Sermon Guides

James 3 – The Tongue, Teachers, and Wisdom from Above

This week at Warroad Community Church, Pastor Daren Mehl brought a powerful message from James 3, calling the body to a deeper awareness of the weight of our words and the kind of wisdom that shapes our lives. Opening with the sobering reminder that “not many should become teachers” (James 3:1), the sermon explored the seriousness of spiritual influence and the judgment that accompanies teaching God’s Word. Pastor Daren humbly reflected on the call to teach and the reverent responsibility that comes with it.

As the message unfolded, we were reminded that the tongue, though small, carries immense power—to bless or destroy. No man can tame it, but through the sanctifying work of Jesus and the Holy Spirit, our speech can be transformed into an instrument of grace. The Word challenges us to reflect: Do our words reflect a life yielded to Christ?

The sermon concluded with James’ call to discern between earthly and heavenly wisdom. While jealousy and selfish ambition produce disorder, the wisdom from above is pure, peaceable, gentle, full of mercy, and bears good fruit. Pastor Daren encouraged us to be peacemakers who sow in righteousness by living out this wisdom in relationships and daily life.

This message is a timely reminder to be hungry for God’s truth, humble in our calling, and teachable in spirit. It challenges us to reflect Christ not only in what we say—but in how we live. Listen now to be equipped for faithful, Spirit-led speech.

In James 2 Part 2, Pastor Daren teaches that while faith alone saves, saving faith is never alone—it is always accompanied by works. He emphasizes that true faith, given by God, naturally produces good works as its fruit. Using James 2:14–26 and Ephesians 2:8–10, he contrasts living faith, which expresses itself in love and action, with dead faith, which has no deeds. Pastor Daren warns against claiming belief without obedience, referencing Matthew 7 to show that even those who do religious works without knowing Christ are not saved. He distinguishes between “dead works” (acts done apart from faith) and Spirit-led good works, highlighting that works do not earn salvation but reveal its authenticity. The sermon urges believers to serve others practically and sacrificially, especially within the church body, and to recognize that all good works are prepared by God for His glory. A living faith bears fruit; a lifeless faith is empty.

James 2 reminds us that true faith shows no favoritism. Pastor Daren challenges us to walk in mercy, live by the law of liberty, and love others as Christ loves us—without judgment, with humility.