Be a Doer of the Word
"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 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. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 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.” James 1:22–25 ESV
Our commitment to the faithful preaching of the Word encourages me the most about AllSaints; however, a church must do more than this in its ministry, but it cannot do less and remain faithful or expect spiritual growth. Faithful preaching of the Word means giving our preaching a prominent place in our weekly worship. It means that our sermons involve opening up that Word, reading it, and then explaining and applying what the text says rather than what we might like to say. It means that the message is Christ-centered (because the Word is Christ-centered!), filled with the indicatives of the gospel and the imperatives of the Christian life. However, as James admonishes us in the first chapter of his letter, it is not enough for you to hear this Word faithfully preached. Just as the church must do more, but cannot do less, so you must do more, but cannot do less.
James encourages us to be doers of the Word rather than just hearers alone. Here are a few practical ways that you can put that instruction into practice day by day as you go throughout your week.
First, actively listen during the sermon. Often, the sermon points are provided on a sheet of paper available at the door as you come in. Pick this up and use it to follow along. Or at least write the points down as the preacher gives them. Some even prefer to write them in their Bibles in the margin of the text being preached so they can come back to them over and over again in context. Actively listening means asking the question, how does thisapply to me? How does this passage hold a mirror up to me and expose the ways I’m not like Christ and therefore the ways in which God is sanctifying me? This active listening is the beginning and foundation of being a doer of the Word.
Second, over lunch on Sunday after the service, discuss the sermon with your family or review your notes if you are by yourself. A second helping of the main points of the sermon will help you retain them in your memory. Ask questions and discuss the answers. What’s one thing you are going to take practical steps to change in your daily life because of what you heard this morning? Encourage one another to be praying for this change in yourself and in one another.
Third, place the sermon points on an index card or post it note and post it somewhere prominently - a bathroom mirror or over the kitchen sink. We tend to do a lot of chores around these spaces that don’t require a lot of thought. Spend that time meditating on the sermon points and praying over them.
This post is getting long, so I’m going to close. This is just a quick list of ideas to help you follow James’ instruction. We’re laying a good foundation of preaching the Word. May we, as a congregation, by the grace of God be doers of the Word as well.
Pastor Matt