HOW DO I BUILD MY LIFE ON THE BIBLE?
James 1:19-25
1. I RECEIVE IT WITH MY EARS
“Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the Word of Christ.” Romans 10:17 (NIV)
“Everyone should be QUICK TO LISTEN, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly ACCEPT THE WORD planted in you, which can save you.” James 1:19-21 (NIV)
FOR “GOOD RECEPTION” I NEED TO BE …
QUIET
“Be quick to listen and slow to speak…”
CALM
“…and slow to become angry…”
CLEAN
“…get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent…”
HUMBLE
“…humbly accept the Word planted in you which can save you.”
2. I READ IT WITH MY EYES
“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 mirror and, 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.” James 1:22-25 (NIV)
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3. I RESEARCH IT WITH MY HANDS & MOUTH
Bible “STUDY” requires:
- writing down what I learn
- talking about what I learn
“You search the Scriptures because you believe they give you eternal life. And the Scriptures point to me!” John 5:39 (NLT)
“The people of Berea were more open-minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. They searched the Scriptures day after day to check up on Paul and Silas, to see if they were really teaching the truth.” Acts 17:11 (NLT)
4. I REVIEW & REMEMBER IT WITH MY MIND
“The man who looks intently into the perfect law…and CONTINUES to do this, NOT FORGETTING what he has heard but doing it, he will be blessed in what he does.” James 1:25 (NIV)
THE BIBLE TERM FOR REMEMBERING & REVIEWING
GOD’S WORD IS MEDITATION
“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.” Joshua 1:8 (NIV)
5. I RESPOND TO IT WITH MY ACTIONS
“Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves. DO what it says!” James 1:22 (NIV)
“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.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)