5.6.38 8.20.2017 James 1.22-25 Are you Listening

James 1:22–25 ESV

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.

The Bible is not magic.

• Entice: The Bible is not magic. It's words are not spells that we chant to get our way. It' s message is not something we get apart from assimilating it and

It's words are not spells

that we chant to get our way. It' s message is not something we get apart from assimilating it and applying it.

It' s message is not something we get apart from assimilating it and applying it.

There is no formula.

applying it.

• Engage: There is no formula. No Abracadabra that takes us from reading it to living it. In fact it takes a lifetime of commitment and often hard work. The

No Abracadabra

that takes us from reading it to living it.

In fact it takes a lifetime

sad truth is that lots of people want the results but don't want to do any work. Additionally, we who are committed to a life shaped by the Bible

of commitment and hard work.

The sad truth is that lots of people want the results but don't want to do any work.

Additionally, we who are committed to a life shaped by the Bible sometimes forget that the church is not the laboratory; here we learn to apply it in the give and take of the real world.

Expand :

sometimes forget that the church is not the laboratory; here we learn to apply it in the give and take of the real world.

Luke 11:27–28 ESV

27 As he said these things, a woman in the crowd raised her voice and said to him, “Blessed is the womb that bore you, and the breasts at which you nursed!” 28 But he said, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!”

• Expand :. From the time that Jesus made this assertion through the Apostolic doctrine found in the rest of the New Testament-throughout

From the time that Jesus made this assertion through the Apostolic doctrine found in the rest of the New Testament-throughout all church history to our own day the job of the Church is to help Christians

the Church is to help Christians "Keep the Word".

"Keep the Word".

all church history to our own day the job of the Church is to help Christians "Keep the Word". The purpose of preaching is to teach the Bible in such a

The purpose of preaching is to

teach the Bible in such a way that people become "keepers of the Word."

is to teach the Bible in such a way that people become "keepers of the Word."

And so this morning we come to

"Be doers of the word and not hearers only…"

We quote the Word, or misquote it.

We trot it out to score points in debate.

Sometimes we will do anything other than simply

hearing and doing.

This is what gets me up in the morning. How to make God's case for paying attention to, being obedient to, and acting upon the Word of God…or as James describes it here "the perfect law of liberty."

way that people become "keepers of the Word." And so this morning we come to "Be doers of the word and not hearers only…" We quote

it, or misquote it trot it out to score points in debate sometimes we will do anything other that simply hearing and doing.

• Excite: This is what gets me up in the morning. How to make God's case for paying attention to, being obedient to, and acting upon the Word of God…

It is only in doing the Word that we show we know the Word.

or as James describes it here "the perfect law of liberty."

• Explore:

Explain: James proposes a contrast between those who pretend and those who are purposeful in their attention to the Word.

First consider what he says about Pretenders...

▾ Explain: James proposes a contrast between those who pretend and those who are purposeful in their attention to the Word.

Prentenders.

▾ Prentenders.

Deceive themselves

• Decieve themselves

Look but do not remember.

• Look but do not understand.

Shaving Illustration: When you use good tools, sharp blades and follow proper preparation and technique you learn to remember your face…or you risk badly cutting yourself.

Lose focus

• Lose focus

Practicers

▾ Practicers (a practicer is someone who…)

(a practicer is someone who…)

Pays Attention

• Pays Attention

Acts upon what is heard.

• Acts upon what is heard.

Applies what is understood.

• Applies what is understood.

Is Blessed.

• Is Blessed.

Getting it...

▾ Shut Down:

The scientific disciplines are taught with a combination of

The scientific disciplines are taught with a combination of lecture and laboratory

•

lecture and laboratory

You don’t learn to shoot a firearm or catch a fish by reading a good book about hunting or fishing

You don’t learn to shoot a firearm

without going to the range

You don’t learn to drive

without getting behind the wheel

You don’t learn to drive without getting behind the wheel

Lecture and laboratory

Lecture and laboratory

And you can’t apply the Bible by just reading it or hearing sermons

And you can’t apply the Bible by just reading it or hearing sermons

Hearing and doing

Assent and action

Hearing AND doing

Assent and action

Our first response to the Word, the first thing we do, the first act of obedience is...

Submitting to Christ

Our first response to the word the first thing we do the first act of obedience is submitting to Christ

The act of walking the aisle is easy compared to dealing with ridicule or temptation

The act of walking the aisle is easy compared to dealing with ridicule or temptation

Being baptized is a cakewalk compared with learning to turn the other cheek or react with meekness when falsely accused

Being baptized is a cakewalk compared with learning to turn the other cheek or react with meekness when falsely accused

You have heard the Word.

You have heard the Word.

We have gazed this morning into the perfect law of liberty

You have heard the Word.

We have gazed this morning into the perfect law of liberty

What will you do?

What will you do?

What will you do?