How's your tongue? Our words have the ability to be life-giving or the ability to bring destruction. In this message on James 3, Vlad shows us that:

"In Christ, my speech can give life. Without Christ, my speech will destroy life."

James 3:1-12

  1. My speech has the ability to determine a direction (vv.1-4)
  2. My speech has the ability to deliver destruction. (vv.5-10)
  3. My speech has the ability to diagnose my heart (vv.11-12)

Biblical Encouragements: • Through His power, God alone can redeem my speech • Through His Word, God speaks life to me • Through His Spirit, the church speaks life to the world

God has a design for how we should use our words. We are prone to respond quickly and rashly. Here are a few biblical cautions against that: • Prov 18:6-7 - A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. • Prov 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. • Prov 12:18 - There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.

Words have power! • Gen 1:1 - And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light • Gen 1:6 - And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” • Gen 1:9 - And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. • Gen 12:1-2 - Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. • Exodus 3:14 - God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’