Extreme Misery Makeover (January 4th, 2004)

Extreme Moral Makeover (January 11th, 2004)

Extreme Relationship Makeover (January 18th, 2004)

Extreme Faith Makeover (January 25th, 2004)

Extreme Mouth Makeover (February 1, 2004)

Extreme Marriage Makeover (February 15, 2004)

extreme

makeover

Generally, each sermon is a part of a series, that deals with applying the Bible to real-life issues.  Don't worry if you've missed part of a series.  Each Sunday will work together with the other sermons, or can stand alone to help you deal with the things life brings each day.

where nobody stands alone

Extreme Makeover: a look at James Video Clip – Fried Green Tomatoes – Road Rage Title:  Extreme Misery Makeover Thesis:  God’s renovation in your life can redefine the trials of your life. How can it redefine your life? By understanding the perfect wisdom mentioned in the following passage. You get the pursuit of God’s perspective down then all the rest of the is sermon series and your spiritual life will come. This is where the rubber meets the road in your Christian life, by understanding God’s perspective through His perfect wisdom. James 1: 2 – 8 (NAS) 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways The Problem with our trials is that we take our eyes of Jesus:  Peter walkin’ on water. Congregation need to repeat each point and then say “I love you Jesus” I. The Reality of Your Trials (v. 2a) a. Trials do happen it is not if but when they happen i. Trials are inevitable ii. Trials happen to everyone b. There is no truth found in such beliefs as the “wealth and prosperity” gospel. 1. John 15: 20 2. Job 5: 7 II. The Reasons of Your Trials (v. 2b – 4) a. Why do they come? i. God uses many venues 1. Satan with Job 2. Our innate personalities a. Our weaknesses b. Our stupidity b. God wants to mature you. i. He challenges you daily to go beyond yourself. c. Tony Evans i. Trials are designed to call your faith to the witness stand to validate through experience what you declare what you believe. ii. 1 Peter 1: 6 – 7 d. A good teacher does not test you over material that you have not been given. i. When you are tested you need to review what you have been taught in your life. ii. A good teacher wants the student to pass. iii. 1 Corinthians 10: 13 III. The Renovation of Your Trials (v. 5 – 8) a. Instead of cry babying about hard times, change your mindset i. Romans 12: 2 b. How do you gain in the midst of trials? i. You must ask for wisdom (v. 5) ii. You must trust God in faith (v. 6 – 8) 1. You must believe God, and not doubt 2. Doubt indicates that you do not believe God has your best interests at heart. c. Every possible trial to the child of God is a masterpiece of strategy of the Captain of His salvation for His good – Jamison, Fausset and Brown Commentary IV. The Results of Your Trials (v. 2 – 4, 12) a. Joy i. 1 Chronicles 29: 17 b. faith i. Matthew 9: 22 c. Patience i. Romans 5: 3 d. endurance e. wisdom i. Deuteronomy 4: 6 f. crown of life I love You, Lord And I lift my voice to worship You O my soul, rejoice Take joy my King In what You hear May in be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear

