07: Taming the Tongue - Lesson Plan

Key Thought : Words hold tremendous power. Words can soothe and reassure, or poison and contaminate.

[Lesson Plan for Taming the Tongue November 10, 2014]

1. Have a volunteer read James 3:1,2.

a. Ask class members to share a thought on what the most important point in this text is.
b. Why does being a teacher or leader bring a greater condemnation? How do we offend in many things?
c. Personal Application: Has anyone influenced you in a positive way? How did they impact you? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your relatives states: “I don’t think our Adventist schools have any advantage or difference on our children than in the public schools. Many pastors and members home school their children. Why should we put our children in your Christian school?” How would you respond to your relative?

2. Have a volunteer read James 3:3-5.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the most important point is in this passage.
b. How often do we think carefully before we speak? How can we learn to “think” before we say anything?
c. Personal Application: Do we tend to stir up the waters over things that many would consider “little” but we hold as very important? Share your thoughts.
d. Case Study: One of your neighbors states, “Nobody can control their words. If you tape-recorded everything you said in a day’s time, would they commend you to God, or condemn you for not being a true, faithful, loving Christian?” How would you respond to your neighbor?

3. Have a volunteer read James 3: 6-8.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. How does negative speech behave like a fire? How do responses either dowse or add flames to the fire?
c. Personal Application: What do you think your words reveal about what goes on in your heart? Share your thoughts..
d. Case Study: One of your friends states, “Most troubles in the church, in the home, and in the world can be attributed to the words people speak. Have you got trouble with anyone in the church? Is it because of words spoken? Even if it is not our words, we need to learn how to be a reconciler, kind and tender, rather than speak harshly.” Do you tend to agree or disagree with your friend?

4. Have a volunteer read James 3:9-12.

a. Ask class members to share a short thought on what the main idea of this text is.
b. Why do we repeat negative things about others? Why do we say sharp and cutting things to others? How do we learn to bite our tongues?
Personal Application: Can you keep a good relationship with God if you are in conflict and speaking evil about others? Share your thoughts.
b. Case Study: Think of one person who needs to hear a message from this week’s lesson. Tell the class what you plan to do this week to share with them.

(Note : “Truth that is not lived, that is not imparted, loses its life-giving power, its healing virtue. Its blessings can be retained only as it is shared.” MH p. 149.

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Sharing a thought on James 3:1-2 – I think the most important point here is that, teachers are role-models! Personally, my whole being has been shaped (to a greater extent) by my teachers. Everything I do; from how I pronounce words, to my dress code, to my menu choices, to how I interact with others have something to do with how I was taught. Hopefully, I was taught the right way otherwise, I might have to unlearn and re-learn the better ways or else my destination will not be a good one. Take for instance; A teacher who educates an average of 100 students per year would have impacted 2500 souls at the end of 25 years of his/her career – hopefully for the kingdom of God. Otherwise, 2500 souls impacted for the kingdom of Satan is a big loss!

I think being a teacher brings greater condemnation because, teachers are expected to know better than their students at least! I mean, that’s why they are teachers in the first place because they have more knowledge than their students. According to the scriptures, “… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”(Luke 12:48). So, God is counting on us (teachers) to walk the talk - remember, actions are worth a thousand words. Our students are watching and it does not matter what we say if we are not living it. If we decide to ‘preach water’ then ‘drink wine’ that’s exactly what our students will imitate. We offend in many things when we decide to live double-standards. Double-stands are simply stumbling blocks to God’s vulnerable children who are trying to figure out right from wrong.

Case Study:
One of your relatives states: “I don’t think our Adventist schools have any advantage or difference on our children than in the public schools. Many pastors and members home school their children. Why should we put our children in your Christian school?” How would you respond to your relative?

Well, in my humble opinion, there is nothing wrong with all the three means of educating children. Whereas, Jesus was home- schooled, Daniel went to a public school. However, they both turned out pretty good students and both accomplished God’s mission in mighty ways. I personally had a privilege of attending an Adventist school. Praise to God, for my parents who invested & sacrificed much in order to put me through this Christian education. It was very worth it and I remain forever thankful! And I believe, the knowledge imparted to me was not a waste, I hope I’m helping build God’s kingdom.

