Hearers & Doers

Pastor Josh Smith
October 27, 2024

Are you living your life at a glance, rushing through each day without truly engaging with God’s Word? Discover how intentional time in Scripture can transform your heart and life, leading you to a deeper relationship with Christ. Let’s explore how to move from merely hearing the Word to living it out in our daily lives.

780 Cooper Foster Park Road
Amherst, OH, 44001

Mailing Address:
PO Box 146
Amherst, OH 44001 | (440) 988-2866

© 2025 GrowPoint. All Rights Reserved

Hearers & Doers

Pastor Josh Smith

No Series

Message Summary

Key Scripture

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls. But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it. If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.”

James 1:19-27

Additional Scriptures

In our fast-paced world, it’s easy to become quick to speak and quick to anger, rather than cultivating a heart that is slow to react. James reminds us of the importance of being quick to listen, which means making a conscious effort to truly hear what God is saying to us through His Word. This isn’t just a call to silence, but an invitation to engage deeply with Scripture and be transformed by it. It’s in this space of listening that we can discern the whispers of the Holy Spirit, guiding us toward greater understanding and maturity in our faith.

As we reflect on our listening habits, let’s consider how we can intentionally carve out time to immerse ourselves in God’s Word, allowing it to take root in our hearts. When we humbly accept the Word God has planted within us, we open ourselves to the transformative power it holds—a power that not only calms our anger but also leads us into deeper relationship with Christ.

What distractions tend to pull you away from truly listening to God’s Word?
How can you practice being more present when engaging with Scripture?
What does being quick to listen to God’s Word look like in your daily life?

Pray for a heart that desires to hear from God.
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you identify distractions in your life.
Reflect on a verse that speaks to you about listening to God.

Discussion Questions

Why do you think it’s important to be ‘quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry’ as mentioned in James 1:19?

Pastor emphasizes the need for patience in communication and how these actions can greatly affect our relationships.
Can you think of a recent situation where being quick to listen changed the outcome for you or someone else?

How does the idea that ‘human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires’ challenge the way we usually react to frustrating situations?

This point highlights that our immediate reactions may not reflect God’s desires for us, pushing us to consider how we handle our emotions.
Reflect on a time you felt angry; what could you have done differently to respond in a way that aligns with this message?

What does it mean to ‘humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts’ (James 1:21), and why is that acceptance crucial for our spiritual growth?

Pastor talked about the importance of not just hearing God’s Word but truly accepting it in our hearts to see transformation in our lives.
How do you typically respond when you hear something in church or scripture that challenges you?

In what ways can we avoid living at a glance with the Word of God, as Pastor mentioned, and instead engage more deeply with it?

Living at a glance refers to a shallow interaction with scriptures that doesn’t foster growth. Deep engagement leads to greater transformation.
What are some practical steps you can take this week to engage more deeply with God’s Word?

Why do you think caring for orphans and widows is highlighted as a key aspect of genuine devotion to God?

Pastor pointed out that true religion includes active care for those in need, reflecting God’s heart for the vulnerable.
How can you get involved in helping others in your community who may be in similar situations?

Prayer

Ask God to help apply what was learned from the sermon this week.
Pray for a deeper understanding and curiosity towards His Word.
Request prayer for self-control in our reactions and speech.
Bring up any personal prayer requests for support from the group.

Hearers & Doers

More from this series

Wait on the Lord

Living with Expectancy

Peace Makers

Peace Peace

I'm In Trouble

According to God's Will

No Longer Fit

Remain in Grace

Making Room

Through the Suffering

Jesus Called Him Son

Next Right Step

© 2025 GrowPoint. All Rights Reserved

5 Day Devotional

Day 1

James 1:19-21

Day 2

Day 3

Day 4

Day 5