What does the Bible say about controlling your tongue?

Our words may seem small, yet James 3 says they can steer a life and scorch relationships. They also expose the sin within us. In The World on Fire, Pastor Shane Kohout addresses gossip, boasting, cruel humor, slander, and angry speech. Each one can wound a person made in God’s image. James also warns Bible teachers that they will face stricter judgment, calling every teacher and listener to submit humbly to God’s Word.

Human effort cannot tame the tongue. Jesus is the perfect man described by James. He spoke without sin and bore the judgment for our sinful words at the cross. After rising and ascending, Jesus poured out the Holy Spirit, who enables his people to honor others and proclaim the good news of Christ.

This sermon calls us to examine our speech, confess specific sins, seek forgiveness from people we have hurt, and use our words to tell what God has done.

Key Takeaways

• Small words can cause lasting harm.
• Praising God while tearing down people made in his image exposes hypocrisy.
• Jesus paid for our sinful speech and welcomes honest confession.
• The Holy Spirit empowers us to seek reconciliation and tell others what God has done.