James: Putting Truth Into Practice
How often have we thought we were impressing God with lips that could spout Bible verses, but our LIVES were not demonstrating that we took God’s Word seriously enought to actually obey what God had said to do?
Join Pastor Larry in James 1:19-27. How thankful we are for the work of the Spirit to convict us at CCC of our hypocrisy and to empower us toward gospel-fueled obedience to God’s Word!
Application Questions
Receiving the implanted word
James says that the “word” (see: the gospel, or more generally the Bible) has been “implanted” in these Christians. Yet he calls them to “receive” it as well. What is he getting at by commanding them to receive God’s word?
Hearing God’s word
James says that Christians must be “doers” of God’s word, not merely hearers. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves…Before we jump to the importance of “doing” God’s word, let’s think through how we “hear” God’s word. Because if we don’t really hear it rightly, we can’t live it rightly.
On a scale of 1 to 10, how much would you say you value the regular intake of God’s word? Why?
In an average week, how often—and in what ways—are you “hearing” God’s word? (think: sermon, individual reading, family reading, etc.)…Note: don’t let this turn into a boasting session—since that would run counter to the teaching of this passage!
On a practical level, how do you approach listening to God’s word (whether in sermons, individual reading, etc.)? How conducive is your approach to being deeply impacted by the Holy Spirit as you approach the word?
How might you be able to adjust your attitude or approach to these times in order to help you be more sensitive to what the Spirit might be showing you (e.g. amount of time dedicated, removal of distractions, note-taking, prayer beforehand, meditation as opposed to quick reading, journaling to process things, etc.)?
Doing what God’s word says
What are ways that God’s Word has challenged or changed you in recent days? As a mirror intended to show you your own soul, what has it shown you? If you struggle to answer this question, why do you think that is?
How can your Life Group improve at challenging each other to actually obey God’s Word (increased accountability, more focused discussion, specific prayer, confession, etc.)?
Children's Bulletin for June 24
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DownloadJames 1:19-27
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
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.
26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. (ESV)