James - Chapter 3

When good tongues go bad

James – Chapter 3

Review

1. What did we discuss in the Intro?  What do we know about James?
1. Likely the half-brother of Jesus
2. The book is frequently considered in conflict with Paul’s teaching and emphasis on faith (rather than works)
3. Written to Jewish Christians
4. Probably written around 49 A.D.
5. Life was rough for the audience.
2. What was Chapter 1 about?
1. Trials are a test of our faith (ie v 12)
3. What was Chapter 2 about?
1. Trials are a test of our faith, cont.
2. Don’t discriminate.

Introduction

1. How did you all do this week reading James?
2. What’s your opinion of James (thus far)?  Easy, hard, straightforward, confusing, basic, advanced, etc?
3. What is your opinion of this chapter?  Easy or lots of questions, difficult and convoluted?
1. Really straight-forward.  At first, hard to understand the relationship between the first half and second.

Lesson

1. vv. 1-12 [READ – James 3:1-12]
1. V 1 – Being teachers (of?) subjects us to stricter judgment.

                                                               i.      Does this “really” mean Pastors?

                                                             ii.      Does this “only” mean folks that have “teacher” as a title?  Ie, Sunday School teacher, AWANAS teacher, etc?  Or might other teachers (public school, college, extra curricular, etc) be included?

                                                            iii.      Are parents teachers?

                                                            iv.      My take is that this is less about the TITLE of “Teacher” and more about the POSITION of teaching.  If one takes the position to teach, there comes with that position a responsibility to be correct AND the corresponding judgment if not.

2. V 2 – we all stumble.  Except the “perfect” man.  This is reference to the mature Christian.  Presumably, the mature Christian should have his tongue and his whole body in check.
3. V 3-12 – Tongue illustrations

                                                               i.      V 3 – the small, yet powerful bridle.  Lesson:  we probably need one.

1.       “His mind starts wagging his tongue, then goes off and leaves it.”

                                                             ii.      V 4 – the small, yet powerful helm.  Lesson: the tongue’s small size does not indicate its power.

                                                            iii.      V 5-6 – a small fire. Lesson: The smallest fire can cause huge areas of destruction. 

                                                            iv.      V 7-8 – we can tame all animals, but not the tongue.

                                                             v.      V 9-10 – Praise and cursing from the same mouth

                                                            vi.      V 11-12 – good and bitter water; olives from fig trees

1.       I think the olives from fig trees is an interesting one.  What this alludes to is “What you are, you produce.”  Do you know someone that is positive, happy, uplifting to you?  Is that because they’re pretending or because that’s really who they are?  What about a gossip?  Is that because that’s part of them?  Yes.  We all have sins and stumbling blocks in our life.  We just have to know them to deal with them.

2. vv. 13-18 [READ – James 3:13-18] – good wisdom and not-so-good wisdom
1. v 13 – “gentleness of wisdom”  or “humility”.  We all know people who ARE NOT this way (gentle or humble with their wisdom).  Are you wise?  There’s an art, no a discipline, to being wise gracefully.  The tongue is the linchpin.
2. V 14-16 – the appearance of wisdom to benefit only you is anything but wise.  It’s evil.
3. V 17– More marks of Godly wisdom.

                                                               i.      Pure

                                                             ii.      Peace-loving

                                                            iii.      Considerate / Gentle

                                                            iv.      Submissive / Reasonable

                                                             v.      Merciful

                                                            vi.      Full of good fruits

                                                          vii.      Impartial / unwavering

                                                         viii.      Sincere / without hypocrisy

4. V 18 – there’s a reward – righteousness

                                                               i.      This is everything to me.  As a parent, human wisdom (mine or my child’s) isn’t nearly as important as their relationship to Christ.

Summary

1. What’s your key verse?
1. v 2
2. How do you feel about James Chapter 3 now?
1. It’s humbling.
2. It’s the good and bad of “tongues” – wisdom vs. the foolishness of gossip, etc.
3. What will you do, starting now, to move forward on what God has told you?

Print | posted on Saturday, May 20, 2006 2:56 PM |