Doers of the Word | Francis Chan

Sermon Summary

Main Message

This message emphasizes the importance of being "doers of the word" rather than just hearing it. We are called to interact with God, to tremble at His word, and to respond to Him directly. This means we must put away filthiness and wickedness, receive the implanted word with meekness, and practice true religion by caring for the widows and orphans in our community. The message encourages us to look beyond just singing and listening, but to be changed by God's word.

Key Scripture References

• James 1:19-27 - This passage emphasizes the importance of being "doers of the word" rather than just hearing it. It warns against deceiving ourselves by only listening to the word without putting it into practice. The passage encourages us to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, and to receive God's word with meekness.
• Isaiah 66:2 - This verse highlights the importance of trembling at God's word. It says that He looks for those who are humble and contrite in spirit, and who tremble at His word. This passage encourages us to approach God's word with reverence and respect.
• Matthew 22:37-40 - Jesus teaches us to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. This passage emphasizes the importance of putting God's word into practice in our daily lives.
• Psalm 119:1-8 - This psalm celebrates the joy of obeying God's law and keeping His commands. It encourages us to meditate on God's word day and night, and to follow it with all our heart.
• Ephesians 2:10 - This passage reminds us that we are created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we might walk in them. It encourages us to put into practice the good things that God has planned for us.
• Matthew 25:31-46 - This passage teaches us about the importance of serving others and caring for those in need. Jesus says that when we serve Him, we are serving others, and that our actions will determine whether or not we enter into His kingdom.

Key Takeaways

• We must put away filthiness and wickedness and receive God's word with meekness. We must be doers of the word, not just hearers only.
• Trembling at God's word means we approach it with reverence and respect. It means we are humble and contrite in spirit, and that we are willing to change our lives according to His commands.
• True religion is not just about talk or singing, but about practicing what we preach. We must be quick to obey, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
• We are called to care for the widows and orphans in our community, as well as those around the world. This means we must put God's word into practice by serving others and showing compassion to those in need.

This Week's Challenge

This week, take time to reflect on your relationship with God. Ask yourself if you are just a hearer of the word or a doer. Are there areas where you need to change your life according to God's commands? This week, make a commitment to be more intentional about putting God's word into practice in your daily life. Look for opportunities to serve others and show compassion to those in need.

Reflection Questions

• How do you respond when you hear God's word? Do you just listen passively, or do you interact with Him directly?
• What areas of your life need to change according to God's commands? Are there habits or attitudes that need to be broken or changed?
• How can you put God's word into practice in your daily life this week? Look for opportunities to serve others and show compassion to those in need.