WEEK 3: “Hearing and Doing” (James 1:19-27) Sermon Summary: moral instruction apart from a vision of beauty will only produce whitewashed tombs and moral rebels.
Book Study Questions For deeper study, complete pages 13-14 in the personal study guide.
Getting to Know You:
1. ICEBREAKER: “If you were a kitchen appliance, which one would you be and why?” 2. Thinking back on last week’s sermon, what was one thing that stood out to you, encouraged you, or confused you? Going Deeper: these questions will guide you in your discussion on the sermon that was preached the previous week. 1. GOSPEL-Driven Question: read the “Sermon Summary” above. In what way does that statement relate to the way the gospel relates to our “doing of the word”? See also 2 Corinthians 3:18 and 4:4-6 to go deeper.
Verse References PROVERBS 17:28 Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent. COLOSSIANS 1:3-5 We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, 4 since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, 5 because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel
Read verses 19-20. It addresses the issue of quickness of speech and anger. Pastor Mike said in the sermon that the reason we persist in anger is a failure to submit to the gospel. Do you find yourself more on the active or passive anger side? How do you need to submit to the gospel in this area of your life?
2. WORD-Driven Question: Read Matthew 7:15-29. What are all the ways in which Jesus’ words are similar to James’ message?
While our “doing of the word” does not justify us before God, how does it serve as good way to verify whether or not we have truly been transformed by the Word?
3. DISCIPLESHIP-Driven Question: Pastor Mike said in the sermon, “You become like who you hang out with. So, do you hang out with Jesus?” How would you answer that question? What is one area that you feel like the Lord is challenging you to walk in deeper discipleship?
4. MISSION-Driven Question: The end of the sermon was about the characteristics of genuine faith (“religion”). The gospel motivates you to get outside your bubble and care for the helpless and vulnerable (widows and orphans). Who has God specifically placed upon your heart to begin loving and serving? What will you actually do this week to make sure it happens?
1 PETER 1:23-2:3 You have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; 24 for “All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass. The grass withers, and the flower falls, 25 but the word of the Lord remains forever.” And this word is the good news that was preached to you. 2:1 So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 2 Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation— 3 if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is good. MATHEW 7:24-27 Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.