Hi all! Welcome back…this lesson is from James 3.

HERE is our lesson from last year.

Do you know what self-control is? It’s when you can control yourself…when you can make good choices on your own. Do you know what the hardest part of your body to control is? The Bible says it is our tongue. (The words we say.)

When we get angry or sad, it is really easy to say mean, angry things…and hard to wait and NOT say something. When we use our words, we can make someone feel better, or feel sad.
Using our words to be nice to other people is one way to show God’s love. But sometimes we sing songs for God, and then later say mean things to our parents, sister, brother or friend. We can’t use our mouth and tongue to say “I love you God!” but then use our mouth in a way that DOESN’T show God’s love.

But God will help us! When we ask Him, He will help us use our tongues in a nice way–using nice words that bring people closer to God; words that make people feel better, not sad.

Do you know if you light a match it can start a great BIG fire?! If you use your tongue to tell a lie, sometimes that leads to more lies and more people get hurt or in trouble and before long, it’s like a big big fire too–lots of people being sad and in trouble, because you said one little lie.

The things we say last a long time. Have you ever had someone say something mean to you? You still remember that don’t you? When we use mean words with other people, it stays with them. That sadness stays with them. That’s not very loving is it?

The more time we spend reading the Bible and talking to God, the better we will be at using loving words and controlling our tongues. The Bible says no one can be perfect, but God will help us have self-control over our words.
So next time you feel angry, or scared and want to lie, or sad and want to say something mean.. you can take a break…ask God to help you use loving words, and control your tongue.

For our craft today we rounded up a paper plate, some googly eyes, a long strip of crepe paper and two strips of construction paper.

We folded the paper plate in half, glued the eyes on top and stapled the strips to the bottom and top. Then we glued just the end of the crepe paper strip on the inside of the paper plate and it made a face with a loooooooong tongue.

Thanks again for joining us. Love to you all!