Tame Your Tongue

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The teaching this week was around the topic of the power of the tongue. Our words have the ability to encourage someone or to tear them down. Let’s make this personal for just a minute and reflect on our own experiences in this area.

• Do you remember a specific time when someone said something that hurt you?
• Do you remember a specific time when someone said something that lifted you up and made you feel loved and noticed?

Keep Reading – Read the scripture and ask a question to get the group thinking.

James directly addressed issues surrounding the tongue and its ability to cause harm. Let’s look at what he said together.

James 3:2-6

• Three word pictures are painted here for us. A small bridle that can control a large horse, a small rudder that can control a large ship, and a small spark that can create a large inferno. Our tongue—though it is small—has a lot of power in our lives. Have you ever given any thought to how the way you speak sets the tone in your home, school, or place of employment?
• Think specifically of the past seven days of your life. When you do a mental inventory of your dialogue, do you see more positive communication? Or more negative communication?

James 3:7-12

• James masterfully depicts another word picture when he talks about taming animals. He goes on to say that no human can tame the tongue. If this is beyond the ability of humanity, where do we need to turn for help in taming the tongue?
• Some important questions are asked here. Can a spring produce both salt and fresh water? Can a fig tree bear olives? This implies that what we are—at our core—will always be revealed in our language. What does your language say about who you really are?

Keep Talking – Choose questions to create openness.

Since we know the task of controlling our tongue is beyond us, what can we do to put our hearts into a posture where the Holy Spirit can help us?

1. Admit you need help.

• We all have a choice to make. Are we going to keep holding the reigns in our hands or are we going to surrender control?

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.
Psalm 19:14

2. Acknowledge the Holy Spirit’s power.

• Have you ever truly pondered the power and authority of the Holy Spirit? Do you think we can take God at His word?

If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead indwells you, he who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Romans 8:11

3. Align yourself with the Holy Spirit.

• Throughout Scripture we see that staying aligned with the Spirit does not happen by accident. What are some things you can do to be intentional and deliberate about putting yourself in a place to hear God and follow His voice?

If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.
Galatians 5:25

Keep Moving/Going – Commit to a step and live it out this week.

• Think back to the very first questions asked in Keep Talking this week. Think of how you have been hurt, and healed, by words. Make a conscious decision to imitate the person who spoke life over you. Give other people that very same feeling of love and care that you experienced.
• Plan your words every day.
• Invite the Holy Spirit into your conversations.

Keep Praying

• Pray daily for God to be with you in all of your interactions.
• Prayer requests from everyone at group
• Pray

Keep Praising

“Raise A Hallelujah” – Bethel Music

“Champion” – Bethel Music

“No Longer Slaves” – Bethel Music

Or check out our "Faith Over Fear" playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.

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