Jacob
Lead teaching Pastor
Pastor Jacob and his wife, Kym, are the founders of The Heights, a church born out of a deep love for their local community. Whether he’s coaching on the youth wrestling mats, serving as a police and fire chaplain, or partnering with local churches and friends down in Mexico, Jacob’s heart is all about serving people. From learning Spanish to sharing incredible meals, he loves connecting across cultures and is deeply committed to helping people discover grace and follow Jesus every day.
Title: Part 4: James 3:5-6
Subtitle: Bridges
Speaker: Jacob/Kym Powers
Date: 8..16.26
Big idea: Your words are rarely neutral; they are either building bridges or burning bridges
Main Point: Integrity stops the fire before it burns the bridge.
Puente: Read. Speak. Connect. Join a 30/30 partner with members from Case De Fe, make a friend, and learn a new language. More information: Click here
Subtitle: Bridges
Speaker: Jacob/Kym Powers
Date: 8..16.26
Big idea: Your words are rarely neutral; they are either building bridges or burning bridges
Main Point: Integrity stops the fire before it burns the bridge.
Puente: Read. Speak. Connect. Join a 30/30 partner with members from Case De Fe, make a friend, and learn a new language. More information: Click here
Anchor Passage: James 3:2 NLT Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
Prophetic Thought: We’ve all seen how fast a single moment can spin out of control. It starts with a joke that hits too close to home, a quiet gossip session behind closed doors, a subtle lie, or a false accusation that sticks. In an instant, one phrase drops a spark that sets fire to years of trust. Words aren't harmless, and the Bible warns us that our tongues can burn down a bridge in seconds. But God offers a better way forward. The Holy Spirit wants to lead us, gift us, and grow us—not just so we flourish, but so we multiply. As our hearts change, the words coming out of our mouths will change too, moving us from living for ourselves to living for the good of others.
Application: Deception rarely starts as a massive explosion; it begins with the quiet sparks of lies, half-truths, and backbiting that steer the people around us into a fire. We see it when a husband or wife omits a small truth and weakens the foundation of their marriage, or when a friend passes along relational slander disguised as concern. When we choose subtle dishonesty, we aren't just misusing our words—we are actively burning down the connection where God intended for us to build a relationship. Integrity means that when a spark of deception or gossip lands in your lap, you have the courage to crush it before it catches flame. Ultimately, integrity stops the fire before it burns the bridge, choosing to speak truth directly to someone's face in love rather than dropping seeds of destruction behind their back.
James 3:1-2 NLT 3 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
James 3:3-5 NLT 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
James 3:5–6 (NLT) In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
Proverbs 18:21 NLT: 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Proverbs 26:20–21 NLT: Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.
Prophetic Thought: We’ve all seen how fast a single moment can spin out of control. It starts with a joke that hits too close to home, a quiet gossip session behind closed doors, a subtle lie, or a false accusation that sticks. In an instant, one phrase drops a spark that sets fire to years of trust. Words aren't harmless, and the Bible warns us that our tongues can burn down a bridge in seconds. But God offers a better way forward. The Holy Spirit wants to lead us, gift us, and grow us—not just so we flourish, but so we multiply. As our hearts change, the words coming out of our mouths will change too, moving us from living for ourselves to living for the good of others.
Application: Deception rarely starts as a massive explosion; it begins with the quiet sparks of lies, half-truths, and backbiting that steer the people around us into a fire. We see it when a husband or wife omits a small truth and weakens the foundation of their marriage, or when a friend passes along relational slander disguised as concern. When we choose subtle dishonesty, we aren't just misusing our words—we are actively burning down the connection where God intended for us to build a relationship. Integrity means that when a spark of deception or gossip lands in your lap, you have the courage to crush it before it catches flame. Ultimately, integrity stops the fire before it burns the bridge, choosing to speak truth directly to someone's face in love rather than dropping seeds of destruction behind their back.
James 3:1-2 NLT 3 Dear brothers and sisters,[a] not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.
James 3:3-5 NLT 3 We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. 4 And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though the winds are strong. 5 In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches.
James 3:5–6 (NLT) In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand speeches. But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
Proverbs 18:21 NLT: 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
Proverbs 26:20–21 NLT: Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops. A quarrelsome person starts fights as easily as hot embers light charcoal or fire lights wood.