The Power of the Tongue
As we continued in our “Who Am I Becoming?” series, Pastor Jake pointed out how words have a power that far exceeds their size. Like the bit in a horse’s mouth or the rudder of a ship, the tongue is small but steers the entire course of our lives. Every one of us struggles with our words—no one’s tongue comes pre-tamed. Our speech can build up or burn down, heal or destroy, and the effects ripple through our families, friendships, and communities. The destructive patterns of the tongue—gossip, criticism, anger, boasting, lying, and sarcasm—are not just bad habits, but symptoms of deeper heart issues. Our words are a direct outflow of what’s happening inside us; the mouth leaks what the heart holds.
The sobering reality is that our words shape the culture of our homes and relationships, and our children mirror the language and tone we use. The wounds caused by careless or harsh words can last for generations, but the same tongue can also be used to speak life, encouragement, and blessing. Scripture is clear: no human can tame the tongue on their own. The solution is not simply to clamp our mouths shut, but to invite the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts, because only a changed heart can produce changed speech.
There is hope and grace for all the ways we’ve failed with our words. Jesus, the Word made flesh, took every harsh insult, every lie, every cruel jab to the cross. In Him, there is forgiveness and a new start. The practical path forward is to take responsibility for our words—repent where we’ve wounded others, seek forgiveness, and intentionally practice speaking life. Silence and solitude before God can train us to listen and to speak only what builds up. The challenge is to become people whose words are a witness to the world—people who build up, encourage, and give grace to those who hear.
Reflection Questions
- Think about your own patterns of speech. Which of the six destructive patterns (gossip, criticism, anger, boasting, lying, sarcasm) do you struggle with most? How does it show up in your daily life?
- If someone close to you—your spouse, kids, coworkers, or friends—were asked about the tone of your words, what would they say? Would they say you build up or tear down?
- Jake challenged us to intentionally speak words of encouragement and life. Who is one person you can encourage this week, and what could you say to them?
- Silence and solitude before God are suggested as ways to train our hearts and tongues. Have you ever tried this practice? If not, what would it look like to set aside a few minutes this week to be silent before God and listen?
- Jake said, “The solution is not simply to clamp our mouths shut, but to invite the Holy Spirit to transform our hearts.” What is one specific way you can invite God to change your heart and your words this week?
Watch the Message
Worship Songs from June 29
- “Honey In The Rock”
- “Spirit Lead Me”
- “Great I Am”
- “I Speak Jesus”