We usually extol the value of sermons and preaching in general. But I’ve decided to call this morning’s message, "The Danger of Sermons." Let me begin by reading our text for this morning and then you’ll understand.
James 1:22-27 (NIV) says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirrorand, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does. If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
The danger of sermons for the preacher.
In that first verse James calls attention to a rather unpleasant truth. Sermons can provide an occasion for feeling spiritual without really being spiritual. As a pastor I feel deeply spiritual when standing in a pulpit proclaiming God’s word. There is an adrenaline rush that comes to me when standing before hundreds of people, speaking on behalf of the Lord of the universe. You can really feel the Holy Spirit working andbringing people under conviction. It’s exhilarating. It'sthe most fulfilling thing I do.
But preaching isn’t the essence of true spirituality. In fact, preaching can be a dangerous self-deception. There is an enormous difference between preaching God’s word and practicing God’s word. Talking is the easy part. But living God’s word is an altogether different matter. The danger of sermons for me is that I can become a talker, a professional speaker, or a hypocrite who prescribes for others what he is unwilling to live for himself. There isn’t a Sunday that goes by that I don’t preach beyond the level of my obedience. It's not enough to be a preacher. You have to be a grower, a disciple, a true follower, and a practitioner who practices what he preaches.
As St. Francis of Assisi said, "Preach the gospel at all times. Use words when necessary." There are times when the Holy Spirit, or Lara says, "You better work on that one!" James 3:1 (NIV) keeps a preacher up nights. It says, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly."
The danger of sermons for the churchgoer.
If the danger for me is that I become a talker but not a doer, the danger for you is that you become mere listeners of the word, but not doing what it says. It's just as true for you as it is for me that sermons can provide an occasion for feeling spiritual without really being spiritual. The danger is that you become spectators, passively listening to God’s word, while feeling no obligation to change or put what you hear into practice. The danger is that you audit Christianity without every having to crack a book open, complete an assignment, or be accountable for anything outside of these four walls. The danger is that you become window shoppers who marvel at the wisdom of God’s word, yet never really making a commitmentto pay the costs of discipleship.
The apostle James had the courage to point out such an inconvenient, unpleasant truth. There is a danger that we have become oversaturated with the counsel of God. There is a danger that we’ve heard it so many times that we have now become desensitized, no longer sensitive to the promptings of God’s Holy Spirit. There is a danger that our familiarity with God’s word has bred contempt.We’ve grown comfortable with our complacency. Merely hearing God’s word week after week has given us a false sense of security.
Is obedience to God's word optional?
Is it possible that we have deceived ourselves into thinking that listening and talking is enough and that obedience is optional? I saw this passage in Ezekiel that describes our contemporary churches. It’s a prophesy about how people will respond to Christ. Ezekiel 33:30-32 (NIV) says, "As for you, son of man, your countrymen are talking together about you by the walls and at the doors of the houses, saying to each other, 'Come and hear the message that has come from the LORD.' My people come to you, as they usually do, and sit before you to listen to your words, but they do not put them into practice. With their mouths they express devotion, but their hearts are greedy for unjust gain. Indeed, to them you are nothing more than one who sings love songs with a beautiful voice and plays an instrument well, for they hear your words but do not put them into practice."
Have we become spectators? Are we merely learners?Attending meetings, conferences, Bible studies, and gatherings, Sunday after Sunday, filling our heads with knowledge and entertaining ourselves with Christian music? Are we justtaste-testing the word of God andattempting to nourish our souls with warm Christian platitudes?
Or, and this is what James wants us all to consider, are we here to put the truth of God’s word into practice, to grow, to be renewed in our spirit, to be transformed into the fullness of Christ, and to leave this place changed? Are we here to make the kind of commitment the Israelites made, upon hearing Moses read the law in Exodus 24:3 (NIV), "...Everything the Lord has said we will do."
Why hearing is never enough.
I really appreciated what one commentator said about our text this morning. "A lake can have the most beautiful spring water in the world flowing into its reservoir. But unless there are outlets, that beautiful water becomes stale and stagnant. The same phenomenon takes place in our lives if we are not living the life of active obedience, allowing the Holy Spirit to over into our lives." [Source: Paul Cedar, The Communicators Commentary: James, 1, 2 Peter, Jude, p. 46]
Hearing alone doesn’t make us growand doesn'tbring God’s blessing into our lives. In Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV) Jesus says, "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash."
The blessing is attached to obedience to God's word.
