LEGIT: Study of the Book of James 3:1-12

Added: 2026-05-12

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[00:12:10]Good morning, CBCC. I'm Noah Benson, the Club 56 ministry director. Here at Chino Valley Community Church, our mission is to glorify God by being and making disciples of Christ. Here are some ways that we can live that mission out together this month. Ladies, join us this Thursday evening for a paint night.

[00:12:30]You will be guided step by step to create a beautiful work of art and just have some fun fellowship at the same time. Spaces are filling up quickly, so register today and remember to invite a friend or two.

[00:12:42]Get ready for Move Up Sunday. On Sunday, May 24th, all school age kids will be considered to be in their fall grade and should check into that new area. We can't wait to welcome your students into each of our kids and youth ministries.

[00:12:56]And we just hope that they're excited, too. If you have any questions about where your kid needs to go that day, please talk to your current leader or just email us at [email protected].

[00:13:10]Registration is open for our 2026 summer sports camp where kids entering first through 6th grade can choose a sport for the week and enjoy practice sessions, coach le huddles, worship snacks, and more. Please sign up now, have your kids invite their friends, and consider helping out for the week as well. We can't wait to build our athletic skills together while also learning more about the Lord.

[00:13:34]For more details on all of our upcoming opportunities, visit our website at cbcchurch.org, check out our church center app, or just head out to the info center after service. We hope that you will consider taking part as we seek to be and make disciples of Christ. Now, let's worship together.

[00:13:53]>> Good morning. Welcome to Chino Valley Community Church. Would you stand with us? Very happy Mother's Day to all the mothers here. We're so glad that you've joined us. Let's join our voices together now in worship to our God as we begin this day.

[00:14:10]Sing to the King.

[00:14:12]Sing to the King who is coming to reign.

[00:14:21]Glory to Jesus the lamb that was slain.

[00:14:29]life and salvation his empire shall bring and joy to the nations when Jesus is king.

[00:14:45]So come let us sing a song a song declaring we belong to Jesus.

[00:14:57]is all we lift up a heart of praise. Sing now with voices raised to Jesus.

[00:15:13]Sing to the king for his returning.

[00:15:26]We'll watch and we'll pray.

[00:15:31]We will be ready the dawn of that day.

[00:15:39]will join in singing with all the redee.

[00:15:47]The sat is vanquished and Jesus is king.

[00:15:57]Amen. Sing that again. For his returning.

[00:16:01]For his returning.

[00:16:05]We'll watch and we'll pray.

[00:16:10]We will be ready the dawn of that day.

[00:16:18]We'll join in singing with all the redeemed.

[00:16:26]But Satan is vanquished and Jesus is king.

[00:16:36]So come let us sing a song, a song declaring we belong to Jesus.

[00:16:47]He is all we need.

[00:16:53]Lift up a heart of praise. Sing now in voice to Jesus.

[00:17:04]Sing to the king.

[00:17:08]Oh God, let us sing a song. A song declaring we belong to Jesus.

[00:17:20]He is all we need.

[00:17:25]The lift of a heart of grace. Sing now.

[00:17:31]voice is raised to Jesus.

[00:17:37]Sing to the king.

[00:17:41]Sing to the king.

[00:17:45]Sing to the king.

[00:17:54]Amen.

[00:18:05]church. Let's continue to sing to our king who went before us and made a way for us to have relationship with a holy God. Let's sing together. Before the throne, before the throne of God above, I have a strong and perfect plea, a great high priest whose name is love.

[00:18:33]Whoever lives and pleads for me.

[00:18:37]My name is on his hands.

[00:18:42]My name is written on his heart.

[00:18:47]I know that while in heaven he stands.

[00:18:52]No tongue can be meart.

[00:18:56]No tongue can give me that steepart.

[00:19:18]Satan tempts me to despair and tells me of the guilt within.

[00:19:27]A word I look and see him there.

[00:19:32]Made an end of all my sin.

[00:19:37]Because the sinless savior died.

[00:19:42]My sinful soul is finally free.

[00:19:46]I got the justice satisfied to look on him and pardon me.

[00:19:56]to look on him and pardon me.

[00:20:03]Father, we thank you for that pardon we have through your son.

[00:20:08]Behold him there, the risen lamb, my perfect spotless righteousness, the great unchangeable.

[00:20:20]I am the king of glory and of grace. Oh, and with himself I cannot die.

[00:20:31]My soul is purchased by his blood and my life is healed with Christ on high with Christ my savior and my God. Oh because the savior died.

[00:20:50]My sinful soul is counting free.

[00:20:55]Lord God of justice satisfied to look on him and pardon me.

[00:21:05]To look on him and pardon me.

[00:21:28]Amen.

[00:21:48]When we walk with the Lord in the light of his word, what a glory he sheds on our way.

[00:21:59]While we do his good will. He abides with us still and with all who will trust and obey.

[00:22:10]There's no other way to be happy in Jesus with peace in my mind and joy in my heart. I'll take up my cross for all of my days. I'll do what you say.

