Living Faith: Actions Over Words in Christianity

Summary

### Summary

Welcome to all, especially newcomers and those joining via live stream. Today is Communion Sunday, and we have several upcoming events, including Atkinson Day and the annual McDonnell Memorial antique truck and car show. We also have our last outdoor worship of the summer on September 22nd, which is Rally Day. Kids' Club returns next Sunday, now running every week, and we are looking for volunteers to help out.

Our worship began with a call to worship, followed by a hymn and a prayer. We confessed our shortcomings and received God's forgiveness. The children's message emphasized that actions speak louder than words, using Jesus' teaching to illustrate that what we do is more important than what we say.

The first scripture reading was from the letter of James, and the second from Mark's Gospel. The sermon focused on the importance of actions over words. Using examples from daily life and scripture, it was highlighted that our actions reflect our true selves and our faith. The story of the bear encounter illustrated how body language communicates more than words. Similarly, the American businessman’s experience in an Arab country showed how different cultures have different "time languages."

The sermon emphasized that while Paul preached salvation by grace through faith, James reminded us that faith without works is dead. We are called to be doers of the word, not just hearers. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for focusing on rituals rather than the essence of the law, which is love and compassion. The true mark of a Christian is not just in what we believe but in how we live out those beliefs through our actions.

We then moved into a time of prayer, lifting up those in need and praying for God's guidance. The offering was collected, and we blessed the gifts for our local food pantries. The service concluded with Communion, a hymn, and a benediction encouraging us to let our love be known through our actions.

### Key Takeaways

1. Actions Speak Louder Than Words: Jesus taught that our actions are more significant than our words. This principle is crucial in our daily lives and spiritual journey. Our deeds should reflect our faith and love for God and others. [14:28]

2. Cultural Sensitivity in Communication: The story of the American businessman in an Arab country highlights the importance of understanding different cultural norms. Just as body language and time language vary across cultures, we must be mindful of how we communicate our faith and love in diverse contexts. [37:18]

3. Faith and Works: While Paul emphasized salvation by grace through faith, James reminds us that faith without works is dead. True faith manifests in actions that reflect God's love and grace. We are called to be doers of the word, living out our faith through compassionate deeds. [44:49]

4. Nonverbal Communication: Our body language and actions often speak louder than our words. Just as the bear encounter illustrated the power of body language, our daily actions communicate our true intentions and beliefs. We must strive to ensure our actions align with our faith. [36:27]

5. Living Out Our Faith: Being a Christian is not just about believing but also about doing. We are called to actively participate in God's work, fighting against evil and injustice, and making the world a better place. Our actions should be a testament to our faith and love for God. [46:49]

### YouTube Chapters

[0:00] - Welcome
[02:27] - Upcoming Events
[05:01] - Kids' Club Announcement
[05:50] - Call to Worship
[11:25] - Opening Prayer
[12:33] - Prayer of Confession
[13:44] - Children's Message
[17:34] - First Scripture Reading
[22:37] - Prayer Time
[25:16] - Lord's Prayer
[26:59] - Offering and Food Pantry Blessing
[33:15] - Second Scripture Reading
[35:30] - Sermon: Actions Speak Louder Than Words
[53:47] - Communion
[57:08] - Communion Liturgy
[01:00:16] - Communion Hymn
[01:02:59] - Closing Hymn and Benediction
[01:06:30] - Fellowship Invitation

Study Guide

### Bible Reading
1. James 2:14-17 (NIV)
> "What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, 'Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,' but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead."

2. Mark 7:1-8 (NIV)
> "The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. When they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers, and kettles. So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, 'Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?' He replied, 'Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: "These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules." You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.'"

