Turn on your cookies for the best browsing experience.

This site uses cookies to store information on your computer.

These cookies are essential to make our site work. We use cookies for a variety of reasons, including giving and content preferences.

Instructions to turn on your browser cookies:

https://www.whatismybrowser.com/guides/how-to-enable-cookies/auto

Sign In

Sign in for a personalized experience.

Connect
Grow
Serve
Care
Watch
Give
    I'm New Care Grow Serve Watch Give
  • Locations

    • USA
    • Anaheim, CA
    • Brea, CA
    • Eastvale, CA
    • En Español, CA
    • Irvine North, CA
    • Irvine South, CA
    • Laguna Woods, CA
    • Lake Forest, CA
    • Los Angeles, CA
    • Newport Mesa, CA
    • Rancho Capistrano, CA
    • San Clemente, CA
    • San Diego, CA
    • South Bay, CA
    • Extensions
    •  
    • International
    • Berlin, Germany
    • Buenos Aires, Argentina
    • Hong Kong, China
    • Santa Rosa, Philippines
    • Extensions
    •  
    • Venues
    • Lake Forest Chinese Community
    •  
    • Online
    • Community
    • Adult Service
    • Students Service
    • Kids Service
    • Get Directions
    Get Directions
  • About

    • Connect
    • New Start with God
    • About Jesus
    • Our Pastor
    • Beliefs and Values
    • Join Our Family
    • Home@Saddleback
    • Career Opportunities
    • Internships
    • Contact
  • Care

    • Explore
    • Counseling
    • Support Groups
    • Celebrate Recovery
    • PEACE Center
    • Hospital Visitation
    • Career Coaching
    • Mental Health
    • Personal Finances
    • Prayer
  • Events

    • All Events
    • Baptism
    • CLASS 101 - 401
    • Celebrate Recovery
    • Adult Trainings
    • Care & Support
    • Kids & Parents
    • National & Global
    • Local Community
    • Sports & Physical Health
    • Special Events
  • Watch

    • All Media
    • Adult Service
    • Students Service
    • Kids Service
    • Current Series
    • Small Group Studies
    • DriveTime Devotionals
    • Campus Photos
    • Apps
    • Podcasts
  • Small Groups

    • Explore
    • Find a Group
    • Start a Group
    • Study Materials
    • Manage My Groups
  • Grow

    • Explore
    • CLASS
    • Foundations
    • Message Resources
    • Retreat Ministry
    • Recommended Books
    • Podcasts
  • Serve

    • All Opportunities
    • Serve in the Church
    • Serve at an Event
    • Serve the Community
  • Ministries

    • All Ministries
    • Ministry Quiz
    • Men
    • Women
    • Singles
    • Marriages
    • Parents
    • College
    • High School
    • Jr. High
    • Children
    • Workplace
  • Mission

    • Explore
    • Get Inspired
    • Get Involved
    • Get Equipped
    • PEACE Center
    • Relief
    • Grocery Distribution
    • Food Pantry
  • Give

    • Tithe
    • Beyond the Tithe
    • 2021 Annual Review

My home campus

Select a Campus
View All Locations×
      • Home
      • >
      • Connect
      • >
      • Articles
      • >
      • Message Resources
      • >
      • Helps Me Filter

      Resource Details

      A Faith That Helps Me Filter What I Say

      Rick Warren | July 19, 2020

      What you say has the power to build a life or destroy it. You may think you are spiritual and not self-centered, but your words betray what’s in your heart. In this message, Pastor Rick Warren continues our study through the Book of James and offers insight on how to filter what you say by trusting the Holy Spirit to guide your heart and manage your mouth.

      Message Action Plan

      Message Action Plan

      Three Essential Questions
      After watching the message take some time reflect on the following three questions.

      1. What did you hear? What point in this message was most impactful for you?
      2. What do you think? How did this message challenge, change, or affirm your thinking?
      3. What will you do? How will you put into practice what you've learned today?

      ACTION PLAN: Read the following passage from James chapter 3.

      "Dear brothers and sisters, don't be in a hurry to become a teacher in the church, because we who teach will be judged by God with greater strictness.  Now we all make many mistakes. In fact, if anyone was able to always say the right thing, that person would be perfect, AND they would have perfect self-control of themselves and their body. We can control very large horses by putting a small bit into their mouths. By controlling their mouth, we can turn the whole animal whatever direction we want it to go. Or take ships as an example. A tiny rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot wants it to go, even though the winds are strong.In the same way your tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do! Just like a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire, your tongue is also a dangerous fire. Among all the parts in your body, it's the one that causes the most wickedness and spreads evil everywhere. It can corrupt and ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing fire of destruction, because it is set on fire by hell itself! People can tame all kinds of animals and birds and reptiles and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is an uncontrollable evil, full of deadly poison. We use our tongue to praise our Lord and Father, but then we use the same tongue to attack and curse other people who've been made in the same image of God! So blessing some people and cursing others comes out of the same mouth! Listen, my brothers and sisters, this should never happen! Can fresh water and bitter water come out of the same spring? No! Can a fig tree bear olives or a grapevine produce figs? No! And you can't get fresh water out of a polluted well! How humbly you live, not how you talk, shows your wisdom. If you harbor bitterness or jealousy or self-centered bias in your heart, you shouldn't boast that you're wise. You deny the truth to make yourself look better.
      That's not wisdom; it's earthly, it's unspiritual and it's inspired by the devil."
      James 3:1-15

      WHY DO I NEED GOD'S HELP FILTERING WHAT I SAY?