[00:22:30]There's no other way but to trust and obey.

[00:22:39]And then in fellowship we will sit at his feet or we'll walk by his side in the way.

[00:22:51]What he says we will do where he says we will go. Never fear, only trust and oy.

[00:23:01]There's no other way to be happy Jesus with peace in my mind and joy in my heart. I'll take up my cross for all of my days. I'll do what you say. There's no other way but to trust and oy.

[00:23:30]I'll trust the Lord.

[00:23:33]I'll trust the Lord.

[00:23:36]You will be faithful like you've been before.

[00:23:41]I'll trust the Lord.

[00:23:44]I'll trust the Lord.

[00:23:47]Oh, for the grace to trust you with more. Oh, I'll trust the Lord.

[00:23:56]I'll trust the Lord.

[00:23:59]You will be trust.

[00:24:12]Yeah. Heat.

[00:24:23]Heat. Heat. Heat.

[00:24:33]to what you see.

[00:24:38]But you trust and I'll do what you say. There's no other way but to trust and oy.

[00:24:57]Trust and oy for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and oy.

[00:25:17]Amen. What a truth.

[00:25:22]Well, I want to say happy Mother's Day once again to all the moms represented here with us and online. Many of you know I'm a fairly new mom myself. My daughter Allora is just 13 months old and I've noticed that God is already using my role as a mom to teach me something about himself. So, I wanted to share just a little bit of that. Um, I noticed it the other day. was uh preparing her breakfast and she was waiting in her high chair. She was growing impatient, that she wasn't being fed or being held. Uh I talked to her constantly even though she can't understand all of it yet. And I was telling her that it was her breakfast that I was making and that I loved her so much even when my arms weren't available for her. And I was struck with the fact that she can't even comprehend that I'm working on her behalf even while she feels that her immediate needs aren't being met.

[00:26:24]And I meditated on that and God just showed me the connection. Don't we often get impatient or even upset with God when he's not acting how we want him to?

[00:26:38]And isn't it possible that we don't even have the capacity to understand the work he is currently doing on our behalf?

[00:26:48]Just as I can assure my daughter that all my intentions toward her are good, we can know that God has good plans for us even when we don't understand what he's doing or when he's doing it.

[00:27:05]So moms specifically, let me encourage us with that God has good plans for you, for your children, for your families.

[00:27:15]And of course, this is just as true for all of you who are not moms as well. So let's celebrate that truth together as we continue to worship. God is at work regardless of whether we understand what he's doing. And he has good plans for us, his children.

[00:27:38]The Lord is my shepher and he is everything I need. So I will not worry.

[00:27:49]I will not fear the enemy. He said that he loves me. He said that he's with me even though I walk through the valley of shadow and death. And still I know he has good plans. He has good plans for me.

[00:28:16]So I will take heart in deserts and gardens.

[00:28:21]He has good plans. He has good plans for me.

[00:28:31]If I know my father, I know my father has good plans.

[00:28:50]The Lord is my savior.

[00:28:53]So why should I doubt my victory?

[00:28:57]Why would I question the rod and the staff that comforts me?

[00:29:04]He quiets the waterers.

[00:29:07]He quiets the storm inside of me. So what could be better than walking with him when I believe that he has good plans? He has good plans for me.

[00:29:28]So I will take heart in deserts and garden.

[00:29:33]He has good plans. He has good plans for me.

[00:29:42]If I know my father, I know my father has. He has good plans.

[00:29:51]He has good plans for me.

[00:29:57]So far, deserts and gardeners, he has good plans. He has good plans for me.

[00:30:11]If I know my father, I know my father has good plans.

[00:30:18]Surely your goodness and mercy will follow after me. So they will not find me cuz I'll be dwelling in the house of God.

[00:30:44]Surely goodness follow after me in the house of God.

[00:31:00]Your mercy will follow after me.

[00:31:16]Mercy will follow after me.

[00:31:30]Yeah. Heat.

[00:31:41]Heat. Heat.

[00:31:52]Heat. Heat.

[00:32:03]Good.

[00:32:06]I know my father. I know my father.

[00:32:10]Goodness.

[00:32:14]Good.

[00:32:18]Good.

[00:32:20]I know my father. I know my father.

[00:32:41]Amen.

[00:32:45]Oh, what an amazing truth to celebrate together. Church, you can have a seat.

[00:32:50]Moms, we have a special video for you.

[00:32:52]So, turn your attention to the screens.

[00:32:59]What makes your mom happy?

[00:33:01]>> Flowers. When I listen. When I be good or something.

[00:33:07]>> No, that's too tight.

[00:33:09]>> What makes your mom sad?

[00:33:12]>> When I don't listen. Like when we get hurt.

[00:33:15]>> What's something that your mom does every day?

[00:33:18]>> Read the Bible. Cleans the house. I think work. Kisses me. What's something your mom always says to you?

[00:33:27]>> I love you and trying to go clean your room. Behave. Don't let the dog upstairs.

[00:33:35]Do not bother mom when while she's sleeping.

