The Small Tongue Causes Great Evil – James 3:1-12
Pastor Tan Thai · Apr 20, 2013
This sermon based on James 3:1-12 examines three powers of the tongue: the power to control, the power to destroy, and the power to nourish and build up. The pastor calls believers to a deep awareness of the impact of their words in the church, family, and personal life, reminding them that only God can truly guard our mouths.
The sermon opens by affirming the importance of speech across all cultures, including Vietnamese culture with its hundreds of proverbs about the mouth. The pastor points out that the tongue is a major theme in Scripture, appearing prominently in the book of James with five direct references. He emphasizes that followers of Christ, especially those who wish to teach others, must learn to control their tongues because they will be judged more strictly.
The first section presents the controlling power of the tongue through the images of a horse's bit and a ship's rudder. Though small and invisible to observers, both objects direct something far larger than themselves. The pastor raises the key question: who is controlling each person's tongue — circumstances, the praise or criticism of others, or God himself? He cites his own conversion through a witness at a gas station, and Gospel examples of how Jesus' words transformed the Samaritan woman and Zacchaeus.
The second section analyzes the destructive power of the tongue through the images of fire and poisonous wild animals. The pastor recounts the historical fires of Saint Louis (1849) and Chicago (1871) to illustrate how a small flame can destroy an entire city, just as a harmful word can burn down friendships, reputations, and God's work in a congregation. He also compares the tongue to animal venom — destroying silently and slowly from within, unseen until it is too late.
The third section presents the nourishing and building power of the tongue through the images of a fresh water spring and a fruit-bearing tree. Sincere words of praise, comfort in difficulty, and timely counsel can bring renewed life to the listener. The pastor uses the image of a mother lulling her child to sleep and a personal account of visiting a sick child in the hospital to remind the congregation of the healing power of words spoken in love.
The application section offers several practical suggestions: be careful when joking with words; avoid criticizing immediately after a shared activity; refrain from speaking ill of others behind their backs; practice acknowledging fault and asking forgiveness; and pray for God to guard one's mouth. The sermon closes with Jesus' solemn warning in Matthew 12:36-37 that on the day of judgment, every careless word spoken will be called to account.