Extreme Makeover: a look at James Title:  Extreme Moral Makeover, part 2 James 1: 19 – 27 19 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does. 26 If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. Video Clip:  Liar, Liar, the first scenes where he cannot tell a lie. Transition from last week sermon:  Holman commentary – Biblical Wisdom involves more than encyclopedia knowledge.  Wisdom is a moral commitment to allow believers to endure life’s trials with action and attitude that pleases God.  Morals should be motivators. Thesis:  The moral makeover has to be born within not without 1. loose the attitude (v.19 – 20) a. Put more effort into your listening instead of your talking b. Learn how to control your anger. MHenry – if we are to govern our tongues then we need to govern our passions. c. 3 fold way to kill that head rollin’ attitude i. quick to hear ii. slow to speak iii. slow to anger d. Why should we loose the attitude? i. V. 20 – Out tantrums do not achieve the righteousness of God 2. loose the filth (v. 21a) “putting aside” means also to “rid of”, or to “strip off” like filthy clothing. Hang over Sins – What do ya mean? Like Lazarus – when he was raised from his death he didn’t come leaping out of the grave – he came out still wearing the dirty grave clothes. You can’t receive the word of God unless you unloose the filth that is keeping you from hearing God. You may say that that one sin may be alright: “Who is that knocks so loud, just a little lonely sin, slip through I answer and all hell bust in” Illustration: Getting pulled over when following Lucas with the trailer.  He got stopped at a checkpoint and told the state trooper to give me his pastor a hard time. 3. live the word (v. 22 – 25) a. The Bible is full of truth. i. These truths do you no good unless you receive them. ii. Example: 1. You may say you know the plan of salvation. 2. You may know the plan of salvation and may believe the plan of salvation … a. And still go straight to hell. 3. You are not saved by the plan of salvation, you are saved by the man of salvation. iii. If you do not receive the word of Jesus Christ, then you will not have the word. iv. V. 21b tells us to receive the word. 1. Receive the word that will save your … 2. GREEK -  psyche (soul), the saving of your mind and your will. v. The power of this book will save your souls. 1. If you want to be a successful, vibrant, successful Christian then you must stay in the word 2. It can deliver your psyche, mind, soul. 3. There is no way you can be victorious outside of this book. 4. The reason why others are anemic in their walk is because they are not in their word daily. a. They have never been able to receive the grafted word of God vi. Greek words for receive 1. lumbano – to take out and grasp – to reach out and take – an acquiring from study. 2. The word here is dekomai – to welcome a. To welcome the word. vii. You can’t just take out of the word (lumbano) – you can backslide that way … you must dekomai the word. b. Three ways to receive the word: i. With repentance 1. Carrot illustration. – A man told another man that he had a carrot in his ear.  The man with the carrot said “what”.  He repeated.  Then the man said oh I can’t hear you because I have a carrot in my ear. a. We will not be able to hear God until we take that that is in our life that keeps us from hearing him. ii. With readiness (v. 21) 1. receive with meekness a. meekness – a compliant and ready spirit b. meekness is not weakness 2. Illustration: a. In the olden days when you had a rough stallion that needed to be worked with, you got someone experienced to train and work with him.  Not just anyone could do it.  When that horse was trained, they called it meeked.  That horse had took upon itself meekness.  That means that the horse had become teachable. 3. The reason why some people don’t get the word of God, because they parade it in front of the jury of their mind. a. When they hear something they believe that they need to parade it in front of their mind. b. They are not teachable and ready to hear God’s word. c. John 7: 17 iii. With responsiveness 1. If you do not respond to what you have received and welcomed then you are a fool 2. You may say that I shouldn’t call someone a fool, well let’s let Jesus do it. 3. Matthew 7: 26 a. Matt 7:26-27 i. 26 "Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 4. Do you know what is wrong with some people? a. Listening to sermons b. You have no more intention of listening to what comes out of this pulpit, then what you heard last night on television. c. It’s kind of like a hobby for you. i. Taking truth, but never responding to the truth. ii. Its not enough for you to go away from here raving about the music and bragging about the sermon. 1. That’s no compliment. 2. If you really want to compliment the service, then live the word c. doer is a noun not a verb i. Why is this important? 1. more a characteristic or who you are ii. A verb you can start and stop at anytime, but you are unable to start and stop the essence of your being as easily. 4. live the love (v. 26 – 27) Philemon 8-9 (NAS) 8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you--since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— a. Beware a lifetime of empty religion b. A good indicator of what is in your heart is what comes out of your mouth. c. Real faith is demonstrated through Christian ministry d. Real faith is proven by a holy lifestyle.

