How To Use This Guide:
listen
Listen to the weekly sermon and read through the main passages(s)
reflect
Prayerfully answer the questions below
discuss
Meet with your group to discuss
respond
Apply the truth of God’s word to your life
How To Use This Guide:
listen
Listen to the weekly sermon and read through the main passages(s)
reflect
Prayerfully answer the questions below
discuss
Meet with your group to discuss
respond
Apply the truth of God’s word to your life
latest message
background
In James 1:19-27, we are reminded that genuine faith is never merely spoken; it is embodied. Faith involves obedience. To believe in Jesus is to do all that he taught. Our words reveal the condition of our hearts.
A righteous person with a foul mouth is a contradiction in terms. Anger reveals something spiritually broken within us. Harsh speech hurts others, but it also harms the speaker. It fosters anger, damages relationships, and risks spiritual ruin. But Christ puts the “word of truth” within us: the gospel that brings new life. This living word heals, restores, and saves; it fills the heart with grace so that speech becomes a way to bless rather than harm.
Yet words alone are not sufficient. James presses us to move beyond hearing to doing, because obedience is the evidence of genuine faith. Those who lack obedience deceive themselves. Some only “hear” the word. They nod in agreement and walk away unchanged. Others listen intently, allowing Scripture to search them, shape them, and lead them into a life that reflects Christ. True faith is evident in acts of mercy and a lifestyle characterized by holiness. Self-deception is easy, but transformed conduct reveals the sincerity of our profession. James calls us to punctuate our faith not with empty claims, but with lives that walk the talk.
A righteous person with a foul mouth is a contradiction in terms. Anger reveals something spiritually broken within us. Harsh speech hurts others, but it also harms the speaker. It fosters anger, damages relationships, and risks spiritual ruin. But Christ puts the “word of truth” within us: the gospel that brings new life. This living word heals, restores, and saves; it fills the heart with grace so that speech becomes a way to bless rather than harm.
Yet words alone are not sufficient. James presses us to move beyond hearing to doing, because obedience is the evidence of genuine faith. Those who lack obedience deceive themselves. Some only “hear” the word. They nod in agreement and walk away unchanged. Others listen intently, allowing Scripture to search them, shape them, and lead them into a life that reflects Christ. True faith is evident in acts of mercy and a lifestyle characterized by holiness. Self-deception is easy, but transformed conduct reveals the sincerity of our profession. James calls us to punctuate our faith not with empty claims, but with lives that walk the talk.
open
1. Who do you know who is a really good listener? What qualities make them shine in this area?
reflect
2. Read James 1:19-27. What clear directives does James give in verse 19? How do these actions help develop spiritual maturity?
3. Read Luke 8:4-8. How is the person who forgets what they saw in the mirror in James like a seed that falls on rocky soil and withers? How does a person avoid being only a hearer of the word and become a doer of the word?
4. According to James 1:27, what are two characteristics of true religion? How do these reflect a life of genuine faith in Christ?
3. Read Luke 8:4-8. How is the person who forgets what they saw in the mirror in James like a seed that falls on rocky soil and withers? How does a person avoid being only a hearer of the word and become a doer of the word?
4. According to James 1:27, what are two characteristics of true religion? How do these reflect a life of genuine faith in Christ?
apply
5. What is one area where you find it difficult to control your speech? What steps do you take in these situations to restrain your tongue?
6. How does listening to God’s word influence the way a Christian lives and acts? What are some practical steps you can take to listen more carefully to God’s word in your daily life?
7. Think about your life—the pace of it, the people you interact with, the activities you’re part of. What makes it harder for you to live according to God’s word? What is one step you can take this week to prevent self-deception and focus more on acts of mercy and living a holy life?
6. How does listening to God’s word influence the way a Christian lives and acts? What are some practical steps you can take to listen more carefully to God’s word in your daily life?
7. Think about your life—the pace of it, the people you interact with, the activities you’re part of. What makes it harder for you to live according to God’s word? What is one step you can take this week to prevent self-deception and focus more on acts of mercy and living a holy life?
video
resources
We ask every Home Group participant to commit to the Four Essentials of a Healthy Group outlined in our Home Group Commitment. These essentials help ensure that every group stays healthy, welcoming, and spiritually meaningful for everyone involved. You can review those here.
If you have any questions or would like more information about Home Groups, please contact Doug Barnwell at dbarnwell@fellowshipjackson.com.
If you have any questions or would like more information about Home Groups, please contact Doug Barnwell at dbarnwell@fellowshipjackson.com.