Living Faith | October 25, 2020
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James 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.
Talk Sheet Questions
Does quick to hear and slow to speak describe you? Give yourself a score on a scale of 1-10. What would help you move up a notch?
Do you share James’ concern that Christians live differently because they have been born again? Explain.
What do people deceive themselves about? (22, 26) How might you know if you are self-deceived? What might be the remedy?
Can you think of 10 differences between a hearer and a doer of the word? Explain.
What are the three characteristics of true religion in verses 26-27? Are those the three things you might put on a list if you were to make it? Explain.
Prayer
Pray for one another that we would be doers of the word and not hearers only.