AVBC - Sunday - 10/25/26 - Sermon Title: “Doers, Not Hearers” - Moving from listening to active obedience” - James 1:19-27 – Sermon Series – (Part 2 of 6)

 Sunday 10/25/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church

Sermon Title: “Doers, Not Hearers” - Moving from listening to active obedience” - James 1:19-27 - “The Book of James” – Sermon Series – (Part 2 of 6)

(Cover Picture – “Doers, Not Hearers” - Moving from listening to active obedience” – “The Books of James” – James 1:19-27- Picture)  

 

          Who here has ever been guilty of complaining about something, but unwilling to do anything about it? Who here has been concerned about a problem, but did not want to actually get directly involved in helping the problem? Some folks, and this is a good thing, will give money to help with a problem, and this is doing something. I have found in my young life though, that it is much easier to talk the talk, then to walk to walk the walk. You see, I could stand up here every single Sunday and talk about what Jesus wants us to do. I could then go home and do little to nothing I said. I could then come back next Sunday and do the very same thing. Yet, my guess is, is that the good people of Adams, and beyond would eventually say, “That Pastor Paul talks a good game, but I do not see him doing anything about all the things he said we should do something about.”

          I do not know about you brothers and sisters, but I do not want to be a Christian and pastor that just stands up here every Sunday and says flowering words. I want to be a Christian and a pastor that is eagerly striving to be more like Jesus. I want to be a Christian and a pastor that longs to walk to the walk, to be doer, not just a speaker. For I am convinced in this culture that we live in 2026, there can be a fine line between a preacher and pastor. A fine line between a speaker and shepherd.

          In continuing our six-week sermon series on the Book of James, we are reading a challenging, awesome, encourage, and convicting Book of scripture. James, the brother of Jesus, challenges us to love out the faith we profess. James, the brother of Jesus this morning calls us to be “Doers, Not Hearers” - Moving from listening to active obedience.” You see, once again, it is so easy for me to stand up here and say what we should all do and what we should all believe, but all of those things also require doing. So, if God calls us to be “Doers, Not Hearers” - Moving from listening to active obedience,” what do we do?

          The answer to this is whatever God has called us to. Sometimes, I think God has called me to everything, then our Church Council reminds me that this is not the case. We are also called to keep each other from doing too much. Whether it is prayers, working with kids and youth, church leadership, ministries within the church, etc., as we are called to be doers and not just hearers. When wall answer God’s call, even if just a little it can do some much. Kids with cancer, are prayed for, receive help, and love. Kids in another country can get an education and hear about the love of Jesus. Brothers and sisters in Christ and friends in Nepal get help when a terrible flood and mudslide happens in moments notice. Our beloved Rhode Center gets the funding the resources are needs to make sure our community is fed. Our South Jeff School District has clothing giveaways, and the backpack program. Adams Village Baptist Church helps again but assisting in adopting one of our great US Army Platoons at Fort Drum. We have a Trunk-or-Treat to reach out to our community, a Memorial Service to remember those who have gone before us in the past year, and a Christmas Bazaar so kids can get Christmas gifts for there family, all while experiencing the love of Jesus. Brothers and sisters, if we want to know why Adams Village Baptist Church is growing, it is because we are a church that are not only hearer and speakers, we are doers! Will I probably need to be reigned in from time to time as I could be doing to much as your pastor, and I hope our leaders are on some level thrilled about. Someone might ask, “how are things going with you pastor?” You might reply, “Well he just constantly wants to help everyone and do a lot for others!”

          Also, it is not just about running in overdrive, doing, and doing. The ministries of our church are intentional, specific, and meet the needs of not only our church, but others, as well. The best way I can put it is this, if we have truly been transformed by Jesus Christ, and if He has forgiven us and filled us with love and grace, wouldn’t we want to serve Christ in a variety of ways?

          In looking at our scripture reading for this morning once again, here again in James 1:19. this

(#1 – James 1:19 Winter Scene – Picture)

Hearing and Doing the Word

 

¹⁹ Know this, my beloved brethren. Let every man be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger, (Jas. 1:19, RSV).

 

          Does anyone here speak more than they talk? I struggle with this myself. Does anyone here get angry or aggravated too easily?

(#2 – James 1:19-27 Scripture – Picture) 

In looking at slide with the whole scripture for this morning, we then hear in James 1:20-21, this, once again:

²⁰ for the anger of man does not work the righteousness of God. ²¹ Therefore put away all filthiness and rank growth of wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls                                                       (Jas. 1:20-21, RSV). 

(#3 – James 1:22 Reading and Helping Scene – Picture)

          Then James, the brother of the Lord, quickly pivots, as he often does in the five books of the Book of James, and tells in 1:22-24, once again:

²² But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. ²³ For if any one is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who observes his natural face in a mirror; ²⁴ for he observes himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like (Jas. 1:22-24, RSV).

          James says, when we look into the mirror, do we see what we want to see, or do we see everything? I want people to know the love of Jesus, but I also to be the love of Jesus. If we preach Christ, and if people come to Christ, which we want, do we care about there present reality? Or are we only concerned about eternity? I believe that eternity matters, but Jesus taught us to do our best to build heaven here, until we go there, or until Jesus brings it here. One of my heroes, Saint Mother Theresa of Calcutta understood this and still understands this so well. We are called preach faith and then go out and do all the stuff we just preached.