Report from the Pastoral Search Committee: We do not have a happy report to give. We have not been able to find a suitable candidate for this church, though we have one promising prospect still. We do appreciate all the suggestions from the church members, and we've followed up each one with interviews or calling at least three references. The following is our confidential report on the present candidates: ADAM:  Good man but problems with his wife. Also one reference told of how his wife and he enjoy nude walking in the woods. NOAH:  Former pastorate of 120 years with no converts. Prone to unrealistic building projects. ABRAHAM:  Though the references reported wife-swapping, the facts seem to show he never slept with another man's wife, but did offer to share his own wife with another man. JOSEPH:  A big thinker, but a braggart, believes in dream-interpreting and has a prison record. MOSES:  A modest and meek man, but poor communicator, even stuttering at times. Sometimes blows his stack and acts rashly.   Some say he left an earlier church over a murder charge. Also had an inter-racial marriage. DAVID:  The most promising leader of all until we discovered the affair he had with his neighbor's wife. Also thought to have murdered her husband and used the power of his office to avoid charges. SOLOMON:  Great preacher but our parsonage would never hold all those wives. ELIJAH:  Prone to depression -- collapses under pressure. ELISHA:  Reported to have lived with a single widow while at his former church. HOSEA:  A tender and loving pastor but our people could never handle his wife's occupation. DEBORAH:  Female. JEREMIAH:  Emotionally unstable, alarmist, negative, always lamenting things, and reported to have taken a long trip to bury his underwear on the bank of a foreign river. ISAIAH:  On the fringe? Claims to have seen angels in church. Has trouble with his language. JONAH:  Refused God's call into ministry until he was forced to obey by getting swallowed up by a great fish. He told us the fish later spit him out on the shore near here. We hung up. AMOS:  Too backward and unpolished. With some seminary training he might have promise, but has a hang-up against wealthy people -- might fit in better with a poor congregation. JOHN:  Says he is a Baptist, but definitely doesn't dress like one. Has slept in the outdoors for months on end, has weird diet, and provokes denominational leaders. PETER:  Too blue collar. Has a bad temper -- even has been known to curse.  Had a big run-in with Paul in Antioch. Aggressive, but a loose cannon. PAUL:  Powerful CEO type leader and fascinating preacher. However, short on tact, unforgiving with young ministers, harsh and has been known to preach all night. TIMOTHY:  Too young JESUS:  Has had popular times, but once when his church grew to 5,000 he managed to offend them all and his church dwindled down to 12 people.  Seldom stays in one place very long and, of course, he's single. JUDAS:  His references are solid. A steady plodder. Conservative. Good connections. Knows how to handle money. We're inviting him to preach this Sunday. Possibilities here. Extreme Makeover: a look at James Title:  Extreme Relationship Makeover, part 3 James 2: 1 – 13 (NAS) 1 My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, "You sit here in a good place," and you say to the poor man, "You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool," 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Is it not the rich who oppress you and personally drag you into court? 7 Do they not blaspheme the fair name by which you have been called? 8 If, however, you are fulfilling the royal law according to the Scripture, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF," you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. I. Problem of partiality (v. 1 – 4) a. Do not show favoritism (v. 1) b. Don’t judge someone on their appearance i. 1 Samuel 16: 7 1. But the LORD said to Samuel, "Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God {sees} not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." ii. Some churches only want those Christians that smell, look and sounds good. Video Clip: Where he disses her in front of her front want – “Secret Friends” – Mandy Moore movie A Walk to Remember c. 3 things i. The appearance of the men 1. First man a. He’s got a gem at every joint b. He’s got a nugget at every knuckle 2. Second man a. He came in dirty b. He was probably a working man ii. The attitude of the usher (v. 3) iii. Illustration 1. Ghandi was searching for a way to lead the people of India.  