Summary of Chapter 1 - How do we respond to 

TRIALS, TEMPTATIONS, TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD

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Summary of Chapter 2 - How do we respond to 

PEOPLE & WORKS 

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‍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.

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‍The tongue has the power to: 

CONDEMN (v.1-2)

CONTROL (v.2-5)

CORRUPT (v.5-6)

COMBAT (v.7-8)

COMPROMISE (v.9-12)

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The tongue has the power to:     The TONGUE controlled by GOD’s Holy SPIRIT can:

‍CONDEMN (v.1-2)                              BRING LIFE                  

CONTROL (v.2-5)                               BRING FREEDOM

CORRUPT (v.5-6)                               BUILD UP 

COMBAT (v.7-8)                                 BRING PEACE 

COMPROMISE (v.9-12)                     BRING TRUTH IN LOVE

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‍Proverbs 10:19 NLT
Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.

Proverbs 18:21 NIV
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.

Matthew 12:36 NASB
But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it on the day of judgment.

Matthew 12:37 NLT
The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.

Matthew 15:18 NASB
But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart.

James 3:13-18 NLT

¹³ If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the truth with boasting and lying. ¹⁵ For jealousy and selfishness are not God’s kind of wisdom. Such things are earthly, unspiritual, and demonic. ¹⁶ For wherever there is jealousy and selfish ambition, there you will find disorder and evil of every kind. ¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and the fruit of good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. ¹⁸ And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace and reap a harvest of righteousness.

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EARTHLY WISDOM

Selfish 

Bitter Envy

Personal desires are most important

FRUIT

“You do You”

Man is the ultimate measure and judge on matters

“My agenda”

“My choice” 

Disorder 

Demonic practices.

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HEAVENLY WISDOM

Pure 

Peace-loving 

Gentle

Reasonable/willing to yield to others 

Full of mercy 

FRUIT 

Good works

No favoritism

Sincere

Peacemakers will reap a right way of living/a godly way of living.

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Summary of Chapter 3

Genuine, growing, maturing faith allows the HOLY SPIRIT to control the TONGUE. Control the tongue, control your life. 

Genuine, growing, maturing faith lives according to God’s wisdom and the fruit will reveal the source.

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