      1.  MY TONGUE DIRECTS WHERE I'M HEADED 

      ACTION PLAN: Evaluate your recent self-talk. Imagine someone else saying those things to you.  How would it make you feel? Does it affirm God's good plans for you?  Meditate on Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you," says the Lord.  "They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope."

      2.  MY TONGUE CAN DESTROY WHAT I HAVE 

      "If you want to stay out of trouble be careful what you say!"
      Proverbs 21:23 (TEV)

      ACTION PLAN: Is there anyone you need to apologize to for a careless word you've spoken? Call them this week, apologize, and affirm their importance to you. 

      3. MY TONGUE DISPLAYS WHO I REALLY AM

      Point: My deeper problem isn't my tongue. It'smy heart.

      WHAT'S THE SOLUTION? EVERY DAY . . .

      1.  ASK THE HOLY SPIRIT TO CHANGE MY HEART
            "Rid yourself of all the offenses you have committed and get a new
             heart and a new spirit!"                         Ezekiel 18:31

            Jesus "For out of the overflow of your heart your mouth speaks." 
                Matt. 12:34 

      2.  ASK HIM TO HELP ME MANAGE MY MOUTH
            "Lord, help me control my tongue; and help me be careful about
             what I say."                                    Psalm 141:3 (NCV)

           "Be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry."
      James 1:19

      ACTION PLAN: Follow points 1 and 2 above daily.  Rate your heart as you begin this daily process.  At the end of the week, rate yourself again to see the progress the Holy Spirit has made in your heart.

      Every Service Action Steps
      We recommit our lives to Jesus Christ. Text NEWSTART (1 word) to 83000 or email newstart@saddleback.com

      We express our gratitude to God for his goodness by giving back to him.
      Your generosity online is feeding tens of thousands of out-of-work families
      and serving many other needs. Give at Saddleback.com/give
       
      Listen to our podcasts "Doable Discipleship" and "The Well" from our Saddleback Growth team at Saddleback.com/learn

      More from this series

      More from this series

      A Faith That Works When Life Doesn’t
      March 15 - November 8, 2020
      • When Your Plan Doesn’t Match God’s Plan
        November 8, 2020
      • Having The Mind Of Christ During An Election
        November 1, 2020
      • A Faith That Can Heal Illnesses
        October 25, 2020
      • A Faith That Can Transform Weaknesses
        October 18, 2020
      • A Faith Known For Integrity
        October 11, 2020
      • A Faith That Helps Me See The Truth
        October 4, 2020
      • A Faith That Handles Wealth Wisely
        September 27, 2020
      • A Faith That Doesn’t Need To Hoard
        September 20, 2020
      • A Faith That Knows The End Of The Story
        September 13, 2020
      • A Faith That Passes The Tests Of Life
        September 6, 2020
      • A Faith That Doesn't Hold On To Hurt
        August 30, 2020
      • A Faith That Reduces Quarreling
        August 23, 2020
      • A Faith for Facing an Uncertain Future
        August 16, 2020
      • A Faith That Keeps Me From Playing God In The Lives Of Others
        August 9, 2020
      • A Faith That Keeps Me Hopeful
        August 2, 2020
      • A Faith That Makes Me More Merciful & Less Judgmental
        July 26, 2020
      • A Faith That Helps Me Filter What I Say
        July 19, 2020
      • A Faith That Handles Delays Patiently
        June 27, 2020
      • A Faith That De-Escalates Conflict
        June 21, 2020
      • A Faith That Plants Seeds Of Peace
        June 7, 2020
      • Real Faith Versus Fake Faith
        May 31, 2020
      • A Faith That Loves My Neighbor As Myself
        May 24, 2020
      • A Faith That Leads To Emotional Health: Part 2
        May 10, 2020
      • A Faith That Leads To Emotional Health: Part 1
        May 3, 2020
      • A Faith That Anchors Me In Storms
        April 19, 2020
      • A Faith That Counters My Bad Habits
        April 5, 2020
      • A Faith That Makes Tough Choices Easier
        March 29, 2020
      • A Faith That Isn’t Troubled by Troubles
        March 22, 2020
      • A Faith That Walks Through the Valley of Virus
        March 15, 2020
      Back To Top
      • sign in
      • contact us
      • privacy policy
      • career opportunities
      • internships
      • mobile app
      © 2022 Saddleback Valley Community Church