[00:33:38]>> How old is your mom?

[00:33:40]>> I think five. 12. That's a very very tricky question. Um I know she's um a half and something.

[00:33:51]70. What's your mom's favorite thing to do?

[00:33:54]>> Play with me. Sit in that chair. Date night. Shop. Shopping. Go shopping. Just do shopping every day. She's always wants to go shopping. Me and I get tired.

[00:34:06]Ask boring.

[00:34:08]>> Where's your mom's favorite place to go?

[00:34:11]>> Chinese restaurant. An animal shelter.

[00:34:14]>> Think it's to the mall. Go to the restroom.

[00:34:19]How are you and your mom the same?

[00:34:22]>> Our hair, >> our eyes. We >> have the same bones. We're really flexible.

[00:34:27]>> We both have long tongues, but my sister and my dad don't usually.

[00:34:32]>> How are you and your mom different?

[00:34:34]>> Our eyes are different. The color of me.

[00:34:37]I'm brown and she's tan.

[00:34:40]>> Mom has curly hair and I have straight hair.

[00:34:44]>> I do have bitter abs.

[00:34:46]What's your favorite thing about your mom?

[00:34:50]>> That she doesn't like to be away from us. When she gets down on the floor and plays with me. She's a really good teacher. I like her face, her smile when she lets me put on her makeup that I can cuddle with her at night. She is really special. She's really, really, really, really, really nice.

[00:35:12]>> How do you know that your mom loves you?

[00:35:15]She prays and she kisses me and she says I love you. So she's in my family. How she takes care of us by making breakfast, do my laundry. That she helps me get dressed. Takes me to all the things I do after school. That she plays games with me.

[00:35:32]>> Play soccer with me.

[00:35:33]>> Play bubbles when I sit in her lap.

[00:35:35]>> We watch movies.

[00:35:36]>> We get our nails painted. Make a scrapbook.

[00:35:39]>> Fish outside cookouts and bonfire.

[00:35:41]>> She spends time with us and not all by herself. She's patient with us.

[00:35:45]>> She does everything with me >> because she says it every day.

[00:35:48]>> Kisses me every night. All kinds of stuff.

[00:35:51]>> I just know that she loves me because she says, "I'll always love you."

[00:35:55]>> She's awesome.

[00:35:57]>> She loves me no matter what. Like God, >> I love you, Mommy.

[00:36:03]>> Happy Mother's Day.

[00:36:14]for this. There is something special about Mother's Day. In fact, I was remembering this week Mother's Day is always bigger than Father's Day. Has anyone ever noticed that?

[00:36:25]And I think this year after so many years, I figured out why.

[00:36:30]There's something unique and powerful about the way a mom loves others.

[00:36:38]I was thinking this week, you know, moms love their children before they even meet them. I mean, do you recognize that? I mean, moms have this commitment, this devotion, and their willingness, and their desire for this child before they've even laid eyes on them.

[00:36:58]Even more powerfully, moms love their children even after they've met them.

[00:37:05]Through those ever annoying tantrums of two to three year olds in the middle of the stores, when dads want to walk away and ring their necks, moms love them. When kids are in that awkward teenage years, moms find something endearing and they actually look back at those years with fondness and they miss them.

[00:37:33]And even in adulthood, there's something special about a mom's love because they still worry.

[00:37:42]There really is nothing that can separate a mom's love from her child.

[00:37:49]Nothing.

[00:37:52]And I think that's what's uniquely powerful and something that they bear in common is just one other person and that's God.

[00:38:04]So, moms, I just want you to know how important you are and how powerful your role is, not just in your homes and not just in this church, but in our community, in our country.

[00:38:20]So, we just want to take a moment. If you're a mom, stepmom, grandmom, great grandmom, whatever aspect of mom, will you please stand so we can celebrate you this morning?

[00:38:44]And please keep standing. Don't sit down. Sorry. I'll let me give a quick I'll make it quick for you. A quick prayer of blessing of God on your lives.

[00:38:55]Okay.

[00:38:57]God, we're here this morning first to celebrate you.

[00:39:02]But God, secondly, to celebrate moms.

[00:39:06]God, we're grateful for what you have empowered them with, God. What you have called them to, God, what you have used them for in our lives. And God, what you are still yet to use them for. So God, I pray, God, that you would bless these women, God, even today.

[00:39:23]May you give them the strength they need.

[00:39:26]God, may you fill their hearts with joy and fulfillment.

[00:39:34]God, we pray for those moms who are struggling today.

[00:39:42]Those moms with broken hearts, who are separated from their children, are concerned about their babies. God, I pray that you would give them peace that's beyond human comprehension today.

[00:39:55]And God, for people who are missing their moms today, may you comfort them in a special way this morning. We pray everything in Jesus name. Amen. God bless you.

[00:40:15]All right. Now that I took time to honor moms, moms, I have to take a moment because I was thinking about something else this week.

[00:40:23]things that maybe moms have said that aren't always true.

[00:40:29]Here's a few.

