Summary: Be a disciple who doesn’t settle for an encounter or an experience, but engages and puts into practice what he/she hears from God's Word. REFLECTION TEXT: Deuteronomy 30:16-18 SERMON TEXT: 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. * Key Verse: James 1:22 Overview of James: Faithfulness in Trials (1) Faith and Works (2) Speaking Wisely (3:1-12) Acting Wisely and Unwisely (3:13-5:6) Endurance & Prayer (5:7-20) Consider This! 1. We are TO HEAR! Jesus said so. (Matthew 13:16-17; Luke 11:28) Faith comes by hearing (Romans 10:16-17) God gave gifts to help you hear (Romans 10:14-15) 2. We are ONCE WE HEAR! See: Hebrews 12:25, Acts 17:11-12; Deuteronomy 30:14-18 3. We are BY HEARING AND ! not just “doing”, but being " " (John 9:4) it's a sign of maturity (Ephesians 4:11-14) it's a reflection of our friendship with Jesus (John 15:14) 4. We are in when we only and never ! it defies logic results in stubbornness (Acts 7:51) Types of Hearers in Church: Those who can't (Hebrews 5:11) Those who won't (Ezekiel 33) Those who desire to do (Acts 26:27-28) Those that hear and do (John 15:14; James 1:19) Which type are you? What needs to change in your life today so you can move to #4?