September 15th, Sermon & Ministry Resources

Taming the Tongue: The Weight of Our Words

Lectionary Readings — Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost — September 15, 2024

Proverbs 1:20-33; Psalm 19; James 3:1-12; Mark 8:27-38

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Call to Worship (based on James 3:1-12)

Leader: Come, let us gather in the presence of our God,

People: Who calls us to speak with wisdom and grace.

Leader: With our tongues we praise our Lord and Father,

People: And with these same tongues we are called to bless those around us.

Leader: Let us be slow to speak and quick to listen,

People: For our words have the power to build up or tear down.

Leader: May our speech be a spring of fresh water,

People: Bringing forth goodness, peace, and understanding.

Leader: Let us use our voices to sing God's praises,

People: And to speak words of love and encouragement to one another.

Leader: Come, let us worship the One who gives us the power to control our tongues,

All: And let every word we speak bring glory to God. Amen.

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Opening Prayer (based on Mark 8:27-38)

Gracious and loving God,

We come before you today with hearts open to your wisdom and love. As Jesus asked his disciples, "Who do you say that I am?", we too are called to reflect on our relationship with you and our understanding of Your Son's mission.

Lord, grant us the courage of Peter to proclaim our faith, even as we acknowledge our human frailties and misunderstandings. Help us to see beyond our earthly desires and embrace the true meaning of discipleship.

We pray for the strength to take up our cross daily, to set aside our selfish ambitions, and to follow in the footsteps of Christ. May we find the paradox of your kingdom - that in losing our lives for your sake, we truly find them.

Merciful Father, we lift up those on our prayer list. For those facing illness, we ask for your healing touch. For those burdened by worry or sorrow, we pray for your comforting presence. For those struggling with faith, we ask for your gentle guidance.

Lord, open our eyes to see the world as you see it. Give us compassion for the suffering, courage to stand for those who have no one to help them, and wisdom to discern your will in our lives.

As we gather in Your name, may we be ever mindful of Christ's sacrifice and the call to be His hands and feet in this world. Let our words and actions proclaim Your love and grace to all we meet.

In the name of Jesus Christ we offer this prayer.

Amen.

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Sermon Outline: [NOTE to Paid subscribers — scroll down for the full manuscript sermon].

[Note: All Scripture is taken from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible.]

Sermon Outline: "Taming the Tongue: The Weight of Our Words"

Introduction:

• Brief overview of James and the context of this passage

• Importance of speech in daily life and Christian witness

I. The Prominence of our Speech (James 3:1-2)

II. The Power of our Speech (James 3:3-5)

III. The Peril of our Speech (James 3:6-8)

IV. The Paradox of our Speech (James 3:9-12)

Full Manuscript Sermon Below for Paid Subscribers