[00:40:33]Brian, you can do anything you put your mind to.

[00:40:37]That's a flatout lie.

[00:40:41]It was those words of my mom that set me out to play baseball.

[00:40:47]Horrible idea. It were those same words when I went into college that led me into calculus.

[00:40:55]And I put my mind to calculus.

[00:40:58]It did not work out.

[00:41:02]Even in adulthood, those words ring in the back of my mind as I tackle do-it-yourself projects at home by myself, and I put my mind to it, and they never work out the way that I plan.

[00:41:22]How about this one? This is going to hurt me a lot more than it hurts you.

[00:41:29]Not true.

[00:41:31]Because I know right after my mom would say that and spank me, she sat down just fine.

[00:41:38]And I did not.

[00:41:42]Remembering my mom would tell me that the ice cream truck, the music plays only when the ice cream truck's out of ice cream.

[00:41:53]Imagine my surprise.

[00:41:59]How about this one?

[00:42:02]Sticks and stones, Brian, they may break your bones, but word words, they can never hurt you.

[00:42:12]That wasn't true, man. In my life, I've been deeply wounded and hurt by the words of others.

[00:42:26]There's been times where someone's words have hurt me so deeply that it shaped my life into adulthood.

[00:42:36]It was the words of others, even seminary professors, that almost kept me from taking this job. One of the greatest blessings of my life as a lead pastor of this church was the words of others.

[00:42:56]for all the words of affirmation and truth that my mom shared with me.

[00:43:04]Her words and her truth about the power of words.

[00:43:10]I disagree.

[00:43:13]So does James.

[00:43:16]That's why James in chapter 3 takes 12 verses to correct our viewpoint on words.

[00:43:28]That's where I'd love to invite you to join me. James chapter 3. If you're new with us today this morning, let me just catch you up on our study through the book of James.

[00:43:39]James was a brother of Jesus. And more than that, James was known as a man of legit faith.

[00:43:46]Man, Christians respected him because of his piety, because of his faithfulness, even in the midst of adversity and struggle. Christians loved him. But it wasn't just the Christian community that had a respect for the legit faith of James. It was the non-Christian community as well, man. His honesty, his commitment to justice and truth, man. When James died, people mourned, not just the church, but those outside of church as well.

[00:44:23]There's something powerful about the faith of James.

[00:44:27]And so, he wrote a letter to exhort, to encourage Christians to model that same type of faith. Not just a faith that transforms our souls, but a faith that reflects God's glory and his power.

[00:44:41]to everyone who sees it.

[00:44:46]So far in our study of James, the first two chapters, James has given us two exhortations, two directions. Number one, he said, if you want to have a legit faith, you need to consider trials and challenges differently.

[00:44:58]In fact, if you want to have legit faith, you need to you need to do more than just survive trials. You need to embrace them.

[00:45:08]Look what he said in James chapter 1 at the very beginning. He said, "Consider it all joy, my brethren.

[00:45:14]When when you when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance, let endurance have its perfect results so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." If you want to have legit faith, Christians, you got to quit crumbling and running from trials and difficulty.

[00:45:37]embrace them because that's what God uses to shape you and grow you.

[00:45:43]Second thing James says, you want to have legit faith, you got to do more than just embrace trials. You have to prove your faith.

[00:45:51]Man, your faith isn't something you can just show up on Sunday and sing about and talk about. It has to be something that you live in your life. Look at what he says a few verses later. He says, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, not merely hearers who delude themselves."

[00:46:10]It's not enough to be able to pass theology exams. No, no, no. Not if you want to have a legit faith.

[00:46:17]The knowledge of the word of God you have in here needs to transform your heart and change how you live out there.

[00:46:32]But now James moves on into another exhortation.

[00:46:37]If you want to have a legit faith that not only transforms your life but reflects God's power and his glory to everyone who witness it.

[00:46:49]There's a third exhortation.

[00:46:52]You got to watch your mouth.

[00:46:56]You have to watch your words.

[00:47:00]Be careful how you speak.

[00:47:03]And this isn't a new idea for James. I mean, he's been hinting at this throughout our study, right? Look at what he says. James 1:19. This, you know, my beloved brethren, you know this. Everyone must be quick to hear.

[00:47:14]Look at this. Slow to speak.

[00:47:18]As if James knows something about us.

[00:47:22]I know you guys are too quick to just light people on fire when you're unhappy.

[00:47:30]A few verses later, look what he said.

[00:47:32]Verse 26 of chapter 1, he said, 'If anyone thinks himself to be religious and does not bridle his tongue, deceives his own heart.

[00:47:43]This man's religion is worthless. That term bridal means to control or to hold in check. Evidently, the Christians of James day had something they struggled with.

[00:47:59]controlling their words, watching what they say.

[00:48:05]It got me to thinking, I wonder if we've any if we've evolved, if we're any better, thousands of years later. So, I did some research. Look what I found.

[00:48:15]74% of Christians acknowledge that gossip is one of the largest issues they struggle with at their church. 74%.

