All right, James chapter 3, beginning of verse 1.

If you could, please stand.

I'll ask you to follow along.

If not, where you're seated is fine.

James by the Holy Spirit is writing and says verse 1, not many of you should become teachers. Too late. My fellow believers,

and here's why. Because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly.

We all stumble in many ways, verse 2.

Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths

of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal or take ships as an example.

Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds,

they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, verse 5, the tongue is a small part of the body,

but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire. A world of evil among the parts

of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire and is itself set on fire by hell.

How you doing so far? Okay, we're almost, we're just reading the text. We haven't even

even. Verse 7, all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures are being tamed and have been

tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come

praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water

and salt water flow from the same spring?

My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine bear figs?

Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.

Let's pray if you would please join with me. Father in heaven, we're so thankful to you

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