2. Proverbs 13:3  “He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life: but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.”

3. Proverbs 14:3  “In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.”

4. Tongue  Reveals our character  Muscle used to form words  Determine our eternal destiny “...for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Mt. 12:37

5.  Life and death in the tongue  Pro. 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”

6.  Jas. 3:5 “Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!”

7.  Jas. 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”

8. 1. Cursing and Profanity Common today Common today Even Children use profanity Even Children use profanity “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” Col. 3:8

9. 1. Cursing and Profanity Common today Common today Even Children use profanity Even Children use profanity “But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.” Col. 3:8 filthy language - NKJV shameful speaking- ASV

10. 1. Cursing and Profanity Why does anyone use such language? Why does anyone use such language? “It comes from an evil heart” “It comes from an evil heart” Matt. 15:17-20

11. 2. An Angry Tongue Lash out – vent anger with words Hurts everyone Prov. 14:17 Prov. 15:1 Prov. 29:22

12. 2. An Angry Tongue Eccl. 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Eccl. 7:9 Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools. Eph. 4:31-32 Eph. 4:31-32 Jas. 1:19 Jas. 1:19

13. 2. An Angry Tongue Prov. 21:23 Prov. 21:23 1 Pet. 3:10 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: 1 Pet. 3:10 “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

14. 3. Makes our Religion vain Jas. 1:26 “ If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

15. 3. Makes our Religion vain Prov. 29:11 “ A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards.”

16. 1. Praise, Blessing, Encouragement Prov. 25:11 “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.” Prov. 10:20a “The tongue of the just is as choice silver:...”

17. 1. Praise, Blessing, Encouragement Prov. 15:23 Prov. 16:24 Isa. 50:4 Lk. 4:22

18. 2. A TONGUE THAT IS KIND Prov. 31:26 Prov. 31:26 Matt. 12:36

19. 3. Evangelize with our tongue No tongue but our tongue No tongue but our tongue II Cor. 4:7 II Tim. 4:2

20.  Wholesome ways  Truthful sayings  Thoughtful  Use for Good ~ not evil

21. “A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth: and a word spoken in due season, how good is it” Prov. 15:23

22. By Arthur Pigman Evans Church of Christ Evans, Georgia Sunday Evening – 9 May 2004