Our hurtful words can create scars that last longer than any physical scar that sticks and stones may cause. Christians must harness the power of the tongue.

The tongue may be the most untamed beast on earth! James says we all offend in word. But James 3 is filled with wisdom regarding how we can overcome the beast.

James' exhortation about the use of the tongue seems to stop with James 3:12. However, the rest of the chapter provides more wisdom on controlling our speech.

Words spoken in anger or thoughtlessness, though they may not break bones, can irreparably damage or destroy a person's spirit long after broken bones heal.

The church grapevine is good at spreading news, but it can be evil when it spreads gossip and rumor. Gossip actually harms the gossip himself. Here's how.

Emotional damage from hurtful words is more harmful to our nervous system than we have imagined, lingering long past the healing time of any cut or broken bone

King David's list of required character traits in Psalm 15 starts off by setting an impossibly high standard: the very character of God Himself.

Today's society is becoming increasingly insensitive and calloused to the base and profane words. Here is how to eliminate obscenities from our lives.

Satan deceives by mixing truth with and falsehood, promoting cultural pagans or tares among the wheat or members of the church of God.

We cannot measure how much evil the tongue has perpetrated, for falsehoods disguised as truth have destroyed reputations and even nations.

We must grow in personal integrity, providing a witness for the truth to those around them, not needing the crutch of an oath to guarantee our integrity.

When we repeat negative expressions, they become reinforced, and we develop a negative disposition. Our spoken words reinforce our thoughts.

Whether we are called to welcome others, speak truthfully, keep commitments, or guard our own speech, credibility flows from consistent daily actions.

As teachers, we are all burdened with an unholy tongue, but we need to rule it to produce only holy speech. Ecclesiastes 10 focuses on a leader using gracious speech.

If we love another person, we like to think about him/her, to hear about him/her, please him/her, and we are jealous about his/her reputation and honor.

The intent of fasting is to deflate our pride—the major taproot of sin—the biggest deterrent to a positive relationship with God. Humility heals the breach.

A community can only be established upon a foundation of stability and truth. Our relationships must be based upon God's truth, producing faithfulness.

Human discernment can be developed and exercised, triggering early warning systems with the reactions of revulsion and confusion when confronted by evil.

The Day of Atonement, when God commands us to afflict our souls, is a day of self-evaluation and repentance to seek unity with Him and our brethren.

We dare not let the sun go down on our wrath. Uncontrolled anger can be a major cause of mental and physical illness. We must reconcile with our adversaries.