The Tongue

J. Michael Shannon

Recently
newspapers, radio and TV carried the tragic, but comic, story of a
man who was determined to finally get rid of a troublesome mouse.
The man threw the stunned mouse on a pile of leaves he was burning.
The mouse caught fire and ran back into the house. Lucian Mares
watched helplessly as the mouse caused his entire house to go up in
flames. The apostle James was certainly right when he talked about
the tongue and described it as a fire. Even a small flame can cause a
great fiery destruction. (James 3:5, 6)

_______________
J. Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati, OH.

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The Tongue

J. Michael Shannon

In
South Korea some people are getting operations on their tongue, but not for
a true medical reason. They are getting the operations so that they can say
their L and R sounds like an American. This ability is greatly prized in the
business world is South Korea. The procedure involves snipping the thin tissue
under the tongue, making it longer and nimbler. Some of us need an operation
on our tongues and it has nothing to do with the L and R sound. Some of us need
to let the Lord operate on our tongues so we will say only that which edifies,
or even at times to say nothing at all.

_______________
J.
Michael Shannon is professor of preaching at Cincinnati Bible College in Cincinnati,
OH.

View more sermon illustrations for inspiration for your next message.

The Tongue

J. Michael Shannon

In South Korea
some people are getting operations on their tongue, but not for a true medical
reason. They are getting the operations so that they can say their L and R sounds
like an American. This ability is greatly prized in the business world is South
Korea. The procedure involves snipping the thin tissue under the tongue, making
it longer and nimbler. Some of us need an operation on our tongues and it has
nothing to do with the L and R sound. Some of us need to let the Lord operate
on our tongues so we will say only that which edifies, or even at times to say
nothing at all.

____________________

Michael Shannon,
Preaching March/April 2004

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The Tongue

There is an ancient fable about a monster known as Proteus who had the power of assuming many shapes and appearances. He could become a tree or a pebble, a lion or a dove, a serpent or a lamb. He seemed to have little difficulty in passing from one form into another.

That fabled creature reminds me of the human tongue. It can bless or curse; it can express praise or whisper slander; it can speak a word or encouragement or spread the poison of vindictive hatred (James 1:10, 11).

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