Watch Your Mouth! - Sermon Wrap up from 8/31/08 AM

Words are powerful and our tongues are hard to control. In weak moments we may speak words that can do great damage. James spends quite a bit of time focusing on the tongue in his epistle and it's been our privilege to spend the past fews weeks on this important topic.

Sunday we talked about the tongue's "Power to Direct." Just as a horse is directed by a very small bit, and a ship is guided by a small rutter, so our tongues can direct people. This is why I believe James gives the special warning to teachers. What we say as teachers can change the course of someone's life.

As a pastor/teacher I am challenged by Paul's words to Timothy;
2 Tim 4:1-21 I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom:2 Preach the word! Be ready in season and out of season. Convince, rebuke, exhort, with all longsuffering and teaching.(NKJ)

The Word of God MUST be the basis of teaching in the local church! We must direct people into a closer relationship with God through obedience to His Word. What a wonderful challenge!

But it's not only pastors who are called to teach. We are ALL to "stir each other up to love and good works" (Heb. 10:24-25). The Bible calls all believers to teach and admonish one another (Col. 3:16). The picture that is painted of the church in the New Testament is a very intimate one. We are to carefully consider each other seeking to teach, and admonish one another!

This is why we have a small group ministry here at Conerstone. We feel it's important to provide an opportunity to get closely involved in each others lives! We want to help each other to go further than knowing the Word...we want to help each other DO the Word.
So let's ask some hard questions as we seek to apply the Word of God this week.

Grow Group Questions:

1. Who are you closest to in our church? What "kinds" of people are most drawn to?
2. When was the last time you taught someone in our church?
3. When was the last time you admonished (challenged) someone in our church?
4. What does our culture teach about these kinds of intense relationships?
5. What does the Bible teach about them (Eph. 4; Col. 3; Rom. 12, etc)?
6. What areas do you struggle in the most?
7. How can your Grow Group help you in these areas?