Getting Ready for Sunday
Study & Worship at Central Christian Waterloo
Series: James
This week, September 25, 2011
“What-Is” Faith? Vs. “Had-To” Faith!
The Scripture….James 1:19-27
19Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.
22But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 23For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. 24You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. 25But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.
26If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. 27Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.
The Prescription Won’t Help Unless You | Take the Medicine
God’s word is the law of liberty. It offers life—freedom—forgiveness. Yet it is of no value unless we act on it. Dr. A. R. Jones, a veterinarian, was one of the godliest men I have known through the years. He was a quiet man, possibly because of a lifetime struggle with stuttering. He was also a very wise man and the first person I would turn to when I needed advice.
Doc Jones was committed to the Bible and prayer. Doc would read the Bible, meditate on it, and consult commentaries.
Even though he was a gifted Bible student, he was hungry to learn more. The Bible shaped his values, instructing his behavior as a man beyond reproach. He often explained why, saying “If you’re sick, and go to the doctor, and he prescribes a remedy. Well….the prescription won’t help unless you take the medicine.” Do what the doctor says. Take the Medicine.
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Questions and Thoughts as you prepare for Sunday's worship and study of James 1:19-27
- · How is this relevant to our text this week? (Story and teaching above of Doc Jones)
- · What do you think a “What-Is” Faith? Vs a “Had-To” Faith!
- · One person suggested that it is like the old story of the Pig and the Chicken. Are you familiar with this analogy? Sunday, I will share the story and how this fits in with James 1:19-27.
- · If you are going out to the store, mall, dealership…..what would be describe your readiness to buy? (Using the scale/listing below.)
1. Just Looking
2. Bored, something to do
3. Don’t plan to buy
4. Don’t plan to buy, but I could; if the price is right.
5. I’m an impulse buyer….so I bet I come home with something.
6. I’m going with a real interest in a particular item.
7. I have some extra money or credit and I just have to spend it on something.
8. I have researched the choices, and I know exactly what I want.
9. I have researched and I am ready to make the deal.
10. I want to make the purchase now….where is the sales clerk.
We live in a noisy world, surrounded by sounds of people, traffic, and media. We are bombarded with kinds of selfish, sensual, greedy, impulses from the internet, television, radio, billboards, and conversations. Together these begin to hurt us and confuse us; because they soon take over and dominate our thoughts, aspirations, beliefs and energies.
What will save us from these influences? We must humbly come before the word of God and seek the Lord. The Bible will instruct us, correct us, and equip us for right living (2 Timothy 3:16). Yet it is foolish to hear the word from God and then live according to the world’s standards.
James reminds us that this is as foolish as someone who looks at himself in the mirror and walks away without observing what he has seen. A blessed person is one who puts away all filthiness, listens to God’s word, and then acts on it.
Anyone who claims to be religious and cannot even control his own speech has deluded himself. Genuine faith is expressed when we reach out to the most needy among us, like orphans and widows, and minister to them.
Authentic Christ-followers, like Doc Jones, are unstained by the world but shaped by God’s word.
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How to abide in God’s word, and not allow the fads and trends of the day erroneously misguide? Here are a few thoughts:
Practical Christianity as it Relates to Life’s Trials
• Find strength for life’s trials in the joy of the Lord
• Seek wisdom from God’s word in making life decisions
• Don’t fall for the world’s values
• Run from temptation
• Apply the principles of God’s word
• Be a lifestyle advocate for the marginalize
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