What To Do When the Mirror Doesn't Lie

Joe Stewart
Sunday, July 20, 2025
What To Do
Sunday Morning

What to Do When the Mirror Doesn't Lie

This section is a call to hurry up and listen up so you can slow down and live it up. It puts the pressure on the hearer to respond rapidly, obediently, and submissively to the Word of God. We are to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry. We can chill out without freaking out as we clean up the crud, welcome the Word, and receive the reward of blessing. There are 3 concrete examples of behaviors that will flow from a life that takes God's Word seriously. We will tame our tongue, help the helpless, and disrupt the corruption of the pollution of the world.

Locations & Times

First Baptist Church Seminole Tx

202 SW Ave B, Seminole, TX 79360, USA

Sunday 5:00 AM

James: Faith in Action

James: Faith in Action

Read Plan

Welcome to First Baptist. This page is where you will find the sermon notes and more information about what is happening at FBC.

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We meet Sundays in the summer:
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10:30 am Worship
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James 1:19-27 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angrybecause human anger does not produce the righteousness 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.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 someone who looks at his face in a mirrorand, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their 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.

Hurry up and listen up so we can slow down and live it up.

Be Quick to Listen: Hurry up and Hear (1:21-25)
Be Slow to Speak: Hesitate before you Speak (1:26)
Be Slow to Become Angry (1:19-20)

Chill out without freaking out.

Clean out the Crud. Welcome the Word. Receive the Reward.

The Real Deal: Tame the Tongue, Help the Helpless, Disrupt the Corrupt

1.Chill out without Freaking out
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The difference between something that helps and something harmful is boundaries.

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2. Clean up the Crud. Welcome the Word. Receive the Reward.
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Some pro-tips from a professional expert to allow you to avoid doing what God says.
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Complicated Carl - It's not that Simple

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Know Better Noah - I know

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Dodge it Danielle - Let me explain why it doesn't apply to me

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LEGALISM

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Gnostic Nancy - God told me

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Dismissive Denise - Ignore that, you are worse

Here are some thoughtful discussion questions to accompany the sermon on James 1:19–27.

Opening Reflection:
What stood out to you most from today’s sermon or the text in James 1:19–27?

1.Why is it so hard to be “quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry” in today’s world?

2.How does practicing this kind of posture impact our relationships and our walk with God?

Receiving the Word (v.21):

3.What are some examples of “moral filth” and “evil” that can make our hearts resistant to God’s Word?

4.How can we make space in our hearts for God’s Word to grow?

Doing the Word (vv.22–25):
5.Why do you think it’s tempting to hear God’s Word but not do it?

6.In what areas of your life might God be calling you to act on what you’ve already heard?

7. How have you experienced blessing or transformation when you obeyed God’s Word?

Real Religion (vv.26–27):

8.According to James, what does “pure religion” look like in action today?

9. Are there specific ways we as individuals or a group can better care for the vulnerable in our community?

10.What does it mean to keep oneself “unstained” by the world, and how can we practically live that out?

Personal Growth:

11.What one verse or principle from this passage do you want to put into practice this week?

15.How can we encourage and hold each other accountable to be doers of the Word?

Scripture: James 1:19-27 NIV