James 1:22-25 (NIV)*

22 Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. 23 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 24 and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. 25 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.

I.       Introduction:

II.    Don’t Fool Yourself In Hearing God’s Word: Sound Advice

A.    Hearing Is Insufficient

1.      Hearing Alone Is Not Enough

2.      Hearing Alone Is Self Deception

B.     Action Is Essential

1.      Action By The Hearer: Personal Response

2.      Action Based On What Is Heard: Obedient Response

III. Don’t Forget Your Appearance Revealed In God’s Word: Superficial Analysis

A.    An Image Reflected

1.      A Reflection In A Mirror: The Law

2.      A Reflection Of Himself: The Look

B.     An Image Disregarded

1.      Turning Away

2.      Forgetting Immediately

IV. Don’t Forfeit Your Blessing In Doing God’s Word: Serious Application

A.    The Study Of God’s Word

1.      The Look

a)      A Long Look

b)      A Hard Look

2.      The Law

a)      Perfect

b)      Liberating

B.     The Application Of God’s Word

1.      Remembering The Word of Admonition

2.      Doing The Work Of Application

C.     The Blessing From God’s Word

1.      The Blessing Comes To The Doer

2.      The Blessing Comes In The Doing

V.    Conclusion: