Controlling our tongues. 25 April 2009

This lecture[?] is extracted from James 3:1-12
Memory Verse:"Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers ,this should not be."
[James 3:10]

What are some things/words that you've heard this week that is an encouragement to you?

Think! Why is it wrong to curse man and praise God with the same mouth?

1 Ability to hurt
(Read v5-8) A few wors spoken in anger can destroy a relationship that took years to built.
E.g. You have a friend who is very close to you. I'm sure you both will share stories and secrets with one another which no one else knows right? So ya. Can you believe if one day, you both quarrel over a small matter and maybe this friend of yours is so mad that he/she shouts out your secrets to everyone. Won't you be very sad and paranoid? Hence, your relationship with each other might be destroyed just because of this moment of folly and to patch back would be pretty hard for some of us.

What do you think are some of your struggles in taming your tongue?[E.g. in school, home, church or even in your workplace..?]

2. The power to Direct
[Read v3-4] Although the tongue is a small part of our body, it has the power to control our whole body.

How can the tongue be used in the wrong ways?
Such as: Gossiping / Sarcasm[?] / Critisism / Cursing [Anger?] / Vulgarities and of course, there's many more!!!

3. Power through God
We must be desperate enough to want God to change us inside out. We can still learn enough to reduce the damage our words can do. Read v9-12

1. Be determined to change
2. Ask the holy spirit for help
3. Come to pleasing God in our speech

The things we say can direct people to God and at the same time it can tarnish the name of God. Therefore we have to ask ourselves 3 things before we use our tongue.

• T- Truth[?]
• N- Necessary[?]
• K- Kind[?]

Celestine.

Faith that Works!!!

Key verse:

As the body without the spirit is dead,so faith without deeds is dead.

[James 2:26]

Do you believe that you are going to heaven? Why?
A faith that does not demonstrate its work is authentic. There are many people today who claim they are Christians but you can tell from their actions that they aren't. James does not say"can Faith save him",but "can SUCH a Faith save him" [v14] He isn't talking about a real faith but a certain kind of faith that people profess.
What do you think it means to be a Christian?
True saving faith brings about changes in our lives. There must be evidence in our Faith.

1 True Faith is not something that we say.

Nice words without action won't benefit a needy person. There are lots of people who can say the right things,believe the right things and pray the right prayers and yet they don't show that they are Christians in their actions.

2 True Faith is not what we think or feel.

Agreeing to a set of doctrines or scriptures is not enough. Alot of churches focus on the believing part which is good. But that isn't enough. Even the demons believe that. [Mark 5:1-13] The Lord is ONE. That was what the people at the day held onto and came together to recite.

3 True Faith is something that we do.

A faith without works is useless. Obedience must follow. James used the example of Abraham and Rahab, 2 very different examples. One was a holy man, an example to all. Our faith and our obedience to God must tally. Even when we don't understand why God wants us to do certain things at times, we have to do it out of faith and obedience. Abraham was not saved by his disobedience , but he was obedient out of faith, which is what saves us.

Rahab risked her own life by protecting the spies. She did it out of faith. Our whole lives are our testing ground. Everyday we face temptations for disobedience.

Do we allow ourselves to get caught in it? Or do we let our faith guide our actions? We all know that when we die we will stand before God with the book of our lives opened before us. If we really believe that we are going to be judged, why are we not living our lives the way God wants?

Read Mark 5:1-13

What does Mark 5:1-13 tell you about demons?
The demons spend so much time tormenting people and yet even they revere God. Demons not only believe[head knowledge] but they also have emotions. They have real fear for God and tremble.

How then, are real Christians different from demons?
They fear and tremble God and even bow down. Why demons bow down,they do so in mere fear. They have faith without repentance, love, holiness, a hunger for God and spiritual things. They have a faith without a changed character. But just believing and having our hearts stirred or touched is not enough. True saving Faith involves a changed life.

Read Ephesians 2:8-10
Does this contradict to what James say?
What does Jesus say about Faith and works? [Matthew 7:26-27]

Cg activities from April to June!!

18th April 09 = 1.30pm Youth service
2.30pm CG
25th April 09 = 2.30pm CG event at Germaine's House
01st May 09 = 6.30pm CG dinner
8.00pm JPM
03rd May 09 = The Open Sunday planned by Us!!!
09th May 09 = 2.30pm CG
16th May 09 = 1.30pm Youth Service
2.30pm CG
5.00pm to 7.00pm steamboat at WEFC
30th May 09 = 2.30pm CG
05th June 09 = 6.30pm CG Dinner
8.00pm JPM
07th June 09 = Open Sunday!!!
13th June 09 = 1.30pm Youth service
2.30pm CG
20th June 09 = 2.30pm CG
27th June 09 = CG event [ to be confirmed...]

*Just to update you all*
Celestine(:

To recap...
on Saturday, 11th April 09.

Favourtism forbidden (James 2: 1-13)

- The way we treat other people indicates what we really believe about God. Discrimination is wrong because it causes us to honour what we value instaead of what God values.

Memory verse:

If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, "Love neighbour as yourself," you are doing right. But if you show favourtism, you sin and are convicted by the law as law breakers.
[James 2: 8-10]

Celestine(:

Hi. I'm Celeste

Just to update and keep you all posted people(:

11th April 09 - CG at 2.30pm (as usual.)
*We'll stay back at 5pm after our Cg to plan for Open Sunday*

18th April 09 - CG at 1.30pm for Youth Worship

25th April 09 - CG at 2.30pm at Admiralty Event at Germaine's house till 8pm

Hello:)