James Teachers and the Tongue

 

James

Teachers and the Tongue

What is on your tongue?

We are to be teachers of the truth?

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.         2 Timothy 2:15-16

Correctly handle the Word of Truth

Avoid godless chatter

Remember the Great Teacher, who came as “the Word became flesh”

 Who was “full of grace and truth”

We are all in some degree a teacher

We need to be teachers who never forget we will be judged with a stricter standard 

So be very careful to guard your tongue

Remember “we all stumble in many ways”

As teachers strive to be perfect in what you say and what you do

Strive to be like Jesus, be a teacher full of grace and truth

 

 

Teachers and the Tongue

 

We are all teachers to some extent.

 

The two year old brother will

be a teacher to his baby brother.

 

You don’t have to be an expert to teach.

 

You don’t have to aspire to be a teacher to teach.

 

On the other hand, many of us want to be teachers.

 

I am in that camp, I love to teach.

 

I love to explain things.

 

I love to see people know what I know.

 

James in Chapter 3 is not trying

to reduce teachers when he says…

 

Not many of you should presume to be teachers.

 James 3:1

 

James knew the need for more

teachers and Jesus’ final command…

 

Therefore go and make disciples of all nations.

 Matthew 28:19

 

The word Disciple means “student”.

 

Our commission is to make students of all nations.

 

That is a big task.

 

 And you can’t be a student without a teacher.

 

James reminds us that being a teacher

does not mean you are always right.

 

 James is quick to point out…

 

 “We all stumble in many ways.”

 

James was a leader of teachers…

 

 Not only in Jerusalem, but a leader

to those who were sent out of Jerusalem

to the outer most parts of the earth.

 

James was well aware of the

conflicts that arise from teaching.

 

According to our records, James was good at

speaking to the issues that arose from the teachers.

 

Example…

 

 “When they finished, James spoke up…”

Acts 15:13

 

James’ warning is not to reduce teacher…

 But to show us how to deal

with our problems as teachers.

 

The first thing we see is…

 

“Not many of you should presume to be teachers.”

 

There are things we have no

right teaching others about.

 

I am recognized by some as a teacher

and there are times people will come to

me for answers or my words on a subject.

 

Sometimes I don’t have the facts,

I don’t have the answers.

 

In those times I need to choose

my words very carefully.

 

Because people are looking to…

 

 “Take to the bank what I say”.

 

The apostle Paul was in this

situation in teaching the Corinthians.

 

In 1 Corinthians 7,

Paul was writing on marriage.

 

 In verse 40, he says…

 

But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment:

and I think also that I have the Spirit of God. KJV

 

Notice “my judgment” and

“I think…I have the spirit of God”.

 

Paul shared his opinion

and let the people know it. 

 

As teachers, we want to speak

authoritatively, but we should remember…

 

When you say “thus sayeth the Lord” you are

committed and will be judged, true or false.

 

But when we let people know when

we are speaking our opinion…

 

 We give the hearer the choice to

accept or not accept our words.

 

We keep the option to change our mind.

 

Don’t always presume to be a teacher

even if you are, there are some

things you are not qualified to teach.

 

 The second point James makes is

the comparison to a “perfect man”.

 

If what we say is never at fault, our body

language, our actions will be bridled.

 

There are issues that bring out our emotions.

 

The Bible says, "In your anger do not sin".

 Psalms 4:4; Ephesians 4:26

 

We can’t think right, when we are angry.

 

Our judgment is clouded and we say

and do things that are not right.

 

Recognize we all stumble.

 

One of the many ways is when we let

anger or our emotions get in the way.

 

We are to be teachers of the truth.

 

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. Avoid godless chatter, because those who indulge in it will become more and more ungodly.         2 Timothy 2:15-16

 

Correctly handle the Word of Truth.

 

Avoid godless chatter.

 

Remember the Great Teacher…

 

 Who came as “the Word became flesh”

 

Who was “full of grace and truth”

 

We are all in some degree a teacher.

 

We need to be teachers who never forget

we will be judged with a stricter standard.

 

So be very careful to guard your tongue.

 

Remember…

 

 “We all stumble in many ways”

 as teachers strive to be perfect in

what you say and what you do.

 

Strive to be like Jesus,

 be a teacher full of grace and truth.

 

 

Scripture Reading

 

James 3:1-2 NIV

 

3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check.