[00:48:25]You want to know why people have find it so difficult to open up their heart and allow God to heal them?

[00:48:33]Because they're worried within their church that people will gossip about them.

[00:48:40]Not only this, look at this. One quarter of all Christians admit to bullying and being mean on social media. 25%. One quarter of all Christians say, "Yeah, if people looked at my social media and they saw that I was a Christian, oops, that's not going to work."

[00:48:59]Another study called Christians inability to control their words as the biggest epidemic of the church and one of the fastest killers of Christian community.

[00:49:13]You want to know why James spends majority of chapter 3 talking to Christians back then about watching their tongue.

[00:49:28]I think he's experienced something about them and about us.

[00:49:34]James says, "Listen, we we got to do more than just sing and talk about faith.

[00:49:40]If we want to have a legit faith, we have to work on aspects that not only transforms our heart, but reflects something glorious and powerful out there.

[00:49:51]Embrace challenges with joy, knowing that God is going to use them. Number two, prove your faith.

[00:49:59]We have to do more than just talk about trusting in the sovereignty of God. We need to model it. And number three, we got to watch our mouth.

[00:50:12]And now let's begin James chapter 3 as he gives us three truths, three things to think about, three elements of watching our mouth that Christians back then needed to learn. And I think they're still very timely today. Look how he begins. He begins with what I call a discernment.

[00:50:33]Something we need to think about.

[00:50:36]Verse one, he says, "Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incure a stricter judgment."

[00:50:46]Now, evidently in this day, people wanted to be teachers and pastors within the church. And I don't really understand why.

[00:50:55]Maybe it's for the prestige.

[00:50:58]Maybe it's for the authority.

[00:51:01]Maybe it was for the pay. I don't know.

[00:51:05]But the apostle J or but James says listen if you can't control your words don't even think about being a leader in the church might be thinking why not Brian Brian I have great things to say I have a lot of wisdom I have a a lot of knowledge Brian I can share some things James said listen if you can't control your hurts.

[00:51:36]Don't even think about becoming a leader and a pastor.

[00:51:40]Why?

[00:51:42]Because you're going to incure a stricter judgment.

[00:51:48]A term judgment describes a guilt that leads to a disciplinary action. That term stricter describes something that is more intense and greater magnitude or greater weight.

[00:52:00]and said, "Listen, while we're talking about legit faith, those of you who want to be leaders, there is an important aspect that you need to have mastered.

[00:52:11]Watch your mouth."

[00:52:15]Because when you're a leader, when you're a teacher, when you're a pastor, you're held to a higher level of accountability and judgment. Now, that does not mean, "Sweet, Brian. So if I'm not a leader, I'm not a pastor, I can just let my words fly, right? Nope. Look at verse two.

[00:52:34]Says we all stumble in many ways.

[00:52:37]If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he's a perfect man able to bridle the whole body as well.

[00:52:45]That term stumble means to trip on something, to slip unexpectedly, to air occasionally.

[00:52:53]Look, everyone speaks out of turn every now and then.

[00:52:58]But it can't become a characteristic in your life. You can't be known as a gossip. You can't be known and characterized by angry and harsh words if you want to have a legit faith.

[00:53:19]So, how did James do it?

[00:53:23]I mean, what did James do?

[00:53:26]to control his mouth.

[00:53:30]He gives us a hint. Look at verse three.

[00:53:34]Now, if we put the bits into the horse's mouth so they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well.

[00:53:42]Starts talking about a bit. It's a crucial part of riding a horse. It goes into their mouth.

[00:53:48]It's important to direct them, control them, communicate your desires, but you can't just put a bit in a horse's mouth and think they're going to obey. No, no, no. It takes a strong hand to continue to lead in the pressure.

[00:54:04]This isn't a a one-step fix all for the tongue. No, no, no. It's just a characteristic that you need to place in your life and watch it.

[00:54:16]When I was in sixth grade, the school I went to took all sixth grade boys to Rawhidede Ranch where we spent a week learning how to care for horses.

[00:54:28]I had to feed them, clean them, ride them, learn all these weird tricks on them. It was actually quite fun. But I had this one old horse named Rosie.

[00:54:40]And Rosie was actually a sweet horse, except she got hit by a gate one time before me. Was not my fault.

[00:54:49]Rosie was always very compliant. I'd put the bit in her mouth and she was always just very easy to ride. But once she got near this one gate, all hell broke loose in Rosie.

[00:55:01]And she would fight the rains and she would pull against the the bits.

[00:55:08]He had to keep a tight hold.

[00:55:12]Otherwise, Rosie would just go her own way. The same is true with the tongue.

[00:55:17]Man, you want to control the tongue, man. You have to put a bit something you can steer it. You need to be mindful and intentional.

[00:55:30]You might not be into horses, though.

[00:55:32]So, maybe you're into cruises. That's what he gets into next. Look at verse four. Look at the ships, too.

[00:55:38]Though they're so great and are driven by strong winds and are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires, so also the tongue is a small part of the body. And yet it boasts of great things.

