How to Be a Verbal Arsonist | James 3:1-12

How to Be a Verbal Arsonist | James 3:1-12

June 21, 2026 · 56 min

James doesn't pull any punches in chapter three. He starts by telling teachers — pastors, Sunday school leaders, anyone who opens their mouth to instruct others — that they will face a stricter judgment for their words. Then he widens the lens to everyone: our words control our actions, our words can cause real devastation, and our words reveal exactly what's happening inside our hearts.In this message, Dr. Abidan Shah walks through six vivid illustrations James uses to make his case — a bridled horse, a ship's rudder, a forest fire, a wild animal, a corrupted spring, and a diseased fruit tree — and lands on one of the most convicting lines in the whole passage: show me a harsh tongue, and I'll show you an angry heart. The point isn't a five-step plan to talk better. It's a question every Christian eventually has to ask: who's really in control of what comes out of my mouth?~~~~CONNECT: https://clearviewbc.org/contactGIVE: https://clearviewbc.org/giveBOOKS: https://abidanshah.com/books/LISTEN LATER: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/clearview-today-with-dr-abidan-shah/id1651006506DR. SHAH: http://abidanshah.com/

Dr. Abidan Shah

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