Wholehearted | What Your Mouth Says About Your Heart | James 3:1-12 | Drew Land | 10.18.26

Have you ever said something in anger and immediately wished you could take it back? In James 3, we're confronted with a sobering truth about the power of our words and what they reveal about our hearts. Jesus said that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. So when gossip, sarcasm, bitterness, or harsh words come pouring out, we have to ask ourselves what's really happening beneath the surface. In this message, I share the remarkable story of Centralia, Pennsylvania, where an underground fire slowly destroyed an entire town. It's a powerful picture of what unresolved anger, hidden wounds, and sin can do in our lives. As we study James 3:1-12, we'll look at why controlling our tongues requires more than willpower, the responsibility we carry with our words, and three practical steps toward allowing God to transform our hearts. My prayer is that you'll begin to recognize the deeper issues behind the words you speak and invite the Holy Spirit to bring healing where it's needed. God offers us the grace to change, even in the areas where we've struggled for years. As you listen, ask yourself: What has my mouth been revealing about my heart, and what might God want to heal? Chapters: 00:00 - The Hidden Fire Behind Your Words 03:35 - Admitting We Stumble | James 3 07:10 - Your Tongue Reveals Your Spiritual Maturity 10:45 - The Excuses We Make for Hurtful Words 14:19 - How a Small Tongue Can Destroy a Life 17:53 - Why You Cannot Tame Your Tongue Alone 21:28 - Learning to Pause Before You Speak 25:03 - The People You Hurt Are Made in God's Image 28:38 - Your Heart Is the Source of the Problem 32:13 - Breaking the Cycle and Asking God to Heal Welcome to Rivers Church in Castle Rock, Colorado. Rivers is a Word and Spirit church passionate about meeting with God, making disciple-makers, and mobilizing people for mission. We exist to empower people to obey Jesus and live out the Great Commission in everyday life. If this message encouraged you, subscribe for weekly sermons, worship moments, Bible teaching, Christian encouragement, and practical discipleship content from Rivers Church. Learn more about Rivers Church: Website: https://riverscastlerock.com Plan Your Visit: https://riverscastlerock.com Instagram:   / riverscastlerock   YouTube:    / @riverscastlerock   Rivers Church Castle Rock A Word and Spirit church in Castle Rock, Colorado #RiversChurch #CastleRockCO #ChristianSermon #BibleTeaching #HolySpirit #Discipleship #GreatCommission