[00:55:56]Ships back then were powered by wind or by ore.

[00:56:01]A lot of technology has changed since then and ships and how they're powered, but not how they're steered.

[00:56:10]Enormous ships, right? Skyscrapers on their side, floating on the water, steered by a small mechanism underneath.

[00:56:25]James says the same is for your tongue.

[00:56:29]Man, the tongue is small but powerful.

[00:56:33]First thing James says, we need to think about how we use it.

[00:56:38]If we want to have legit faith, there's a discernment that we need to apply with our tongue. There's something we need to understand and consider.

[00:56:47]Man, if you can't control it, don't even think about being a leader. It doesn't matter how long you've been here or how much you give.

[00:56:56]It's more important on what you say and how you say it.

[00:57:03]And everyone needs to think about how they use their tongue. And that's what leads us to the second characteristic, the second word about our speech. Number one, James wants to give a discernment. Number two, he wants to describe a danger.

[00:57:23]Continues end of verse 5. is to see how great a forest is set a flame by such a small fire.

[00:57:31]The tongue is a fire and and the very word of iniquity the tongue is set among our members is that which defiles the entire body and sets on fire the corpse of our life and is set on fire by hell.

[00:57:43]Man, I read this the one thing I think about every time is this one one weekend I was in the desert with a buddy of mine. We went to the desert to ride motorcycles all the time. There's this one day. We always love to light things on fire. That's just like the best part of going to the desert. And his dad had this old coffee barrel.

[00:58:03]And so we decided to fill it with trash, take the lid, and we nailed it down so the trash didn't fly away on the trailer.

[00:58:12]We got to our spot, lit the fire, and put that barrel on top and just watched it burn.

[00:58:21]All of a sudden, we started to hear this really high-pitched whistle.

[00:58:25]I didn't really know what that was. And then all of a sudden, boom, this huge pillar of fire just shot like a cannon out of this coffee barrel and flaming trash just falling all over. Probably a 50 yard circle of where we were. And little pieces of the desert were all on fire. And we just we thought we're going to burn down California.

[00:58:51]James says, "You know what?

[00:58:55]That's what happens with your tongue, with your words.

[00:59:00]Think you're just having fun.

[00:59:02]It's harmless."

[00:59:06]All of a sudden, you start a fire that just starts consuming everything. And it happens like that.

[00:59:14]Wondering you start any fires lately?

[00:59:19]with your words.

[00:59:27]It's not just dangerous because of what the tongue can do.

[00:59:32]It's also dangerous because it's hard to control. Look at what James continues verse 7. And he says, "For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea is tamed and has been tamed by the human race." But huge biblical butt right there. Verse eight, no one can tame the tongue. It's a restless evil and full of deadly poison.

[00:59:56]I was thinking this week, you know, humans, we've tamed some pretty incredible things.

[01:00:02]We can make hippos balance on giant balls.

[01:00:09]Tigers jump through hoops.

[01:00:13]People have trained alligators to be pets.

[01:00:18]Killer whales have been trained to be entertainers.

[01:00:24]All the wild beasts that we can train, James says, "No one has figured out how to tame the tongue." That term tame, by the way, means to subdue it, to break down its will, to bring it under your own control.

[01:00:40]It's like, you want to know how dangerous the tongue is, man? It can start a fire that can consume the desert like this, and no one's figured out how to stop it.

[01:00:53]In fact, look how he describes it. He said, "It's a restless evil."

[01:00:59]That term restless evil, it's wild. It's harmful. It's uncontrolled wickedness running wild through our lives.

[01:01:08]It's just this dangerous animal that just has its way in our community and its culture and no one can do anything about it.

[01:01:17]And not only this, look at what it says.

[01:01:19]Not only is it a restless evil, it's full of deadly poison, full up to the brim of venom, of corrosive liquid that just dissolves everything it touches.

[01:01:35]And I've been reading a lot about the haunt virus this week. I don't know if you have.

[01:01:42]This is morbid curiosity.

[01:01:45]I looked up what's the most powerful and dangerous poison in the world. You know what it is? It's not the haunt virus. I'll tell you that.

[01:01:58]It's called botulinam.

[01:02:01]According to Google, one gram of this stuff inhaled can kill a million people.

[01:02:09]This toxin can cause muscle weakness, paralysis, respiratory failure.

[01:02:16]But as harmful and wicked as this toxin is, believe it or not, it also has positive attributes.

[01:02:27]You have too many wrinkles on your face.

[01:02:31]You inject this this toxin.

[01:02:35]It's what we call Botox.

[01:02:40]The same toxin that can kill a million people if inhaled. One gram people use for cosmetic surgery. Not only that, people who suffer from just migraine headaches, botulinam treatment for that.

[01:02:58]People who just suffer with just uncontrollable muscle spasms.

[01:03:04]Bachelinam, it's a powerful treatment for that. At least according to the Google, James says, "Man, you want to have a legit faith?

[01:03:22]We can sing and we can talk. We can preach all we want, but if we won't watch our mouth, we're going to start all kinds of fires, erode people's souls.

