“Agreeing With God” Sunday Worship Service (9:30 AM in the GYM and 9:45 AM Live Stream)

You are invited to experience, view or listen to our Sunday morning sermon in one of 5 ways.
1) Participate in our onsite worship service in the GYM which begins at 9:30 AM, SUNDAY at 3757 Mill Street.
2) Watch live on the church Facebook page at 9:45 AM, SUNDAY by going to: facebook.com/srcmarion  There are announcement slides and music at the start of the stream while we wait for the right time to join the service in progress.  Please “like” our Facebook page for future notifications.
3) Watch the same recording later on Facebook at a time more convenient for you: facebook.com/srcmarion
4) Watch the same recording later on our newly created YouTube channel. Just type in “Second Reformed Church of Marion” when you go to youtube.com  Or you can click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo3ZNP8OgRarSQXfqzGcn-Q
5) Listen to the audio recording and see sermon outline on our church website: sermons.srcmarion.org

Title: Agreeing With God

Text:  James 1:19-27

Theme: Humbly Heed God’s Word

  1. __________ to receive God’s Word.
    1. Jesus summed it up this way: take care how you hear.
    2. he warns us to repent of hindrances to hearing God’s Word.
  2. __________ to learn and practice His will and way.
    1. Vv. 23-25 essentially contrast the intentions of God’s Word’s hearers.
    2. The Doer of God’s Word hears it intending to heed it and obey it.
  3. __________ that reflects God’s character.
    1. Vv. 26-27
    2. James cites three practices which reveal a heart for God, true religion.

 

Questions for Further Reflection:

  • How do v. 19’s admonitions foster a closer hearing of God’s Word?      How would our lives be different if we memorized and reviewed v. 19 daily? 
  • Jeremiah directs God’s people, sow not among thorns (see Jer. 4:1-4).  Jesus’ Parable of the Soils picks up on this, explaining the thorns’ effects upon the fruitfulness of God’s Word in a person’s life (Luke 8:7, 14).   
  • How are all filthiness & rampant wickedness related to this?  How does tolerating these sins in our lives make us cold, disinterested toward God’s Word, worship, spiritual things?
  • James describes two people in vv. 22-25, hearer, doer.  How are they different in their approach to the Word?  What does each look for out of his/her encounter with the Word?  Might one liken their difference to those who are observers/spectators in a war & those who are combatants?  How?  Which are you?  What are you looking for when you come to God’s Word? 
  • How do the three indicators of “true religion” reflect likeness to Christ and unlikeness to the religious leaders whom He called hypocrites?  James visits these themes again later on:  tongue, 3:1ff; desperately needy, 2:14ff; holiness of life, 3:13-4:12.