1.  When was the last time someone told you
something encouraging? How did you feel?
 When was the last time someone
discouraged you with what they said? How
did you respond?

3. The power of
James Chapter 3

4. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of
this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow
to speak and slow to become angry, because
human anger does not produce the
righteousness that God desires. Therefore,
get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so
prevalent and humbly accept the word
planted in you, which can save you.

5. Those who consider themselves religious and
yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues
deceive themselves, and their religion is
worthless. Religion that God our Father
accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look
after orphans and widows in their distress
and to keep oneself from being polluted by
the world.

6. Not many of you should become teachers,
my fellow believers, because you know that
we who teach will be judged more
strictly. We all stumble in many ways.
Anyone who is never at fault in what they say
is perfect, able to keep their whole body in
check.

7. In Pictures

11. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts
of the body.

15.  10:18-20 Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
and spreads slander is a fool.
Sin is not ended by multiplying words, but the
prudent hold their tongues.
The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but
the heart of the wicked is of little value.
 11:9 With their mouths the godless destroy their
neighbors, but through knowledge the
righteous escape.

16.  10:31-32 From the mouth of the righteous comes
the fruit of wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be
silenced.
The lips of the righteous know what finds favor,
but the mouth of the wicked only what is
perverse.
 11:12-13 Whoever derides their neighbor has no
sense, but the one who has understanding holds
their tongue.
A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy
person keeps a secret.

17.  12:18 The words of the reckless pierce like
swords, but the tongue of the wise brings
healing.
 15:4 The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a
perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
 16:1-3 To humans belong the plans of the
heart, but from the Lord comes the proper
answer of the tongue. All a person’s ways seem
pure to them, but motives are weighed by the
Lord.
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he

18.  17:4 A wicked person listens to deceitful lips; a
liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
 17:27-28 The one who has knowledge uses words
with restraint, and whoever has understanding is
even-tempered.
Even fools are thought wise if they keep
silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.
 25:14-15 Like clouds and wind without rain is
one who boasts of gifts never given.
Through patience a ruler can be persuaded, and
a gentle tongue can break a bone.

19.  18:20-21 From the fruit of their mouth a person’s
stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips
they are satisfied.
The tongue has the power of life and death, and
those who love it will eat its fruit.

20.  Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On
the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to
this you were called so that you may inherit a
blessing. For,
“Whoever would love life and see good
days must keep their tongue from evil and their
lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from
evil and do good; they must seek peace and
pursue it.” Psalm 34

21.  The Sovereign Lord has given me a well-
instructed tongue, to know the word that
sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by
morning, wakens my ear to listen like one
being instructed.

23.  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to
speak and slow to become angry, because
human anger does not produce the
righteousness that God desires.
 Don’t listen to gossip, it just encourages it.
 Be humble and peace-loving
 keep your tongue from evil and your lips from
deceitful speech. turn from evil and do
good; you must seek peace and pursue it.

24.  " 'Our Father in heaven, may your name be honored.
May your kingdom come. May what you want to
happen be done on earth as it is done in heaven.
 Give us today our daily bread.
 Forgive us our sins, just as we also have forgiven those
who sin against us.
 Keep us from falling into sin when we are tempted.
Save us from the evil one.'