[01:03:39]said there's a discernment. You got to think about this. There's a danger to the tongue, man. It is small, but it is powerful.

[01:03:49]It's let pen many a fires and it just runs wild in culture.

[01:03:56]It's even worse now with texting, social media, because now we can say things without worried about getting slapped by the person we say it to.

[01:04:07]Not only is it powerfully dangerous, but it's impossible to control.

[01:04:17]It's just free to just erode and consume.

[01:04:24]When it's used incorrectly, it can be deadly.

[01:04:30]But when it's used correctly, it's powerful.

[01:04:39]James ends with a disclosure.

[01:04:43]Look how he ends the text.

[01:04:46]Verse 9, he says, "With it," meaning with our tongue, we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men.

[01:04:54]We've been made in the likeness of God.

[01:04:57]from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing.

[01:05:01]My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh water?

[01:05:17]You ever notice the same muscle we use to sing praises to God and lift him up? It's the same muscle we use to gossip about others and tear them down.

[01:05:30]The same muscle we use to bless the Lord with our testimony is the same word we use to curse our neighbors and lose it.

[01:05:42]The same muscle we use to preach the gospel to that one person that we've been praying about all year.

[01:05:53]It's that same muscle we use to break one another's hearts.

[01:05:59]James says, "You want to have legit faith? You want to be a a Christian, have a home, be a part of a church that really reflects something different and powerful and miraculous.

[01:06:15]It has nothing to do with the lights and the hazers and the lasers. It has everything to do with your words and your legit faith.

[01:06:29]James says this what we struggle with our words. He says it ought not be this way. That phrase ought not means it shouldn't be like that. It can't continue in this way. We need to do better. We can't claim Christ and claim to have a desire to reflect him and not control our words. We just can't do it.

[01:06:53]So, Brian, what do we do? How do we change it? What steps can we take? Well, there's this pastor who's now in heaven, Warren Whiz Wearsby. He's a mentor of a mentor of mine.

[01:07:08]He came up with this phrase, 12 words to change your life.

[01:07:13]Man, if you want to control your tongue, it's not enough to just not say anything.

[01:07:22]We have to use it to start start saying the right things.

[01:07:28]According to Pastor Warren Wearsby, you use these 12 words in your life, it will not only transform your life will transform all of those around you.

[01:07:44]Pretty simple. 12 words to please, thank you.

[01:07:52]And those are just easy.

[01:07:54]shows humility and respect about this. I'm sorry.

[01:08:05]I tell you how powerful this has been in my life.

[01:08:10]When you acknowledge your wrong and not only changes something in your heart, but it empowers others to forgive you easier.

[01:08:24]And two words, I'm sorry, can transform you and transform them.

[01:08:34]I love you.

[01:08:37]Moms, can I tell you, you excel in those three words?

[01:08:43]Dads, stereotypically, we stink at that.

[01:08:50]You know, my dad's now in heaven. I I don't think I can remember a time he said, "I love you, man." So, I knew he did.

[01:09:02]But I'm so grateful though when Andrew, my oldest son, was born, Gretchen, short of forcing me to put him on my lap and look him in the eyes and tell him I love you multiple times every day.

[01:09:19]Man, I got to tell you, that changed something.

[01:09:22]in my life.

[01:09:25]And it it broke a negative trait in our family.

[01:09:33]And now it's something of all the kooky things that are a part of our family.

[01:09:37]My boys know that I love them.

[01:09:43]How about the last four?

[01:09:45]I'm praying for you. It's not just words, man. If you say that, you got to mean that.

[01:09:53]I've started to put things in my calendar. I was talking to a young lady today, asked me to pray for her on something.

[01:10:02]I said, "Yeah, I'm going to be praying for you on Wednesday."

[01:10:07]Then we were done. I went and put it on my calendar to make sure I remember I'm going to be praying for her on Wednesday.

[01:10:16]>> 12 words.

[01:10:20]that have the power to not just change your life, transform your heart, reflect something glorious and powerful of God through your life.

[01:10:33]But you got to know you use those 12 words in place of toxic words, corrosive words, venomous words.

[01:10:46]you're going to have a powerful impact on the life of someone else as well.

[01:10:57]It's not just moms who pass that phrase on. You know, sticks and stones may break your bones, but words will never hurt you. It's pretty common in culture.

[01:11:08]Just flat out wrong.

[01:11:13]And James says there are one place where words are used to lift up and build up instead of tear down and consume.

[01:11:28]It's here.

[01:11:32]If you want to be a legit faith, have a faith that not just transforms your life, but impacts and transforms a kooky culture.

[01:11:47]You have to view difficult and challenges diff differently.

[01:11:53]You have to really focus Christian living isn't just about your Bible study in a small group. No, no, no. We have to start talking about how we apply that in our lives. How to reflect the truth and grace of Jesus Christ in every aspect of our daily life. And thirdly, James says, you got to watch your mouth.

