1. The Importance of Spiritual Health
A Study in the Book of James

2. JAMES 3:1-2
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. 

3. What we say is very important
A stricter calling?
What we say is very important

4. We will be held accountable for what we say
A stricter calling?
We will be held accountable for what we say

5. The reason for a Spiritual Health Check
None of us are perfect

6. The reason for a Spiritual Health Check
So we can see what we could be

7. JAMES 3:3-4
We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 

8. The ability that we have to control something big by something small
What we have to do is possible!

9. JAMES 3:5-6
In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. 6 And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. 

10. This tiny part of our body can be a very big problem

11. Uses of the tongue 101: Grand speeches A tiny spark that causes a fire
A whole world of wickedness
It can lead us to Hell

12. JAMES 3:7-8
People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, 8 but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.  

13. What we are supposed to spend our time taming…
We are to work on taming our tongue

14. If the tongue is that deadly, shouldn’t we learn to handle it with more care?

15. JAMES 3:9-12
Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. 10 And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! 11 Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and

16. JAMES 3:9-12
bitter water? 12 Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.  

17. The tongue is our Spiritual thermometer
We can’t have both praises and cursing coming out of our mouths!

18. Our tongue does what it does because of what is going on inside of us

19. What does our tongue have to say about our Spiritual Health
It shows us where we are
It shows us where we are going

20. What does our tongue have to say about our Spiritual Health
It should be used to get us closer to God
It should be used to show people who God is

21. What does our tongue have to say about our Spiritual Health
It gives us something to work towards
It shows us that we need to give our tongues to God