Taming the tongue: v1-12
- Why would teachers be judged more strictly? What is your image of yourself when you are teaching? What is your attitude?
- If you're perfect, you have nothing to worry about. Otherwise, you've got a problem...your tongue! Ever "wish you hadn't said that?" Ever let your emotion escape out your mouth before you realized you were feeling so strong?
- How do you keep your tongue in check? Jesus suggests that it doesn't start with the tongue. (See Matth 23:25-28; also Luke 11:39) "First clean the inside of the cup and dish and then the outside also will be clean." How do we do that? What does it mean for us to be "clean" inside?
- James paints a dark picture of the havoc we can cause with our tongue. If it is so impossible to tame, what are we to do? What are steps you need to take?
Two kinds of wisdom: v13-18
- James contrasts how we may think of ourselves as wise, as understanding, but that may not jive with our deeds. How does this relate to his earlier discussion of "those who are teachers"?
- Why is humility better for us than what people ("the world") consider wisdom? What are the risks of thinking you are wise or superior in some way? How might that affect your actions towards others?
- What are the characteristics of "wisdom from heaven"? How important to you is that? Can you envision it? What steps can you take to get there?
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