[01:12:12]Because the very words that we use to lift up the name of Jesus, the same instrument that we use to tear down culture and we wonder why people don't trust us.

[01:12:31]James says, "We got to fix it."

[01:12:36]Your tongue is small and it has enormous power to destroy life or build faith.

[01:12:48]The question for you today, which way do you want to use yours?

[01:12:54]Let's pray.

[01:12:59]God, as a church, God, we're not only here to celebrate our moms, but God, we're here to continue to be shaped by you as well.

[01:13:18]And God, we confess to you as a movement, as a church. It's not just our culture, man. It was even James culture.

[01:13:26]It was true of your people in your day and in ours.

[01:13:33]So God, we ask that you'd do a work in our life.

[01:13:38]God, don't just use this series to shape our heart and our mind.

[01:13:44]But God, will you shape our tongue and our words as well?

[01:13:51]God, we want to be people and only grow in a more and more legit faith, but grow in our faith that impacts others.

[01:14:06]So, give us the strength we need to control the most powerful and influential part of our bodies, God, our tongue.

[01:14:21]God, equip us, train us, empower us, call us, God, to use it to build up, to strengthen, to edify, to encourage.

[01:14:35]And God forgive us of the times we stumble, we slip, we trip.

[01:14:45]And we use words that erode, consume a wound.

[01:14:56]God, even this week, will you help us to use those 12 words? And God, may you use those to transform our lives.

[01:15:05]and all who we come in contact with.

[01:15:08]And God again change us not not for our glory but God for your kingdom and your glory forever and ever. Amen.

[01:15:21]>> Let's stand and respond together.

[01:15:30]He who was before there was light walked across the pages of time.

[01:15:39]He who made every living thing.

[01:15:44]Behold him.

[01:15:48]He who heard humanity's cry left his throne to wake as a child.

[01:15:57]He became like the least of us.

[01:16:01]Behold him, Jesus, son of God, Messiah, the lamb, the roaring lion.

[01:16:15]Oh, be still and behold him.

[01:16:33]You died with sinners and saints.

[01:16:37]Let the blind, the lost, and the lame.

[01:16:42]Even now he is in our midst.

[01:16:46]Behold him.

[01:16:51]He who chose a criminals and paid with blood to settle our debt.

[01:17:00]Buried death as heroes tonight.

[01:17:04]Behold him Jesus, son of God, Messiah, the lamb, the roaring.

[01:17:19]Oh, we still Jesus I'll find your name.

[01:17:32]I risenior.

[01:17:36]I'll be still, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.

[01:18:01]Worthy, worthy, worthy to receive all praise.

[01:18:10]Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.

[01:18:19]Worthy, worthy, worthy to receive all praise.

[01:18:28]Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.

[01:18:37]Worthy, worthy, worthy to receive all praise.

[01:18:46]Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty.

[01:19:05]Heat. Heat. Heat.

[01:19:15]Heat. Heat. Heat.

[01:19:25]Heat. Heat.

[01:19:35]Be still and behold him.

[01:19:46]Behold him.

[01:20:07]When we went into this study, it was in a prayer that God would shift and change a great church filled with great people into a more legit a legit church, a pure reflection of God's glory to shape us and to grow us.

[01:20:32]James doesn't pull any punches and we still have a number of chapters to go yet, but my hope is that you'll continue to receive these lessons and truths of the heart in which James wrote it with a love and heart not just for the people of God, but for the church of God >> and what he has called us to be about.

[01:20:53]If you're here today, you either made a decision or you need prayer. and you need prayer with someone who will do more than just say they'll pray for you, but they actually will do that.

[01:21:04]>> You can come forward in just a minute.

[01:21:06]People under the crosses, these are people I know and trust.

[01:21:11]They've walked with me and prayed with me through some of my hardest times, and I know they'll do the same with you. If you came with a burden, please don't leave without giving us an opportunity to walk with you through it. If you have questions about our church, how you can be a part of it, we'd certainly love to meet and talk with you. You can go visit one of our orange tents out in the courtyard or in front of the kids building. They can answer any questions you have. Uh before you go, if you just prayfully consider investing in the ministry here, you can give online or in the boxes at the back wall of this room or the lobby. Two quick reminders for you. Gentlemen, uh the men's barbecue is coming up next Saturday, 5:00. Uh we're looking not just for men who want to attend and consume a lot of meat, but also people who think that they know how to prepare said meat and want to prove it in their life. So uh you can sign up if you need help with that guys. You can use the bulletin, go to the orange tent um or talk to Pastor Jeff if you can find him. Also ladies, just a reminder, happy Mother's Day to you. We wish you a wonderful day today experiencing not just the love of God but the love of your family in hopes to be a part of that. Our church has prepared some lovely treats for you out there. Uh moms, please consume this without any guilt, right? So there are no calories in this. There is no bad things in this.

[01:22:37]And certainly no one's going to be jealous that you're eating it and they're not. So please help yourself to that. It's our gift to you. Uh please receive it with our love. Otherwise, God bless you. We love you. Have a great week.

[01:22:51]>> Thank you.