For Grid and Xtreme groups (20 copies of this page) Introduction: How many of you have ever

said something bad about someone else, then, when they were around, you speak well of them? The book of James tells us that doing that is wrong. James also tells us that it is really hard to control our tongue. Read James 3:1-12 New International Version (NIV) Taming the Tongue 3 Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. 5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of ones life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. 7 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in Gods likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water. Read the passage above. Draw or list all the different things that James compares the tongue to. Try to find at least five different things. Now discuss with your teacher and classmates.

Discussion Questions ( only teachers need this page) 1. James says that a man is perfect, able to keep his whole body in check, if he is never at fault in what area? (Never at fault in what he says.) 2. In verses 3 through 6, James compares the tongue to three things. What are those three things? (Bits- in the mouths of horses, rudder- in a ship, and a fire.) 3. How does the tongue corrupt the whole person? ( Controlling the tongue is one of the hardest things to do. When a man is able to control his tongue, he shows self-control. However, if a man is not able to control his tongue, he shows the lack of the fruit of the Spirit .) 4. What does it mean to curse someone? (To make fun of, to insult, to put down.) 5. Why is it wrong to curse or make fun of other people? (Because we have all been made in Gods likeness.) 6. To prove that the tongue cannot and should not bless and curse, James uses two other examples. What are they? Hint vs. 11-12. (Fresh water and salt water coming from the same spring; fig tree bearing olives or grapevine bearing figs.) 7. Why is it so important to watch the words that come out of our mouths? (Our words have the power to destroy- just like a fire can destroy a forest.) MEMORY WORK (10 minutes) "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. James 3:2 NIV To help kids memorize the verse, assign actions to words as shown below. Have them say the verse very slowly while performing the actions. Repeat several times, until the kids can say it without help. When saying these words, perform these actions: We all stumble in many ways. (Act like you are walking, then fall to the floor and get back up) If anyone is never at fault in what he says, (Cover your mouth and open your eyes wide, as if you said something bad and are trying to keep anything more from coming out.) he is a perfect man, (Stand up perfectly straight, with your head high in the air ) able to keep his whole body in check. (Act like you are on a horse, trying to control where it is going) They can do this in the children's service when requested, so they need to get the words and actions very clear!

Poison Tongue No one can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison (James 3: 8).

Materials: Deck of cards Preparation: Take a deck of playing cards, and remove all Aces except the Ace of spades. Count the number of kids you have, and use only that many cards, making sure the Ace of spades is one of them. What you will do: Deal the cards, one for each kid. Tell them not to show what they have to anyone, and not to show any kind of reaction on their faces. Explain that the Ace of spades is the poison card, and whoever has it, is poison. The kid with the Ace will try to poison all the other kids by making eye contact with them and sticking out their tongue at them. The poison kid needs to do it quickly so that no one else can see it happening. The child who was poisoned cant say anything for 10 seconds, and then he or she must declare, Ive been poisoned. This child is out of the game. If anyone else happens to see the poisoning taking place, they can accuse the poison kid. For example by shouting, "Johnny is the poison!" If someone accuses wrongly, they are out of the game. If however, they accused correctly, the game is over and you can re-deal the cards and play again. The point of the game is for poison (the child with the Ace) to be the last one alive. What you will say: This game shows how powerful the tongue is, and how evil it can be when we don't keep it under control. In the Bible, James wrote, "No man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil full of deadly poison. (James 3: 8) We can say nice things one minute, and the next say things that hurt people. And it can be as quick as sticking out your tongue, which you should never do unless youre playing Poison Tongue!

(Skit for children's service) Power of the Tongue (3 girls are sitting and talking at a table, a book is sitting on a fourth chair. Names can change, according to who is acting)

Angela: Jamie: Angela: Kelly:

Jamie, Im so glad that you came with us. I had so much fun with you. Yeah, thanks for inviting me! I really appreciate it! Any time, girl! Yeah, just call us! Do you have our numbers?

(Kelly takes out a pice of paper and begins to write their phone numbers on it. Then, Angela gives her a soft kick in the leg to hint to Kelly not to give out her number) Kelly: Jamie: Here you go Jamie. Just call us! Any time, okay?! Thanks again! Ill call you tomorrow!

(Jamie walks off) Angela:(Annoyed) Why did you do that?! Kelly: Angela: Kelly: Angela: Narrator: her What? What do you mean? Why did you give her our numbers? Well, you said you had so much fun. I thought you liked spending time with her. With JAMIE? Are you kidding me? I dont even know why you invited her in the first place! What Kelly and Angela didn't know, was that Jamie had forgotten book and was coming back for it.

(Jamie comes back in but stops half way when she realizes Angela and Kelly are arguing about something) Angela: Kelly: She lives in that really ugly house and she always smells strange. Shes a nerd. Plusshe hangs out with that creepy kid called Bob. (Notices Jamie out of the corner of her eyes) At least shes nice, sincere and fun!

Angela:(Still not noticing Jamie) If you ever invite her again, I wont go. Jamie:(Coming closer and speaking with a sad voice) Hey there. I forgot my book.

Angela: (Turns around really quick and puts a big fake smile on her face) Jamie! So good to see you so soon! We were just talking about watching a movie tomorrow. You wanna go? Kelly:(Shakes her head in disbelief) But Angela... Jamie: (Picking up her book from the chair) No, I dont think so. Im a nerd, so Ill really need to study! Angela: (Mouth drops and in a shaky voice) um...um...

Jamie: I think Im also going to go study with that creepy kid, Bob, who is actually really fun! (All three girls freeze in place) Narrator: "Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be." James 3:10 (All exit) 2007-2013 Kids Sunday School Place, Inc. All Rights Reserved