Lesson 7 November 8-14 Taming the Tongue Sabbath Afternoon Read for This Week’s Study: James 3:1-12; Deuteronomy 6:6-7; Luke 9:51-56; Proverbs 16:27; Matthew 7:16-18 “1 My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. 2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3 Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4 Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. 7 For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 8 But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. 11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? 12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.” (James 3:1-12) “6 And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.” (Deuteronomy 6:6-7) “51 And it came to pass, when the time was come that he should be received up, he stedfastly set his face to go to Jerusalem, 52 And sent messengers before his face: and they went, and entered into a village of the Samaritans, to make ready for him. 53 And they did not receive him, because his face was as though he would go to Jerusalem. 54 And when his disciples James and John saw this, they said, Lord, wilt thou that we command fire to come down from heaven, and consume them, even as Elias did? 55 But he turned, and rebuked them, and said, Ye know not what manner of spirit ye are of. 56 For the Son of man is not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them. And they went to another village.” (Luke 9:51-56) “An ungodly man diggeth up evil: and in his lips there is as a burning fire.” (Proverbs 16:27) “16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? 17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.” (Matthew 7:16-18) Memory Text: For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned (Matthew 12:37, NKJV). Words hold tremendous power. A word fitly spoken (Proverbs 25:11)-praise, poetry, stories can shape lives in profound ways. What we say may linger for days or even years. Children, for example, absorb words like sponges. Thats why they soon speak fluently whatever language they grow up hearing. It’s also why the messages they hear about themselves may foreshadow their future success or failure. For better or worse, the communication style of parents is replicated and amplified in their children. The written word is powerful, too, and even more lasting. Most powerful of all is God’s Word. Consider: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path (Psalms 119:105); and Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee (Psalms 119:11). Jesus directed the attention of the disciples away from temporal blessings to something much more vital: The words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life (John 6:63). Words can soothe and reassure or poison and contaminate. How often have you said something you wished you could take back? This week, as we will see, James has some important words about, well, words. *Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, November 15.
Posted on: Sat, 08 Nov 2014 11:05:56 +0000