### Observation Questions
1. What does James say about faith without deeds in James 2:14-17?
2. How did Jesus respond to the Pharisees' criticism about his disciples not following the traditional hand-washing rituals in Mark 7:1-8?
3. What examples did the pastor give to illustrate the importance of actions over words? ([14:28])
4. How did the story of the bear encounter relate to the sermon’s message about nonverbal communication? ([35:30])

### Interpretation Questions
1. Why does James emphasize that faith without works is dead? How does this complement Paul's teaching on grace? ([44:49])
2. How can cultural differences in "time language" and "body language" affect our communication of faith and love? ([37:18])
3. What does Jesus' criticism of the Pharisees' focus on rituals over the essence of the law teach us about the priorities of our faith? ([16:22])
4. How does the pastor’s story about the American businessman in an Arab country illustrate the importance of understanding cultural norms in our actions? ([37:18])

### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when your actions did not align with your words. How did that affect your relationships or witness? ([14:28])
2. Think about your daily interactions. How can you ensure that your actions reflect your faith and love for God and others? ([49:44])
3. Are there any cultural or personal habits you have that might be misunderstood by others? How can you be more mindful of these in your interactions? ([37:18])
4. Jesus criticized the Pharisees for focusing on rituals rather than the essence of the law. Are there any "rituals" or traditions in your life that might be overshadowing the core principles of love and compassion? ([16:22])
5. How can you actively participate in God's work this week? Identify one specific action you can take to help someone in need. ([46:49])
6. The pastor mentioned the importance of nonverbal communication. What are some nonverbal cues you can use to show love and compassion in your daily life? ([36:27])
7. Reflect on the pastor’s story about the bear encounter. How can you use your body language to communicate your faith and intentions more effectively? ([35:30])

Devotional

Day 1: Actions Reflect Our Faith
Our actions are a true reflection of our faith and love for God. Jesus taught that what we do is more significant than what we say. This principle is crucial in our daily lives and spiritual journey. Our deeds should reflect our faith and love for God and others. It is easy to profess faith with words, but it is our actions that truly demonstrate our commitment to living out that faith. When we act with love, compassion, and integrity, we show the world the transformative power of God's love in our lives. [14:28]

James 2:17-18 (ESV): "So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, 'You have faith and I have works.' Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works."

Reflection: Think of a recent situation where your actions did not align with your professed faith. How can you change your behavior to better reflect your faith in similar situations in the future?

Day 2: Cultural Sensitivity in Communication
Understanding and respecting cultural differences is essential in effectively communicating our faith and love. The story of the American businessman in an Arab country highlights the importance of being mindful of different cultural norms. Just as body language and time language vary across cultures, we must be sensitive to how we express our faith in diverse contexts. This awareness helps us build bridges and share God's love more effectively with people from different backgrounds. [37:18]

1 Corinthians 9:22-23 (ESV): "To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings."

Reflection: Reflect on a time when you interacted with someone from a different cultural background. How can you be more culturally sensitive in your future interactions to better communicate God's love?

Day 3: Faith and Works
True faith manifests in actions that reflect God's love and grace. While Paul emphasized salvation by grace through faith, James reminds us that faith without works is dead. We are called to be doers of the word, living out our faith through compassionate deeds. This means actively participating in God's work, fighting against evil and injustice, and making the world a better place. Our actions should be a testament to our faith and love for God. [44:49]

Titus 3:8 (ESV): "The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people."

Reflection: Identify one specific way you can put your faith into action this week. How can you serve others and demonstrate God's love through your deeds?

Day 4: Nonverbal Communication
Our body language and actions often speak louder than our words. Just as the bear encounter illustrated the power of body language, our daily actions communicate our true intentions and beliefs. We must strive to ensure our actions align with our faith. This means being mindful of how we carry ourselves and interact with others, as our nonverbal cues can either reinforce or contradict our spoken words. [36:27]

Proverbs 16:24 (ESV): "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."

Reflection: Pay attention to your nonverbal communication today. Are there any habits or behaviors that might be sending the wrong message about your faith? How can you align your body language with your beliefs?

