Headline: “Obscenity is not protected by the 1st Amendment!!”

Believe it or not, exactly 50 years ago today, June 24th 1957, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that obscenity was not a constitutional right and thus was not protected by the 1st Amendment. Also interesting is that 50 years to the day after this ruling, I am at Brazos Valley Camp preaching a sermon to a group of 3-6th graders on how to resist following the leader when the leader is using profane language! Despite the Supreme Court ruling, obscenity still pervades our culture and the children learn it. Even more sadly is that the children often learn this language from their parents. We read passages like James 3:9-10 and think that our mouths do only praise and not cursing. Our children do most of their learning not from teachers at school or ministry volunteers at church but from parents! Gladly, parents, you have the ability to show them how, “from the heart the mouth speaks.” When you heart is filled with the spirit, the fruits of the spirit will be produced. Think this week about how the words we say show our love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
~Josh Kellar
Taking It Home
When is it most difficult for you to talk nicely?
Are there times when you want to say hurtful things that you are able to hold them back?
Have a child read James 3:3-8. Discuss each of the metaphors used to describe the tongue so the children understand what James is saying (i.e. bits in horses mouths, a ship’s rudder, a tongue on fire.)
If a tongue is like fire, what kind of damage can it do?
Talk with your children about how even fire can be helpful sometimes if it is under control (i.e. a campfire for cooking or a candle for providing light).
Have children brainstorm other ways fire is helpful and how their tongues can be used for good instead of evil.