James 1:18-26
So far in
our study of James we have seen:
1. How faith responds to trials (testing) (2-11)
2. How faith responds to temptations (12-17)
Today we’ll
see how faith responds to truth.
PLEASE RANK THESE BY IMPORTANTANCE:
LISTENING
TALKING
DOING
A. How are we “brought forth” (born
again) according to verse 18?
1. What is the “word of truth”?
(Bible interprets - 2 Tim. 2:15;
Eph. 1:13; Col. 1:5; 2 Cor 6:7 à Rom. 1:16-17)
2. How is it that we are
“firstfruits” of his creatures? v. 18
a) How does the spiritual life we
have differ from the rest of creation? Rom. 8:19-23
b) Were firstfruits foreshadowed in
the Old Covenant? How? (spiritual offering)
c) Now that we are spiritually alive,
how do we continue toward the goal?
B. How will we benefit from continuing to listen
to the word of truth?
1. Is being a good listener important
when you are going through trials?
2. How could good listening help when you are constantly overcome by lustful temptation?
3. What’s wrong with wrath? (Does it close your heart and mind?) V. 20
a) How can the implanted word make us
angry, embarrassed or resentful?
Sometimes the Word of God drives us away.
b) What is the word of truth able to
do? V. 21 1 Thess. 2:13
c) Does our pride interfere with the work of the “word of truth”? What about filthiness and the overflow of wickedness? Rom. 1:18
4. Does the implanted word need faith in order to be effective and save us?
Conclusion - The word of truth (gospel) is used to birth
us and save us in the end if we listen to it with faith and lay aside those worldly
things that keep us from receiving it.
C. What is so important about doing what the word says?
1. Can’t I just appreciate the word, memorize it and wear it on my t-shirt?
2. How is looking at the word like looking in the mirror at ourselves?
a) What is the reason for looking in
the mirror?
b) If we see something wrong with our appearance, what should we do?
c) “Continue” - (parameno) meno means to stay, dwell, abide, continue
parameno - prolong
the stay.
d) Why would a person not want to continue with the Word of
God? (parable of the sower and the
different soils in Matthew 13)
e) How could a person who has been brought
by the word of God but failed to continue in it be deceived? (The implanted word is able to …) - v. 21
f) What could you
do to prolong the stay in what we looked at today?
3. What is the purpose in calling God’s
word the “perfect law of liberty”?
a) How can law liberate us? (Law is rules for conduct)
b) Can you name some things that God’s
word liberates us from?
(1) Sin - John 8:34-36
(2) The world - John 17:6,14
c) How is His word perfect? Is God’s word sufficient?
Conclusion - listen yes.
But don’t stop there.
D. If I want to be a “doer” of the
word, what could I start working on right now?
1. How can an uncontrolled tongue
make our religion useless? V. 26
a) Is it wrong for people to judge us
because of what we say? Matt. 12:34-37
b) Is there a danger in talking too
much about what we believe? (I’m a
religious person and here’s why I do good and here’s what I think...)
c) What is the purpose of a bridle?
d) How is doing good better than
talking about it?
2. We have been created in Christ for
works of service. We want that work to
count for something. The content of our speech can render our belief system
and our work useless.
E. What makes helping the helpless
the best thing you can do? V. 27
1. What made these two groups so
helpless back in the 1st century?
2. What about the handicapped? (At least they could beg)
3. Who are the best people (outside the household of faith) to help? Luke 14:12-14
Conclusion
God
brought us forth and will save us by the…
If
we really want to be blessed we will look more intently at the…
Like
a smooth mirror God’s law is perfect in that it is sufficient to do what?
God’s
word is liberating. We get more freedom
by…
To
make our work for God count it is better to do it than to…