Sermon Tone Analysis

James has just written to his believing friends that their spiritual birth was the product of God’s Word – (1:18)!

NOW he is about to challenge them to take this same Word seriously in their DAILY WALK!

The REALITY of outward trials and inward temptations call for something more than an initial experience with God!

His wisdom is needed EVERY DAY!

And one of the BEST SOURCES for God’s WISDOM is the Word of God!

READ TEXT (James 1:19-27) - PRAY

In this central passage on the importance and priority of God’s Word, James takes us through a SIX-STEP process that begins with the necessary preparation for study and ends with the difference the Bible can make in a person’s life.

I. Step One: PREPARATION – (1:19-21a)

A. CONCENTRATE Your Attention – (v.19a) – “Know this…let every person be quick to hear…”

In James’ day this was very important because most learning was done through listening!

Few believers had copies of the Scriptures—they depended on hearing them read and preached in public services!

In OUR CULTURE TODAY, many are indifferent to the Word of God – (2 Timothy 4:3-4)

B. CONTROL Your TONGUE – (v.19b) – “…slow to speak”

Epictetus – “Nature has given to man one tongue, but two ears, that we may hear from others twice as much as we speak.”

C. CONTAIN Your ANGER – (vv.19c-20)

Often in the early church assemblies, the anger of the participants would come out as different ones expounded with own personal opinions about various issues.

“…anger”(“wrath”) meant “an ongoing attitude of bitterness and dislike.”

REMINDER, (v.19) says, “…let every person…” There’s no excuses or exceptions!

Your hair color, or heritage, or upbringing does not give you a pass!

(v.20) – Such an attitude was in opposition to the “…righteousness of God!”

D. CLEAN UP Your LIFE – (v.21a) – “Therefore put away all filthiness…”

If your MORAL life is out of control, the result can be devastating to understanding God’s Word!

“…and rampant wickedness” (NKJV – “overflow of wickedness”) – Some sins we commit affect only ourselves!

However, there are other sins that overflow and touch the lives of others!

II.

Step TWO: RECEPTION – (1:21b)

“…receive” (NIV – “accept”; NRSV – “welcome”) is translated several times in the NT as “welcome!”

We are not to passively examine the Word, but we are to welcome it into our hearts!

As to the manner, we receive with “…meekness the implanted word” (NIV – “with humility”)!

I literally bow before the wisdom and will of God, admitting that I do not have the answers for life.

It is all to possible to read the Bible without letting it speak to us!

Pride (the opposite of humility), hardness, and sin can make us unresponsive and unreceptive.

FINALLY (this morning), it is the, “…implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”