He study all the ways of the many religions, then when he got to Christianity he said that this is it.  He decided to go to a local church and when he got there the usher stopped him and said I am sorry but this church is for Europeans only.  Ghandi turned around and then lead the world in what we know as Hinduism today.  A man that could have reached millions in Christianity, reached millions as a Hindu because he was judged by the look of his face. iv. The appraisal of God (v. 4) – God notices 1. Partial to evil thoughts a. Partial – have you not made distinctions among yourselves. b. We cannot make distinctions about people, b/c the ground around the cross is level. c. This is not to say that there is not to be authority or seniority in the church. i. There is no superiority in the church. ii. In the New Testament church, everybody is somebody in the church. iii. When you are partial toward anybody, then you sin against the Lord. II. The position of the poor a. V. 5 – Listen – when scripture says this we need to pay attention b. 3 things about the poor. i. Chosen by God. 1. Abraham Lincoln says that God must have loved the common people because he made so much of them. 2. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. a. 1 Cor. 1: 26 i. God has ordained ordinary people to do extraordinary things because then we cannot give credit to the flesh but to God. ii. God makes the nobody a somebody iii. God makes the despised and makes them loved ii. Rich in faith 1. Rich man trusts in his money. 2. Poor person must trust in God. a. When you snub a poor man you may actually be snubbing a rich spiritual man. b. Watch out you may be entertaining an angel unaware. iii. Heir of the Kingdom 1. The meek shall inherit the earth 2. This poor person may be a real somebody in the world to come. c. God is trying to tell us not to judge outside appearance, because it doesn’t tell us about the essence of the individual. Illustration: An Amish boy and his father were in a mall. They were amazed by almost everything they saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that could move apart and then slide back together again. The boy asked, "What is this Father?" The father (never having seen an (elevator) responded, "Son, I have never seen anything like this in my life, I don't know what it is." While the boy and his father were watching with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheel chair moved up to the moving walls and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and the boy and his father watched the small circular numbers above the walls light up sequentially. They continued to watch until it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order. Finally the walls opened up again and a gorgeous 24-year-old blonde stepped out. The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son... "Go get your mother." III. Persecution by the prosperous. a. The rich persecuted Jesus because of three things. i. The gospel hit at their pocket books ii. It hits at their position iii. It hits at their pride. b. We want to divide men by different classes – low middle and high c. God always divide men not horizontally but vertically i. Those that are spiritually wealthy and those that are not. IV. The precepts for proper practice (v. 8, 9) a. What is the Royal Law? i. Love your neighbor as yourself. b. There was a fella that every Sunday he would miles and miles across town, hills and woods to go to church.  The townspeople stopped him one day and asked why is it that you go so far for that church?  He responded, “Because they love a fella over there.” c. There was another boy that was talking about his friend to his momma.  His momma asked him what is it that you like so much about your friend.  He said, because he treats me like a person.” d. Everybody is somebody because Jesus is Lord.

Extreme Makeover: a look at James Title:  Extreme Faith Makeover, part 4 James 2: 14 – 20, 25 – 26 (NAS) 14 What use is it, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but he has no works? Can that faith save him? 15 If a brother or sister is without clothing and in need of daily food, 16 and one of you says to them, "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled," and yet you do not give them what is necessary for their body, what use is that? 17 Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. 18 But someone may well say, "You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works." 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 20 But are you willing to recognize, you foolish fellow, that faith without works is useless? 25 In the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? 26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead. I.   The faith of Good intention (v. 14 - 17) a. V. 16 - "Go in peace, be warmed and be filled" b. Can that faith save a man? Things to notice about situation v. 15 – the need is detrimental to health. v. 16 – the need is noticed b/c it has been pointed out. v. 16 – the “faithful” wishes peace, but does not send the peace.  This is a contradiction c. Good intentions do not produce good enterprises i. You will become a society of would've, could've, should've. • Faith means putting your belief into action Video Clip: Matrix part I, when Neo first jumps the building • The issue of faith involves a guide, an audience, and yourself. o The consequent of the action is insignificant to the issue of faith. o Some people will believe in your and some will not. II. The dualistic salvation (v. 18 - 20) d. Two parts of a true salvation i. Thinking the right way Thinking the right way means to put things into perspective: Illustration:  Yesterday I heard that the government will be spending 33 billion dollars on something.  They use this word billion a lot and quite loosely nowadays. Subject: Something to think about....... > > > > BILLION: > The next time you hear a politician using the word "billion" casually you > may want to think about whether or not you want he/she spending your tax dollars.... > > A "billion" dollars is a difficult number to comprehend, but one ad agency did a very good > job..... > > A BILLION seconds ago---it was 1959... > > A BILLION minutes ago---Jesus was alive.. > > A BILLION hours ago---our ancestors were living in the stone age... > > A BILLION dollars ago was only 8 hours and 20 minutes, at the rate that Washington, > spends it.... For us to put the Bible into the right perspective we must understand 3 things: 1. We need to understand where it is coming from We do not need to place a 20th century mentality on letters written in the 1st century. 2. Understandable translation 3. Accepting every word or not 1. it is not simply believing in the right concepts. 2. Soren Kierkegaard on practicality versus theory. a. "I certainly do not deny that I still recognize an imperative of understanding and that through it one can work upon men, but it must be taken up into my life, and that is what I now recognize as the most important thing." - Soren Kierkegaard, The Journals of Soren Kierkegaard, edited and translated by Alexander Dru (London: Oxford University Press, 1938), p. 15 [entry from August 1, 1835] b. Understanding is imperative, but it must be acted out in life. Transition: v. 19 19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. ii. Acting the right way 1. Salvation is proactive. a. You will speak the truth to people. i. When they need to hear it and when they don't want to hear it. Ephesians 4: 14 – 15 (NAS) - 14 As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness in deceitful scheming; 15 but speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, b. You will show love to those that don't deserve it a. Galatians 5: 13 – 15 (NAS) i. 13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. 14 For the whole Law is fulfilled in one word, in the statement, "YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF." 15 But if you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another. c. Eventually the real you will shine through and people will know who you really are. a. There will no longer be any confusion of your identity. A Baptist preacher and his wife decided to get a new dog. Ever mindful of the congregation, they knew the dog must also be a Baptist. They visited kennel after kennel and explained their needs. Finally, they found a kennel whose owner assured them he had just the dog they wanted. The owner brought the dog to meet the pastor and his wife. "Fetch the Bible," he commanded. The dog bounded to the bookshelf, scrutinized the books, located the Bible, and brought it to the owner. "Now find Psalm 23," he commanded. The dog dropped the Bible to the floor, and showing marvelous dexterity with his paws, leafed through and finding the correct passage, pointed to it with his paw. The pastor and his wife were very impressed and purchased the dog. That evening, a group of church members came to visit. The pastor and his wife began to show off the dog, having him locate several Bible verses. The visitors were very impressed. One man asked, "Can he do regular dog tricks, too?" "I haven't tried yet," the pastor replied. He pointed his finger at the dog. "HEEL!" the pastor commanded. The dog immediately jumped on a chair, placed one paw on the pastor's forehead and began to howl. The pastor looked at his wife in shock and said, "Good Lord! He's Pentecostal!" III. Dualistic salvation equals righteousness (v. 25 - 26) e. is the only way to righteousness f. To purify the wrongs in our life constitute right belief and right actions. g. Kierkegaard (his writing Fear and Trembling Is there a teleological suspension of the ethical?) acknowledges that when we have entered into the graces of the universal God, and we try to act out an individualistic action, then it produces a spiritual trial/great problem of chaos in our life. IV. Invitation a. What type of works are showing your faith? b. Three circles of life Circle 1 – those that haven’t accepted Christ. Circle 2 – those that have accepted Christ, but only by belief, not completely by deed. Circle 3 – those that have completely surrendered. Circle 2 does not exist. Why? Matthew 7: 20 – 23 20 "So then, you will know them by their fruits. 21 "Not everyone who says to Me, `Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. 22 "Many will say to Me on that day, `Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' 23 "And then I will declare to them, `I never knew you; DEPART FROM ME, YOU WHO PRACTICE LAWLESSNESS.' Matthew 10: 32 – 33 32 "Therefore everyone who confesses Me before men, I will also confess him before My Father who is in heaven. 33 "But whoever denies Me before men, I will also deny him before My Father who is in heaven. - does your actions confess His name or deny Him? Heaven or Hell?

Title:  Extreme Mouth Makeover, part 5 Introduction:  The tongue is you in a unique way.  It is a tattle tale that tells on the heart and discloses the real person.  Not only that but misuse of the tongue is perhaps the easiest way to sin.  There are some sins that an individual may not be able to commit simply because he does not have the opportunity.  But there are no limits to what one can say, no built – in restraints or boundaries.  In Scripture, the tongue is described as wicked, deceitful, perverse, filthy, corrupt, flattering, slanderous, gossiping, blasphemous, foolish, boasting, complaining, cursing, contentious, sensual, and vile.  And that list is not exhaustive.  No wonder God put the tongue in a cage behind the teeth, walled in by the mouth. Illustration:  monk silence James 3: 1 – 12 1 Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3 Now if we put the bits into the horses' mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4 Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7 For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. 1. Potential to Condemn (v. 1 – 2a) a. Do not be hasty to take an office of teaching, b/c few are fit for it for few govern the tongue well. b. V. 2 tells us that ALL – without exception i. Everyone will stumble in what they say. c. This idea that faith without works was all that is required prompts many to set up as teachers. i. We live in a time where few are tested or put under trial by fire. ii. This produces a world of self – constituted teachers. 1. Just remember all types of teachers will receive greater condemnation than those that are not 2. Luke 12: 42 – 46 (NIV) a. 42 The Lord answered, "Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time? 43 It will be good for that servant whom the master finds doing so when he returns. 44 I tell you the truth, he will put him in charge of all his possessions. 45 But suppose the servant says to himself, 'My master is taking a long time in coming,' and he then begins to beat the menservants and maidservants and to eat and drink and get drunk. 46 The master of that servant will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he is not aware of. He will cut him to pieces and assign him a place with the unbelievers. d. The world sees it condemning i. Illustration:  Linkin Park lyrics One Step Closer I cannot take this anymore I'm saying everything I've said before All these words they make no sense I find bliss in ignorance Less I hear the less you'll say But you'll find that out anyway Just like before... Everything you say to me Takes me one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break I need a little room to breathe Cause I'm one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break I find the answers aren't so clear Wish I could find a way to disappear All these thoughts they make no sense I find bliss in ignorance Nothing seems to go away Over and over again Just like before... Everything you say to me Takes me one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break I need a little room to breathe Cause I'm one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break Everything you say to me Takes me one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break I need a little room to breathe Cause I'm one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break Break break break break break shut up when I'm talking to you shut up shut up shut up shut up when I'm talking to you shut up shut up shut up shut up I’m about to break Everything you say to me Takes me one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break I need a little room to breathe Cause I'm one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break Everything you say to me Takes me one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break I need a little room to breathe Cause I'm one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break break I need a little room to breathe Cause I'm one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break Break break break break break break shut up when I'm talking to you shut up shut up shut up shut up when I'm talking to you shut up shut up shut up shut up I’m about to break Everything you say to me Takes me one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break I need a little room to breathe Cause I'm one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break Everything you say to me Takes me one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break I need a little room to breathe Cause I'm one step closer to the edge And I'm about to break No wonder God put the tongue in a cage behind the teeth, walled in by the mouth. 