October 15th, 2021
By Jack Broomell
The series that we kicked off youth group with this fall was called Rad. We threw it back to the 90s talking about Full House, Family Matters, some of language that was used (home skillet, fly, da bomb) and even talked about the trends of fanny packs, overalls, and neon. Being born in 94’ this was actually a really fun series for me to work through and talk about as it brought back a lot of memories from my early childhood. The Biblical themes we had were that radical people fight for peace, don’t play favorites, listen more than we speak and we watch our words. While “rad” meant cool in the 90’s, we focused on the idea that Jesus was radical during his time and changed the world.
The last lesson we had was that we watch our words. I started off doing my best interpretation of Steve Urkel’s famous quote, “did I do that???”. We all remember old sitcoms that often had a famous catch line that was constantly used in their shows. We got into how Urkel was an awkward kid but even he could be mean with his words in an exchange with someone in school. If even the most goofy characters can fall to using our words to hurt, what hope do the rest of us have?
The verse we dove into to kick off our discussion was James 3:1-12
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
That kind of hurts doesn’t it? Not many of us should become teachers! Yet if we reflect we all might agree that our tongue can do more hurt than anything else. He gives us word pictures, the bit in a horse's mouth, the rudder in a boat or plane, and a spark that can start a fire. All of these are so accurate and powerful if we apply it to ourselves and our tongue.
So this week I want to challenge all of us to watch our words, not just through speech but through social media as well! Maybe even take time after reading this to reflect and write down some words based off these questions:
Write down at least one thing you said (hurtful or helpful)
The series that we kicked off youth group with this fall was called Rad. We threw it back to the 90s talking about Full House, Family Matters, some of language that was used (home skillet, fly, da bomb) and even talked about the trends of fanny packs, overalls, and neon. Being born in 94’ this was actually a really fun series for me to work through and talk about as it brought back a lot of memories from my early childhood. The Biblical themes we had were that radical people fight for peace, don’t play favorites, listen more than we speak and we watch our words. While “rad” meant cool in the 90’s, we focused on the idea that Jesus was radical during his time and changed the world.
The last lesson we had was that we watch our words. I started off doing my best interpretation of Steve Urkel’s famous quote, “did I do that???”. We all remember old sitcoms that often had a famous catch line that was constantly used in their shows. We got into how Urkel was an awkward kid but even he could be mean with his words in an exchange with someone in school. If even the most goofy characters can fall to using our words to hurt, what hope do the rest of us have?
The verse we dove into to kick off our discussion was James 3:1-12
Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
That kind of hurts doesn’t it? Not many of us should become teachers! Yet if we reflect we all might agree that our tongue can do more hurt than anything else. He gives us word pictures, the bit in a horse's mouth, the rudder in a boat or plane, and a spark that can start a fire. All of these are so accurate and powerful if we apply it to ourselves and our tongue.
So this week I want to challenge all of us to watch our words, not just through speech but through social media as well! Maybe even take time after reading this to reflect and write down some words based off these questions:
Write down at least one thing you said (hurtful or helpful)
- If hurtful, ask God to help you understand why you said it. For strength to be different and to make it right with who you said it to.
- If it was helpful, ask God to help use more of your words to love others like Jesus did.
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