(#4 – Hearers and Doers – Picture)

          In fact, James tells us that we look at ourselves in the mirror honestly and go and do, this in 1:25:

²⁵ But he who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer that forgets but a doer that acts, he shall be blessed in his doing                 (Jas. 1:25, RSV).

One of the hardest things I have ever had to do is accept myself and my strengths and weakness. I also try to see the realities of the world, not just what I want to see. When I am able to do this well, and I can better a doer for Christ. In fact, here is a picture that talks about “What Doing Looks Like Today.”

          Further, repentance and faith in Jesus is enough. Meaning that there is nothing that we have to do, to earn salvation, eternity, and heaven. Jesus is enough. Yet, if we are truly changed by Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit, would not make sense that would want to live more like Jesus? Or to ask it another way, do good works get us to heaven? I believe that the answer is no, as the great reformer Martin Luther said it like this:

(#5 – Martin Luther Good Works Quote – Picture)

“God does not need your good works, but your neighbor does.” We do not labor for heaven, for salvation, for eternity, we labor for love of Christ and love of each other. We do what we do, because our neighbor needs us, and we need our neighbor.

Our scripture from James 1:19-27 concludes this morning with 1:26-27 that says:

²⁶ If any one thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this man’s religion is vain. ²⁷ Religion that is pure and undefiled before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world (Jas. 1:26-27, RSV).

Anyone here ever speak without thinking? Does anyone here ever say anything that we have ever regretted? Anyone here, know that it is a biblical mandate to visit orphans and widows? I love to visit our folks at Samaritan’s Keep, Summit Village, etc., but I also do it because it is a biblical mandate. I cannot just choose the parts of the Bible that work just for me. I cannot profess Jesus and then not some of things that he expects of me. In other words, to live the Christian life does indeed require sacrifice, but there is nothing better than following Jesus.

          So, the question that I ask myself, and that we should ask ourselves is this:

(#6 – Are We Willing to Preach Jesus and Live Like – Picture)

“Are we willing to preach Jesus and live like Jesus?” One of the most powerful scriptures about the second coming to earth of Jesus Christ is from Matthew 25:31-46. This is what it says:

The Judgment of the Nations

³¹ “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. ³² Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, ³³ and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left. ³⁴ Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ ³⁷ Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? ³⁸ And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? ³⁹ And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’ ⁴⁰ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’ ⁴¹ Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; ⁴² for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, ⁴³ I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ ⁴⁴ Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’ ⁴⁵ Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’ ⁴⁶ And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Mt. 25:31-46).

          Do I think that good words earn us salvation, eternity, and heaven? No, but while God does not need our good works, our neighbor does. We are called to be “Doers, Not Hearers” - Moving from listening to active obedience.” If you have never heard of a sermon series out of the Book of James, this is why. It is a hard Book of scripture, and many people that I know avoid like the plague.

          To make this message that walks out the door with us this morning, here is how James 1:19-27 applies to our lives today:

James 1:19-27 applies to daily life by calling believers to turn passive listening into active obedience, emotional self-control, and practical service.

 

1. Be Quick to Listen, Slow to Speak, and Slow to Anger:

 

·         Daily Application: In a culture driven by rapid commentary, social media arguments, and instant reactions, James 1:19 urges intentional restraint.

 

·         The Practice: Pause before responding in conflicts, listen to understand rather than to reply, and reject uncontrolled anger or frustration because human temper does not produce God’s righteousness.

 

2. Put Away Moral Filth and Humbly Receive the Word:

 

·         Daily Application: James 1:21 compares God’s word to an "implanted word" that requires a clean and teachable heart.

 

·         The Practice: Actively strip away harmful habits, toxic consumption, or corrupt attitudes, and approach Scripture with meekness rather than arrogance.

 

3. Be Doers of the Word, Not Just Hearers (The Mirror Analogy):

 

·         Daily Application: James 1:22–25 uses the metaphor of a person looking in a mirror and walking away forgetting what they saw. Hearing sermons or reading the Bible without changing behavior is self-deception.

 

·         The Practice: Treat the Bible as the "perfect law of freedom". Follow through on what it teaches immediately in your home, workplace, and relationships rather than treating faith as a purely intellectual exercise.

 

4. Control the Tongue

 

·         Daily Application: James 1:26 notes that if someone considers themselves religious but fails to keep a tight rein on their tongue, their religion is worthless.

 

·         The Practice: Guard your speech against gossip, slander, harsh criticism, or dishonesty, using your words to build up rather than tear down.

 

5. Care for the Vulnerable and Stay Unstained by the World

 

·         Daily Application: James 1:27 defines "pure and faultless religion" through tangible compassion and moral integrity.

 

·         The Practice: Actively look after society's overlooked and distressed—such as orphans, widows, or the poor—while resisting the ethical compromises and systemic selfishness of secular culture.

 

Friends, the Book of James is a tough book of scripture. How are we and how can we do better be “Doers, Not Hearers” - Moving from listening to active obedience”? Amen.