James: The Mighty Tongue
James 3:5 – The Mighty Tongue
Scripture reference: “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles.”
Objectives:
- Even tiny students should be able to say “the tongue is a fire”, while older students should be able to recite the verse.
- Students should be able to give examples of times they have hurt someone with something they have said.
- Student should express repentance for these bitter words.
Possible Lesson Plan:
- Open with prayer. This letter was written by James. Who was James? James was a half-brother of Jesus and the bishop of the church in Jerusalem. Where is Jerusalem? Find it on the map.
- Review the verse and discuss its meaning. Practice reciting to each other.
3. Stick out your tongues and look at each others’. What does a tongue look like? What does it do? Taste, swallowing, and talking are all functions of the tongue. Try to talk with your tongue stuck out. Funny!
Discuss examples of people hurting each other with the tongue – try to get the students to come up with these from their own experience. Be sure lying, bragging, gossiping, and anger are included, with an example appropriate to the age of the child. What about Pinocchio? Any stories from the Bible? How about Joseph’s brothers lying to their father Jacob and Potiphar’s wife lying to Potiphar? Review the story in your children’s Bibles. Were people hurt by these tongues? How do you feel when someone says hurtful words – words of lying and anger? Do you feel as if you have been burned? So the tongue is a fire, burning other people.
- Do the “Mighty Tongue” craft: Begin with a 10-12-inch paper plate. Cut a slit for the mouth 2 inches wide. Cut a tongue 5” long from red paper 2” wide, with a base 4” wide. Decorate the plate as a face. Slide the tongue into the mouth from behind the plate. Children can waggle the tongue by pulling on the base behind the plate.
- Close with prayer – be sure to ask God’s forgiveness for the sins of the tongue described by the children and for His help in at least one specific area for the next week.