2. Power to Control (v. 2b – 5a) a. The mouth has the power to motivate, manipulate and control others. i. The mouth can be beneficially motivate others 1. Think about the speeches of Martin Luther King Jr. and John F. Kennedy. ii. The mouth can also hurtfully control others 1. Think about the speeches of Saddam Hussein and Adolph Hitler b. V. 3 – this is to illustrate how man turns about his whole body with the little tongue. i. That is why it is said: 1. The (little) pen is mightier than the (larger) sword. c. BUT Remember we have the power to control this tongue. d. To master this uncontrollable and contradicting member of the body is to have self – control. No wonder God put the tongue in a cage behind the teeth, walled in by the mouth. Video Clip: Bruce Almighty – yelling at God 3. Propensity to Corrupt (v. 5b – 6) a. Main Entry: pro•pen•si•ty  Pronunciation: pr&-'pen(t)-s&-tE Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -ties : an often intense natural inclination or preference synonym see LEANING b. One spark can light a forest fire. c. A single word can be just as destructive – a deadly venom. d. Notice 3 things i. Defiles entire body ii. Corrupts course of life iii. Delivered from hell e. V. 6 – it seems to mean that through the tongue “all the evil characteristics of a fallen world … find expression” i. The tongue not only pollutes the whole personality, but continues through the course of life. ii. It sets people on fire 1. while a man inflames others, he passes out of his own power, being consumed in the flame himself. 2. Matthew 5: 22 (NAS) a. 22 "But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ' You good-for-nothing,' shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. b. The tongue is a powerful tool. 3. Proverbs 16:27 (NAS) a. 27 A worthless man digs up evil, While his words are like scorching fire. Illustration:  Warren Wiersbe tells the story of a pastor friend who told him aof a woman in his congregation who was a terrible gossip.  One day she said to him, “Pastor, the Lorrd has convicted me of my sin of gossip.  My tongue is getting me and others into trouble.”  When he guardedly asked, “Well, what do you plan to do about it?” she replied, “I want to put my tongue on the altar.” Because she said the same thing so many times and yet never changed, he told her, “there isn’t any altar big enough.” No wonder God put the tongue in a cage behind the teeth, walled in by the mouth. 4. Primitiveness to Combat (v. 7 – 8) a. Notice 3 things i. Everything has been tamed except tongue ii. It is restless 1. always seeking more iii. full of death b. Illustration -'Tis slander; Whose edge is sharper than the sword; whose tongue Outvenoms all the worms of Nile; whose breath Rides on the posting winds, and doth belie All corners of the world: kings, queens, and states, Maids, matrons, nay, the secrets of the grave This viperous slander enters. (Shakespeare in Cymbellna) No wonder God put the tongue in a cage behind the teeth, walled in by the mouth. 5. Perfidy to Compromise (v. 9 – 12) a. The tongue is in a disloyal compromise b.  Main Entry: per•fi•dy Pronunciation: 'p&r-f&-dE Function: noun Inflected Form(s): plural -dies Etymology: Latin perfidia, from perfidus faithless, from per- detrimental to + fides faith -- more at PER-, FAITH 1 : the quality or state of being faithless or disloyal : TREACHERY 2 : an act or an instance of disloyalty c. 9,10. The tongue is also inconsistent. i. It is used to fulfill its highest purpose, namely to bless God, but it is also used to curse men. ii. Such inconsistency, especially in the case of Christians (My brethren), ought not so to be. d. 11,12. The illustrations of the fountain, fig tree, and vine show that "such incongruity of behavior is a revolt against nature, where everything pursues an orderly course of good or bad" No wonder God put the tongue in a cage behind the teeth, walled in by the mouth.

