Worship Center
James 1:26-27 NLT
1. Check your faith.
James 1:21-22 NLT
2. Check your friends.
Proverbs 27:6 NLT
6 Wounds from a sincere friend are better than many kisses from an enemy.
3. Check your mouth.
James 3:1-12 NLT
1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 7 People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9 Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
Words build.
Words direct.
Words create.
Words destroy.
Words seem small.
Words are long-lasting.
Words reveal your character.
Matthew 12:34b-35 NLT
34b For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. 35 A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
COMMUNITY GROUP MEETING OUTLINE:
Where your faith intersects with real life!
CONNECT:
Each person shares a recent high and low from their life.
EXPLORE:
Use the following questions to explore what God may be saying to you through this message.
BIG IDEA:
Guard your heart to control your mouth. Your words reveal your character.
Choose one or two questions for your group to discuss as time allows.
▶ Read James 1:26-27. Pastor Matt said religion is a set of beliefs and practices. What makes both valuable?
▶ Read James 1:21-22. What are some ways we can find out if we are “fooling ourselves”? What does self-deception look like?
▶ Read Proverbs 27:6. Share a story of a time when you had a sincere friend share some valuable feedback with you. What are some ways we can be proactive and invite honest feedback from trusted friends?
ACTIVATE:
Spend a moment in silence to consider your response, then share your decision with the group.
Read James 3:1-13. Which of the seven key attributes of words is God highlighting for you to understand more about in this season of your life?
Words build.
Words direct.
Words create.
Words destroy.
Words seem small.
Words are long-lasting.
Words reveal your character.
What is one way you can intentionally practice using your words for good this week?
PRAY:
Thank God for the highs shared and lift up the lows.
Read Matthew 12:34b-35. Pray that God heals our hearts and that as we experience His pure love, we are able to overflow that love in our words to others.