Big Boy Bible

Big Boy Bible

James 1:19-27

Do you remember your first Bible? There’s something special about the Bible. Some of own more copies of the Bible than we could read in four lifetimes. I got a large family Bible from the Bangs side that Miriam called, “the real Bible.” I have my grandfather’s Bible.

• The Bible is an amazing book. It was written by other 40 authors, including: Shepherds, farmers, physicians, fishermen, warriors, kings. The first English translation came in 1382 by John Wycliffe. It has been translated into over 2,000 languages. It was not only the first book ever printed (the Gutenberg), but also the first word spoken on radio was from the Bible (Dec. 24,1906.) It is not only the bestselling book in all the world, it is also the most shoplifted book.
• The Bible is a great read. It take us inside of the most exciting moments of the history of everything that exits. The Bible takes us to the very moment of creation; it transports us to a worldwide flood and shows us the walls at Jericho falling. It tells us about God, angels, the Resurrection, Satan and transports us clear to the end of the world and the world beyond!
• The Bible is God’s story. It doesn’t tell everything there is to know, it tells the story of God redeeming mankind.

… what if we moved beyond all of that and did it?

James 1:19-27 is all about God’s Word:

James 1:21: Receive the “implanted word” with meekness.

James 1:21: The implanted word is able to save your souls.

James 1:22: Be doers of the word, not hearers only.

James 1:25: We look into the “perfect law.”

James 1:25: The law of liberty.

Remember your first Bible? When you first started learning the Bible? The real “big boy” (or big girl) Bible is when we start doing what it says.

I. Take God’s Word

• James 1:21, receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
• What is the “implanted” word? It probably is a reference to Jer. 31:33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts.
• He says: The Word of God is much more than written on stone. (10) More than a list of Do’s and Don’ts. To God’s People: It moves to our hearts!
• How God gets it in our hearts? He Saves us! Rescues us. The first word there is the Gospel. So often in the NT it says: “They heard the Word and were saved…” Once the Gospel is in you, it begins to change the ground of your heart. God begins writing his Word on your heart. That is: You read it – doesn’t stay on the page. God begins writing in your heart.
• Something wonderful: It “is able to save your souls.” That is Future Salvation! Yet to come. That glorious day: He will come. Destroy earth. Judge. Punish. You will be swept up out of the fire. Soul saved.

1:19 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.

• “Quick to hear”: We are anxious to hear what God has to say. We take it in.
• “Slow to speak”: You don’t need a fast opinion on every verse. Slow down. Digest. If you teach the Bible: Better spend some time listening before.
• “Slow to anger” … then he says: Our anger does not produce the righteousness of God. Lot of Christianity: Just moving church to church finding out what that church is angry about. What’s your thing? Some people: Mad about race. Sex. Country. Environment. Some people mad at the people who are mad about the environment. The intent of Scripture is not to stir our anger.
• James says: You have to put away “moral filth” “rampant wickedness.”
• James 1:21: The word “filth” that he says you have to get rid of is a Greek word metaphor for earwax. Remove earwax with water.

II. Ask the Hard Question. (James 1:22)

The Hard question of Scripture is:

The Bible creates a daily problem. What am I going to do with this? How do I do this? Will not just give you a happy thought for the day? Or will I follow through and do it? If Bible is not creating some problems for you – Don’t think getting what it’s saying. Calls us to radical faith. Bible is supposed to cause friction, that’s how it brings change! Disturbs us. Every day my life needs disturbing from God. (Like Alarm clock wakes us)

III. Let God’s Word direct

• We hear the popular saying, “God wants a relationship not religion.” But James 1:26 talks about us having a “religion” that God approves of.
• To be religious about something is to be passionate about it. (James 1:27)
• Definition: “Religion is the pursuit or interest to which someone ascribes supreme importance.”
• I know you are already religious about some things! Some people are religious about smoking, or money, or promotions, or camping. Some people are religious about church attendance, and some people are religious about washing their car. To be religious about God is to be committed to Him.
• Important: Passion has to be discipled.

3 areas that James identifies that God wants us to be passionate about Him:

1. Religious about James 1:26

2. Religious about James 1:27

Help those in distress this week:

• Food for life.
• Benevolence Ministry.
• Palms Helping Hands.

3. Religious about James 1:27