Hearing and Doing

Study Questions

In this passage, James calls us to move—to embrace the transformative power of the gospel by obeying God’s Word. This kind of action requires humility and a willingness to have our sin exposed. However, God blesses those willing to trust him in the process.

Application

1. The Christian faith is about acting based on what you believe. What is one area where God is calling you to move? What is the first step you need to take?

2. We all have a propensity towards self-deception. How should that impact the way we receive God’s Word—both through hearing teaching and your own reading? Have you had an area of self-deception exposed? How did you respond?

Key Points

• Being quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger is an acquired skill that requires humility and training.

• We can put away sin through the power of the gospel. Because God’s Spirit is in us, we can be transformed.

• The process of exposing our sin, learning, responding, recalibrating our hearts, and doing what God calls us to do—all of this is an integral part of growing our faith.

• If we want to control our tongues or put to death any other sin, we must work on our hearts to expose the roots of our desires.

• Hearing God’s Word and responding with action helps strip away our self-deception and puts us in a posture to grow.