With all that said, I believe all the three; Homeschool, Adventist school or Public school are okay! Parents should prayerfully consider where to take their children. Parents who decide to take their children through Adventist Schools need to remember that, ‘Charity begins at home.” Adventist school-teachers are there to reinforce values that parents have already started at home. Prayer life, Studying the Bible, Dress code, Exercise, Obedience… etc…, all this is parents’ job. Again, teachers can help reinforce. Children are gifts (from God) to parents and not to school teachers. School teachers have their roles to play but again, parents… take care of these precious jewels.

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Comments

07: Taming the Tongue – Lesson Plan — 3 Comments

Angeline Namirembe on November 10, 2014 at 5:59 pm said:

Sharing a thought on James 3:1-2 – I think the most important point here is that, teachers are role-models! Personally, my whole being has been shaped (to a greater extent) by my teachers. Everything I do; from how I pronounce words, to my dress code, to my menu choices, to how I interact with others have something to do with how I was taught. Hopefully, I was taught the right way otherwise, I might have to unlearn and re-learn the better ways or else my destination will not be a good one. Take for instance; A teacher who educates an average of 100 students per year would have impacted 2500 souls at the end of 25 years of his/her career – hopefully for the kingdom of God. Otherwise, 2500 souls impacted for the kingdom of Satan is a big loss!

I think being a teacher brings greater condemnation because, teachers are expected to know better than their students at least! I mean, that’s why they are teachers in the first place because they have more knowledge than their students. According to the scriptures, “… From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.”(Luke 12:48). So, God is counting on us (teachers) to walk the talk - remember, actions are worth a thousand words. Our students are watching and it does not matter what we say if we are not living it. If we decide to ‘preach water’ then ‘drink wine’ that’s exactly what our students will imitate. We offend in many things when we decide to live double-standards. Double-stands are simply stumbling blocks to God’s vulnerable children who are trying to figure out right from wrong.

Case Study:
One of your relatives states: “I don’t think our Adventist schools have any advantage or difference on our children than in the public schools. Many pastors and members home school their children. Why should we put our children in your Christian school?” How would you respond to your relative?

Well, in my humble opinion, there is nothing wrong with all the three means of educating children. Whereas, Jesus was home- schooled, Daniel went to a public school. However, they both turned out pretty good students and both accomplished God’s mission in mighty ways. I personally had a privilege of attending an Adventist school. Praise to God, for my parents who invested & sacrificed much in order to put me through this Christian education. It was very worth it and I remain forever thankful! And I believe, the knowledge imparted to me was not a waste, I hope I’m helping build God’s kingdom.

With all that said, I believe all the three; Homeschool, Adventist school or Public school are okay! Parents should prayerfully consider where to take their children. Parents who decide to take their children through Adventist Schools need to remember that, ‘Charity begins at home.” Adventist school-teachers are there to reinforce values that parents have already started at home. Prayer life, Studying the Bible, Dress code, Exercise, Obedience… etc…, all this is parents’ job. Again, teachers can help reinforce. Children are gifts (from God) to parents and not to school teachers. School teachers have their roles to play but again, parents… take care of these precious jewels.

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Reply ↓
Shirley de Beer on November 10, 2014 at 7:57 pm said:

Nobody can control their words?

Yes they are right - not in their own power.

That is why Jesus offers us His divine power to control ourselves and our words. So it is possible for a person who surrenders her will to the LORD to control her words.

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Shirley de Beer on November 10, 2014 at 8:13 pm said:

What did James mean when he said "we teachers are more strictly judged". In James' day who were considered 'teachers' or 'masters' as per KJV?
Was it school teachers or was it the pastors and elders of the church or Sabbath school teachers?
I believe he was talking more about spiritual teachers or today we would call them leaders. Think of the problems that have arisen even in our community of faith from leaders that have promoted 'another gospel' and how many people have been led astray. We can see how seriously Jesus considered the harm that spiritual leaders do when they give people the wrong idea about the character of God in His diatribe against them in Matt 23.

I learn from James 3:1 that I must be so careful, thoughtful, prayerful before I share my understanding of the character of God because the words I write or say can have eternal consequences.

Mat 23:10 Nor be called teachers, for One is your Teacher, even Christ.
Mat 23:13 But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of Heaven against men. For you neither go in, nor do you allow those entering to go in.

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07: Taming the Tongue – Lesson Plan