Day 5: Living Out Our Faith
Being a Christian is not just about believing but also about doing. We are called to actively participate in God's work, fighting against evil and injustice, and making the world a better place. Our actions should be a testament to our faith and love for God. This involves not only personal piety but also social action, standing up for what is right, and helping those in need. [46:49]

Micah 6:8 (ESV): "He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?"

Reflection: Consider one area of injustice or need in your community. How can you take concrete steps to address this issue and live out your faith in a tangible way?

Quotes

1. "Sometimes we can honor God with our words but keep our hearts to ourselves. We deceive ourselves thinking that we are religious rather than living faithful lives. So let us confess to God our shortcomings, trusting in the One who seeks to make us whole as we say together our unison prayer, a prayer of confession." [11:25] (24 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

2. "Actions speak louder than words. Take a guess. Nothing. All right, that's good. So what he's saying is that what we do is a lot more important than what we say. And he gives examples like if someone says, hey, I'm going to come help you tomorrow, but then they don't show up, and somebody else doesn't tell you that they're going to come help, but they come and help you anyway, which one has done you the better favor?" [14:28] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

3. "If somebody says they're going to, you know, do something good for you, and then they don't do it, that's not as good as somebody who doesn't necessarily tell you or make a big deal out of doing good stuff, but then just goes and does it. And Jesus tells us that our actions, what we do, is a lot more important than the things that we say." [15:39] (22 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

4. "We communicate with our bodies, not only to animals, but to each other. If you sit with your arms folded tightly across your test, your legs crossed, trying to be as small and inconspicuous as you can, you're saying with your body, I don't want to be here. On the other hand, if you are sprawled all over the place, your shoes kicked off, laid back, you're saying, this is home. I'm comfortable here. It's called body language. We say something with our bodies. We say something with our posture, the way we stand. We say something with the gestures that we make." [36:27] (40 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

5. "Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. The problem here is that Paul has done his work too well. Paul came preaching, you were saved by grace through faith, not by your works. You're not saved by doing something. You're saved by what God has already done for you through Jesus. And with that kind of preaching, Paul brought about a revolution in religious thinking. We're saved by God's grace alone." [41:02] (36 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

6. "If you've been saved by grace, then you ought to live with grace. If you've been touched by God's love in your life, then you ought to share that love with other people. If you've been transformed by grace, then you ought to be gracious to other people. Don't deceive yourselves, James says. It's almost a form of warning. Don't deceive yourselves lest you think being saved by grace means that the life you live now doesn't matter. It isn't going to make any difference." [44:49] (31 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

7. "To be converted is to join the team. To be a Christian is to enter the game. To be converted is to get a uniform and look sharp. To be a Christian is to get some scars and hurts and dirt and expend some energy. Paul himself in his later writings tried to make this correction himself to churches that he had already written to." [45:49] (26 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

8. "Jesus is in the controversy with the Pharisees once again, this time over holiness and cleanliness laws. Holiness laws determined for the Jews what they could eat, when they could eat, with whom they could eat. Ancient laws rooted deeply in the past, so deeply in the past that none of them actually knew anymore why they were there in the first place. They were just there. And they obeyed them nevertheless." [47:36] (27 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

9. "Every religion has a distinctive way of life, a distinctive pattern of dress, or something that identifies them. Those who follow Christ, ought to be identified by our behavior. That's why James says, do not merely listen and deceive yourselves, but do what it says. James is a corrective to Paul. He's saying, Paul's right, for starters. Paul's right for your first week or month. But then you have to grow and mature as a follower of Jesus and try to be more like him." [49:44] (39 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

10. "Friends, go out into the world filled with the spark of the Holy Spirit. Let your love be known in your actions. Let love guide your actions. Listen for the spirit of truth and spread the peace of Christ and remind everyone that you meet that each one is a beloved child of God. may his May his grace guide you." [01:06:30] (67 seconds) (Download raw clip | Download cropped clip)

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Transcript

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