Extreme Makeover: a look at James Title:  Extreme Marriage Makeover, part 6 8 principles for protecting the value of marriage by Bruce and Denise Gordon James 3: 13 – 18 (NAS) 13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior his deeds in the gentleness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, natural, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. 17 But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. 18 And the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. Intro:  Fruitfulness is the test.  The opening words at once challenge the readers who profess wisdom, but by their conduct show that they have not grasped its true character.  Authentic Christians exhibit wisdom by the kind of life he lives, especially in human relationships.  The ideal of wisdom, then is moral rather than intellectual. Possible thesis:  The righteous marital mind must be a peace-loving, peacemaking mind (v. 17), and must also work in and for peace (v. 13), fostering peace (v. 18). Video Clip: I. Prepare Peace for Your Marriage (v. 16, 17) v. 16 – disorder and confusion found in selfishness v. 17 – add these selfless attitudes – attitudes to add a. Understand that the peacemaking mind vs. the peacekeeping mind (Peace Preparation) i. The peacemaking mind loves peace. 1. This mind does not love argumentation. ii. 8) Develop Your Relationship with God 1. You’ll never be fed unless you spend daily time with God. 2. Steps to wisdom a. Know God b. Apply His principles and rules to our life c. Aristotle: i. Practical wisdom cannot exist independently of virtue.  The power to attain one’s end, be it good or bad, is not practical wisdom but cleverness … Let the wrong end be aimed at, and it becomes mere clever roguery.  And just as practical wisdom implies moral virtue, moral virtue in the proper sense implies practical wisdom. 3. Find regular time with God and He will bless you a. Illustration: i. Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones tells a story when one day he was driving to his church in his Model T Ford and it broke down. Dr. Jones had about as much mechanical aptitude as I do and, being late for an appointment, he was beside himself. He lifted the hood, but he didn’t know where to start. People were passing by, but no one stopped. Finally, one couple approached him and asked, “What is the trouble?” He responded, “I do not know, it doesn’t work.” ii. “Do you want me to take a look?” the other man asked him. iii. “Absolutely!” he replied. iv. The man looked briefly, touched a wire, turned a lever and then said, “Give it a try.” v. Dr. Jones gave it one crank and it immediately started. “Thank you so much,” he said. “My name is Martin Lloyd Jones.” vi. The man smiled and said, “Good to meet you. My name is Henry Ford.” vii. This is a true story, and it demonstrates what happens when we place ourselves in the hands of the Creator. iii. 7) Pray Together Consider these statistics: One of two marriages ends in divorce. One out of three marriages that begin in a church ends in divorce. One of five couples that receive pre-marital counseling and are married in a church end up divorced. Yet only one out of 1250 marriages between couples that regularly pray together ends in divorce. II. Vision Peace as part of your Marriage (v. 13 – 15) v. 13 – james is calling the reader out.  If you are wise, then you will have good behavior and gentleness v. 14 – do not continue to give jealousy and selfishness expression…. Attitudes to avoid v. 15 – selfish wisdom is three things:  godless, subhuman, and devilish a. Working in and for peace (v. 13) i. Works will be done in a Spirit of meekness, and this – not arrogance or argument – is the mark of true wisdom. ii. V. 14 – “Do not be arrogant and so lie against the truth” – means do not continue to give it expression. b. How do you vision peace? i. Set it as a goal for your marriage. ii. Place a timeline on it. c. Working in and for peace (peace as the goal) i. 3) Set and Maintain Boundaries Boundaries establish margin.  Richard Swenson, in his book Margin, defines it this way:  “Margin is having breath left at the top of the staircase, money left at the end of the month and sanity left at the end of adolescence.” One boundary that is difficult for me in the world of leadership is that I do not want to meet alone with another woman for any reason.  I realize this is not always popular or convenient but it is essential to protecting our marriage. God’s plan is the opposite of the world’s plan.  The media screams, “No boundaries – we want freedom!” The church has boundaries – the word of God and the vision – the church lives in the parameters of these boundaries. ii. 1) Give Priority to Your Marriage and Family After creation the first thing on God’s mind was not education, national government, Israel or even the church; it was the husband/wife relationship.  Our priorities should reflect this. iii. 2) Establish Date Nights and Fun Days In our hectic world, having fun together needs to be a key priority Put the time aside; it will not happen without planning. iv. 4) Set Goals Together set goals: • spiritual • recreational • educational • financial if you fail to plan, you plan to fail. III. Live in the boundaries of peace (v. 18) v. 18 – the condition of peace is the prerequisite for the conception of righteousness a. Fostering peace (Peace living) i. 5) Yes + No = No 1. the importance of unity in major decisions a. elders only move in unity 2. If you reach an impasse, pray about it and if it is still unresolved, seek counsel from a trusted third party. a. But always remember: you are on the same team! ii. 6) Be Purposeful in Resolving Conflict 1. When conflict happens, we typically respond in one of two ways: a. We stuff it (internalize it) or blow it (externalize it). 2. However we react, unresolved conflict leads to isolation from each other. 3. Resolving conflict requires forgiveness. Forgiveness is not pretending that something did not happen or that it did not hurt. It is not an automatic cure for the heart because sin has consequences that linger. Forgiveness is a choice to set the other party free from the debt or offense that they have committed against you. Above all, forgiveness is an act of obedience to a command. Jesus tells us to forgive each other as He forgave us and He gives us the strength to do it. As Corrie Ten Boom said, “Forgiveness is setting the prisoner free, only to find out that the prisoner was me.”