Why do I shoot off the mouth before thinking?
Last WEEEK
We took in much about what God says about teachers and our tongues.
This WEEK
We are going to jump into verses 2-4, understanding it is not just teachers who are accountable, but we ALL stumble in many ways, even in what we ‘say’.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Let’s Pray
Oh Lord, open our eyes today. We know that when we really see, Your Truth will change us profoundly. We know we cannot see without Your help, so we ask that You remove our blinders, and allow us to see correctly. May we treasure what You show us and bury it deep within our hearts. Thank you! (Psa 119:11)
LOOK at What God Says
Let GODcha lead the way.
Where will you begin?
Begin By Reading 
Let’s read James 3:1-12 again, asking the 5W’s and H.
Remember this is the most vital skill you and I can learn.
Practice makes perfect!
Let’s Incorporate All Our Strategies
To Fill in the Gaps!
Let’s zoom in on Key words By:
1. 
Understanding the Meaning: the definitions are just a tap away.
2. 
Scoping out Other Truths: THINK and REASON by asking questions.
3. LISTENING: God speaks to us through His Word, so be careful to LISTEN to Him Speak.
NOTE: LOOKING, LEARNING, and LISTENING can happen simultaneously.
Take your time. Work at your own pace.
Your goal is not to get through a passage(s), but rather to engage with God, hear Him speak to you, converse with Him, deepen your relationship with Him!
God talks. We listen. Then we talk. He listens.
Focus on the first half of James 3:2.
Unlock the Meaning 
GODcha advises us to unlock ‘stumble’ that is 
key.
Understand God’s Words
Check Out the Meaning
Stumble, ptaíō; in the NT, used figuratively, meaning to fall into sin. To err, offend, fail in duty. Used in an absolute sense (Rom. 11:11; James 3:2).
NOTE: the Grammar is Present Tense, meaning continuous, habitual action, usually reflecting a lifestyle.
TIP: Remember to take the definitions back to the text.
2 “For we all stumble (continuously fall into sin) in many ways, if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man. . .”
What do we all do?
Who continuously stumbles, falls into sin?
How do we all stumble?
Shall we examine what else God says about ‘stumble’?
Truth Explains Truth
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
Hear God Speak!
1. Is there anyone who doesn’t stumble, fall into sin?
a. “When they sin it is against God (for there is no man who does not sin) …” (2Ch 6:36)
b. ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Rom 3:23)
We see: James is letting us know we all fail, in many ways, even in what we say. We all lose control of our tongue….
LISTEN…
When did I last stumble in what I said?
Why did I lose control?
What were the consequences?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
THINK:
So if you and I want to work on our lives,
our walk with the Lord,
get our act together God’s way,
what would we begin to work on?
Don’t you suppose it would be our tongues?
Well if we ALL stumble in what we say, let’s search out why.
Truth Explains Truth
CR-Cross References-Word Search Tutorial >
First, try a couple of Cross References that GODcha recommends on your own.
Then I will help you.
You need to realize,
digging Truth out for yourself
has more impact, and
helps you remember it!
How did you do?
Do you understand:
Why we stumble in what we ‘say‘?
Why is it so hard to control the tongue?
What the consequences will be for our words?
Let’s poke through these Truths in Matthew together and see what Jesus says about the mouth.
1. Mat 12:33-37
The context of Mat 12 is the Pharisees speaking evil, accusing Jesus, and Jesus responds saying they are evil and then expounds. . .
a. For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart…. (Mat 12:34)
We see: A person’s heart determines their speech.
LISTEN…
What fills my heart?
What does my mouth speak on a habitual basis?
What do my words reveal about my heart?
Respond to God. . .LIVE it out!
b. Every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment. (Mat 12:36)
Why?
c. For by our words we will be justified, and by our words we will be condemned (judged). (Mat 12:33-37)
Understand: Every person will be judged by their words, because it reveals their heart.
LISTEN…
What difference does it make in my life to understand I will be held accountable for every careless word I speak?
Respond to God….LIVE it out!
2. Matthew 15:11-20
a. It is NOT what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man. (Mat 15:11)
b. But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. (Mat 15:18)
c. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man; but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile the man. (Mat 15:19-20)
LISTEN…
Am I defiled, because of what proceeds from my mouth?
What comes out of my heart?
Respond to God….LIVE it out!
What Do We LEARN
We LEARN:
Words reveal what is in our hearts.
For example:
A critical, judgmental heart, will produce a critical judgmental tongue.
vs.
A loving heart, will produce a tender, loving tongue.
We LEARN:
We will be held accountable for our words.
We LEARN:
Because our words reveal our hearts, whether we have true genuine faith, our words then will be used to judge us.
Our Day Has Come to an End!
James is concerned with our growth, knowing that our lives reveal what is going on in our hearts.
And now he wants us to understand our words matter.
Ponder and chew on what you have LEARNED.
Think about your heart and how you use your tongue, (Psa 15:28).
Oh, why don’t you have a long chat with God!
Journal What You Have LEARNED
Perhaps Note the Subject: of the tongue.
As we dig deeper, you can always come back and add later.
Also, jot these Cross References next to these verses in your hard Bound Bible.
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Let’s Close in Prayer
Perhaps…
OH FATHER WHO ART IN HEAVEN, thank you for your Word! Oh how much grief we would save others and ourselves if we would truly think and be very careful with what we say. Father, we see that those who speak evil, are evil. And we know now that our words reveal what is in our hearts. Oh Father, may we examine our words today, what do we speak? How do we speak? As we do a self examination, please show us our hearts. We know our words condemn us or justify us, revealing our character, and if we are of the faith. Knowing we will be held accountable for every word, every careless word, may we begin this day to think and be very careful before we speak. We ask these things in the name of Jesus, our Lord! Amen!
Can’t wait to see you tomorrow to see what God teaches us.
Next: we’re going to continue to LOOK @ stumbling with the tongue.
These verses, along with all of James continues to be very convicting. I am so thankful to have the Holy Spirit dwelling within me to remind me and encourage me to look at my heart and what words come out of it. I want to have a pure heart, one that is pleasing to the Lord. Thank you for the encouragement you give to spend time with the Lord.