Walk This Way: Use Your Words Well (James 3:1-12) Billy Russell 10/28/18

Walk This Way

“Use Your Words Well”

(James 3:1-12)

 James teaches us faith is belief in action. No where is that truth more urgently necessary than in our speech. How well we use our words will greatly impact our relationships with one another. We can learn to guard our hearts with godly wisdom from James, so we can grow healthy relationships by using our words well.

 Help for Using Words Well

 

• Heed a needed warning (3:1)- Teachers beware!
• Acknowledge a universal problem (3:2)-“We all stumble in many ways...”
• Count the Cost (3:3-6)- of word damage: “Consider what a great forest is     set on fire by a small spark.” (v.5)
• Guard your heart (3:7-13)- it’s the source of the problem. The condition of your heart impacts managing strong emotions and use of words.
  • Be real: Own it- take responsibility (vv. 8, 10): “I did it. I said that. My words caused this problem, this upset, this broken relationship”
  • Be wise: Seek forgiveness, make amends, show you get it, get help...
  • Be alert: Vow: Do no harm: “keep a tight rein on your tongue” (1:26)
    • Do good: say “what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Eph.4:29)
  • Be preventative: Read Proverbs daily (Peterson’s, The Message)
    • Start by listening: early, often, and better (1:19)
    • Say it to the Father first. Get his permission.
    • See it in a BHFP Headline/ESPN banner for all to see!
    • Share it with a fellow struggler along The Way.