Christians must live out their faith. They should be doers, not just hearers, of God’s Word.
Hearing, Doing, & Living the Word
Pastor Tom Cogle
JAMES 3:1-12
Sunday, August 31, 2025
James 3:1-6 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.
1. Our speech will STEER our life.
Hebrews 11:3 NIVBy faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.
Mark 11:22-23Then Jesus said to the disciples, “Have faith in God.
2. Our words will NAVIGATE us through the storms.
Proverbs 6:2 NIVYou have been trapped by what you said, ensnared by the words of your mouth.
Proverbs 21:23Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble.
3. When left unchecked, our tongue will be DESTRUCTIVE.
Proverbs 18:21 NKJVThe tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 12:18 MSG Rash language cuts and maims, but there is healing in the words of the wise.
v “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.”
Abraham Lincoln
Proverbs 15:4 Gentle words are a tree of life; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit.
James 3:7-12 7People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. 9Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? 12Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.
Ephesians 4:29 AMP Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to theneed and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak].
HOW DO WE CONTROL OUR TONGUE / SPEECH?
1. Our tongue is merely broadcasting what it has been
PROGRAMMED to play.
2. We need a soul TRANSFORMATION, not a tongue amputation.
Proverbs 4:23Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life.
Matthew 12:33-37 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right? 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. 36 And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. 37 The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
3. The SEED planted in our heart produces the fruit of our mouth.
Hosea 10:12I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness, and you will harvest a crop of love. Plow up the hard ground of your hearts, for now is the time to seek the Lord, that he may come and shower righteousness upon you.’
4. Defend what seed you allow to be PLANTED in your life.
Galatians 6:7-9 Don’t be misled—you cannot mock the justice of God. You will always harvest what you plant. 8Those who live only to satisfy their own sinful nature will harvest decay and death from that sinful nature. But those who live to please the Spirit will harvest everlasting life from the Spirit. 9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.
*all verses are New Living Translation unless otherwise noted*
Psalm 19:7-14
7 The instructions of the Lord are perfect,
reviving the soul.
The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
8 The commandments of the Lord are right,
bringing joy to the heart.
The commands of the Lord are clear,
giving insight for living.
9 Reverence for the Lord is pure,
lasting forever.
The laws of the Lord are true;
each one is fair.
10 They are more desirable than gold,
even the finest gold.
They are sweeter than honey,
even honey dripping from the comb.
11 They are a warning to your servant,
a great reward for those who obey them.
12 How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart?
Cleanse me from these hidden faults.
13 Keep your servant from deliberate sins!
Don’t let them control me.
Then I will be free of guilt
and innocent of great sin.
14 May the words of my mouth
and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing to you,
O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.