James: Real Life. Real Faith. – Week 2

Listening and doing!

James 1:19-21

• Be quick to .

1 John 3:11 

“This is the message you heard from the beginning: we should love one another.”

That is the high calling of every Christian, to love everyone regardless of how we feel about their opinions or their choices. 

• Work on developing your skills.

Taking the time and energy to listen to someone is an expression of love.

Listen with humility. You can learn things from anyone.

• Be slow to .

Before you speak, think first. Then, measure your words. 

Proverbs 10:19 “When words are many, sin is not absent.

• And slow to become .

A lot of anger could be avoided if we listened better and spoke more thoughtfully.

James 1:21 

“Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and all the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.” 

• What comes out of you when you get squeezed?

This will tell you what’s inside of you.

Jesus said, “out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”

If bad stuff is coming out of your mouth, Whining, complaining, bitterness, being hyper critical of everyone, being judgmental,  it’s time for a heart check.

James 1:22-25 

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in the mirror and, after looking at himself, immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it, they will be blessed in what they do.”

• Be a doer not a .

James says real freedom is found in living out God’s word in obedience.  

Is there an area of disobedience in your life that you need to get serious about? Are you going to keep ignoring the situation? Your call!

James 1:26-27 

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

• Practice religion.

Notice it is about doing, not talking. These are expressions of love.

James is saying, let’s show the world what love looks like by how we care for people.

The only way we can practice good religion is to be in a relationship with Jesus. Otherwise you will become a judgmental moralist.