Emphasizes the importance of not just hearing God's Word, but actively living it out, highlighting the blessings that come from doing so and the dangers of failing to do so.
Good morning, family. Today, we're going to talk about three things: being doers of the Word, the blessing of doing, and the danger of not doing. We're going to dive into the book of James. Now, you know, James doesn't mince words. He's pretty straightforward about what it means to be a follower of Christ. He challenges us to not just hear the Word, but to do what it says.
In the words of Mother Teresa, "Faith in action is love, and love in action is service. By transforming that faith into living acts of love, we put ourselves in contact with God Himself, with Jesus our Lord." This quote is a powerful reminder of our calling as Christians to live out the truth of God's Word, even when it's tough.
Let's look at our scripture for today's sermon. It's from James 1:22-26:
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does. If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless."
Let's pray as we start.
Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your Word. It's a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. As we dive into Your Word today, give us the grace to not just be hearers, but doers of Your Word. Open our hearts and minds to receive Your message today. In Jesus' name, we pray, Amen.
Let's get started.
Being doers of the Word is not just about listening to the Word or reading it; it's about living it out in our daily lives. The book of James is quite clear on this. In James 1:22, we are admonished to be doers of the Word and not hearers only. This is a call to action. It's a call to live out our faith in a practical, tangible way.
Not about earning salvation: It's not about trying to work our way into God's good graces. Our salvation is a gift from God, freely given to us through faith in Jesus Christ. Being doers of the Word is about living out that faith. It's about demonstrating our love for God through our actions.
Take seriously the teachings of Jesus and the apostles: It means that we strive to live out the values and principles that are laid out in the Bible. It means that we seek to love our neighbors as ourselves, to forgive those who have wronged us, to seek justice, to show mercy, and to walk humbly with our God.
Willing to stand up for what is right: We need to do so even when it's not popular or easy. It means that we are willing to make sacrifices for the sake of the gospel. It means that we are willing to be in trouble with men in order to be right with God.
Also about what we don't do: James 1:26 warns us that if we think we are religious but do not bridle our tongues, we deceive ourselves and our religion is useless. In other words, being a doer of the Word means that we must also strive to control our speech, to avoid gossip, slander, and unkind words.
Not easy: It requires discipline, commitment, and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones. It requires us to constantly examine our lives and our actions, to ensure that they align with the teachings of the Bible. It requires us to be intentional about our faith, and to make conscious decisions each day to live out the Word of God.
A lifelong journey: It's not something that we can achieve overnight. It's a process of growth and maturation, of learning and unlearning, of striving and failing and striving again. But it's a journey that is worth every step. Because as we strive to be doers of the Word, we draw closer to God, we grow in our faith, and we become more like Jesus.
Pastor, here would be a good place to share a personal story about how you practice doing and not just reading the Word of God. Is it difficult for you? Why or why not?
Doing is not just about ticking off a checklist of good deeds or religious activities ... View this full PRO sermon free with PRO
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