the true facts.
•You cannot take the words back.
•If you are not sure, don’t say it.

43. E – Does it Emancipate and set them free?
• Ephesians 4:32 ESV
32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, as God in Christ forgave you.
• Ephesians 4:15 ESV
15 Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in
every way into him who is the head, into Christ,
• If your words do not set them free, it is probably not
necessary to say it.
• Don’t try to make someone feel guilty.
• Do NOT misuse Ephesians 4:15 about “speaking the truth
in love” – it is about sharing the Gospel.

44. E – Does it Energize?
•Your goal is to energize someone to live for Christ.
•Encouragement does energize.
•People are not energized by criticism, intimidation,
jealousy.
•We are energized by hope, understanding, empathy,
respect and love.

45. D – Does it Dignify?
•Dale Carnegie – “The greatest urge in the world is the
desire to feel important.”
•Jesus taught in a way that people felt affirmed,
important and dignified.
•You dignify people by giving them your time, looking
into their eyes, smiling at them, paying a compliment,
listening.

46. How should Christians living in a hostile world
respond?
• 2 Timothy 3:12 ESV
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus
will be persecuted,
• Luke 6:27-28 ESV
27 “But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good
to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray
for those who abuse you.”
• Luke 6:31 ESV
31 “And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to
them.”

47. Closing Scripture and Prayer
•Psalm 19:14 ESV
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of
my heart
be acceptable in your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

48. Next Sunday
James 4:6-17
With Submission
November 18, 2018
First Baptist Church
Jackson, Mississippi
USA

49. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
John 3:16 ESV
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that
whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal
life.”
John 14:6 ESV
6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way and the truth and the life.
No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

50. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 3:23 ESV
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 6:23a ESV
23a For the wages of sin is death,
• Death in this life (the first death) is 100%.
• Even Jesus, the only one who doesn’t deserve death, died in this life
to pay the penalty for our sin.
• The death referred to in Romans 6:23a is the “second death”
explained in Revelation 21:8.

51. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Revelation 21:8 ESV
8 “But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for
murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all
liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and
sulfur, which is the second death.”
Romans 5:8 ESV
8 but God shows his love for us in that while we were still
sinners, Christ died for us.

52. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 6:23b ESV
23b but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Revelation 21:7 ESV
7 “The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be
his God and he will be my son.”
• Romans 10:9-10 explains to us how to be conquerors.

53. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Romans 10:9-10 ESV
9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord
and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead,
you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is
justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved.
Romans 10:13 ESV
13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved.”

54. The Plan of Hope & Salvation:
Do you have questions?
Would you like to know more?
Please, contact First Baptist Church Jackson at 601-949-1900
or http://firstbaptistjackson.org/contact/