Where do we get this dangerous notion that listening and hearing is enough? Allow me to elevate the importance of obedience for us. In Matthew 7:21-23 (NIV)Jesus says, "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?'Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!' "
In John 8:31-32 (NIV) we read, "To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, 'If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.' " John 14:23-24 (NIV) says, "Jesus replied, 'If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. He who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.' "
In 1 John 2:3-6 (NIV) we read, "We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, 'I know him,' but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But if anyone obeys his word, God’s love is truly made complete in him. This is how we know we are in him:Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did."
The blessing is attached to our obedience to God’s word, not merely hearing God’s word. James 1:22 (NIV) says, "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says." James 4:17 (NIV) says, "Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins."
Overcoming the danger of sermons.
In your outline I’ve included four practical steps to help us overcome the danger of sermons.
Step number one: Keep listening to God’s word.
James’ point isn’t that listening is bad. His point is that hearing is not enough. We must find ways to regularly nourish our souls with God’s word. I pray that coming to church will be yournumber onepriority every Sunday. I pray that getting into a Life Group will become a priority for your family. I pray that more of you will find value in studying the Bible in Sunday school. There are many opportunities at Lakeside to hear the word of God. Many of you are attending our four week Life Track courses. Some people listen to the Bible on tape or CD in their cars on the way to work. Some people find Bible reading plans helpful. Lara’s mom told us yesterday how much she has enjoyed using a Bible reading plan. She reads few chapters every day. It all begins with hearing, but doesn’t stop there.
Step number two: Focus intently on God’s word.
Don’t just take a quick glance at God’s word and go on your way. Don’t settle for the superficial.Go deeper. As we’ve studied James I’ve noticed that not a single word or syllable in the book of James is wasted. You could spend hours studying just one phrase or sentence and figuring out how to apply it to your life.
Joshua 1:8 (NIV) says, "Do not let this Book of the Law depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful." The early church met every day in order to devote themselves to the apostles' teachings.
Step number three: Take measures not to forget God’s word.
Consider the analogy James 1:22-25 (NIV) uses."Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirrorand, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does."
Before coming to church, everyone in this room looked in a mirror. Why did you look in that mirror? You looked in the mirror to catch an accurate reflection of yourself, as scary as that experience was. You looked in the mirror because you care about how others view you. You looked in the mirror to improve yourself in some way. James tells us that the word of God is like a mirror that reflects our true image. God’s word reveals all that is good and bad about us. It reveals our imperfections. God shows us these things so that we can change and become more like Christ.
In 2 Corinthians 3:18 (NIV) Paul says, "And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit."
The mirror of God’s word compares and contrasts us to Christ’s glory. Yet what happens? After hearing and focusing intently on God’s word, we walk away and forget all the things that God showed us. On Sunday we're convicted of God’s word. But on Monday we're back in the world, pursuing our desires, and forgettingGod's word.What can you do to remember God’s word daily? How can you reinforce what you’ve learned throughout the week? Some take notes and discuss what they learn in Life Groups. Some memorize scripture. Some have family devotions. Some make it a point to teach others what they are learning.Reinforcement is the key. Ifyour outline goes in the trash on the way out the door there will be disobedience, complacency, and spiritual stagnation in your life.
Step number four:Put God’s word into practice immediately.
James 1:25 (NIV) says, "But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it—he will be blessed in what he does."
1 John 3:16-18 (NIV) says, "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."
Let's get really practical.
In your outline, I’ve written down three ways that you can put God’s word into action. My challenge is that you find a way to do each of these this week. In James 1:26 (NIV) James says, "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."
Challengenumber oneis that you give dignity to someone through your speech. In a few weeks we're going to talk more about this topic, so I need not elaborate now. One of the greatest tests of our faith is how we talk to others. Go out of your way this week to speak kindly to someone you normally wouldn’t talk to. Encourage her. Compliment him. Forgive them. Dignify them with your words.
In James 1:27 (NIV) James says, "Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."
Challenge number two is that you give dignity to someone through service. Every day we walk right on past peoplewho haveneeds. We're too busy. We're in a hurry. We think their need is too great. We maybe question whether someone deserves our kindness. One of the greatest tests of our faith is how we respond to the needs of others. Go out of your way this week to meet a need you’ve previously ignored. Pray for God to open a door and then step through the door the moment it opens.
Challenge number three is that you give dignity to someone through holy living. James says, "...keep oneself from being polluted by the world." One of our greatest challenges is to remainin the world without beingof the world. Find an opportunity to intentionally be holy among unbelievers. Raise the moral bar by telling the truth, being honest, not participating in course joking or conversation, purging your workplace of filthy images (calendars orscreen savers), turning off inappropriate television shows, and turning off unwholesome music. The world dulls our spiritual edge. If you accept these three challenges, send me an e-mail this week and tell me how you avoided the danger of sermons.