" Doers of the Word "

Sermon by Pastor David Layman

September 10, 2006

Psalm 119:1-8
James 1:22-27, 2:8-17

What makes for true worship? A Catholic might say the mass. An
Episcopalian might say The good old Book of Common Prayer. A
Pentecostal might respond Speaking in tongues. For some Protestants,
true worship means an altar call. For others, true worship is singing
the hymns of our childhood. What is true worship? What is true religion?
James 1:27 maintains Religion that is pure and undefiled before God,
the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress,
and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

The little book of James is delightfully practical! James urges those
who gather for worship to depart for service. He says that if you merely
sit and listen to Gods word, without attempting to put it into
practice, your faith is dead! Worship isnt simply what goes on within
these four walls. Its also what we do in our everyday lives with Gods
word--how we reach out to others.

Perhaps the phrase worship service should be hyphenated. For singing
praises to God and listening to His word are only part of what is
necessary. What service do we render God as a result of our worship? A
Cleveland newspaper some time back had a reporter go from church to
church, rating their worship services. He gave 10s for a perfect
service, and lower scores if the congregation was unfriendly, the organ
too slow or loud, the choir off key, or the sermon too long. Such an
approach is interesting, but you cant evaluate a good worship service
just by looking at the 1 hour in a sanctuary, and neglecting the many
hours of Christian service that may be connected to it. James wrote
Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to
care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself
unstained by the world.

There wasnt government welfare in James day. When the bread earner in
the family died, his widow and orphans didnt go to get their social
security and insurance benefits. There were none. The children of Israel
were charged by God with caring for the needy. James says real religion
will involve caring for the needy of our day. Ill always remember the
day when my father died unexpectedly. Two couples from this church heard
the news and stopped by to see my mother on that very morning. People
brought food, sent cards, shared words of concern, offered to watch
Mothers house during the services. My family experienced Gods presence
through your caring! It wasnt stained glass and the Presbyterian Book
of Order that sustained us during such a time. It was people being
doers of the word and reaching out with tangible acts of encouragement.

This year, our fall stewardship drive is taking a new approach. Well
still use pledge cards, and promise sheets, giving people the
opportunity to pledge how they will render their time and talents. Were
also going to share a simple calendar highlighting the different ways,
from month to month, we reach out through this church to be doers of the
word. We want to focus year round on how we respond to God because of
the priceless gift of Jesus. We want to share pictures and tell stories
about how we experience God at work, and the wonderful opportunity we
have to be part of that!

We have the wrong idea if were like those who believe in
churchianity. They think If I just come to church often enough and
listen to those boring sermons, surely God will see how much I love him
and save me. I can approach St. Peter and say I did hard pew time for
many years, I kept my eyes open, well, most of the time. And we expect
St. Peter to say Open wide the gates of heaven! But James reminds us
our faith by definition includes service as well as worship. And we need
to do more than understand correct doctrine--we need to live it in our
daily lives!

James tells us to be doers of the word, not hearers only. Psalm 119
speaks of the blessedness of those who walk (not just talk) in the law
of the Lord. Jesus said the most blessed people are not his blood
relatives, but rather ...those who hear the word of God and keep it!
(Luke 11:28). The magazine Ford Times relates how in 1909, a farmer and
his wife bought at Model T Ford. They didnt know how to drive, but they
thought they should own a car. When they first got it, they didnt know
what to do with the car. They didnt want to put it in the barn, because
it might get scratched and be in the way there. They didnt want to
leave it outside, where the changing weather would take its toll. So,
they put it in the parlor. And the Ford sat in the parlor for some 40
years! (Dr. Bruce Porter sermon, 1/10/88, Sarasota, Florida, Church of
the Palms.) The Word of God is a beautiful and valuable thing. But it
needs to do more than sit on a coffee table in our parlors. It needs to
be put into action in our lives!

It is not a chore to reach out to the needy with Gods love. Its a real
blessing. When I served a church in Greenville, I took turns with other
area pastors in leading worship at the Darke County Home. The Darke
County Home had many humble souls that were not simply poor materially,
but needy in many ways, and often without many to care for them. When I
first went out, I was a bit anxious, to tell you the truth. Some people
there had mental problems, and some just tugged at your heart. I always
remember the Sunday that we had a big snow, and many churches in the
area had canceled their Sunday morning services. When I went out and
arrived at the room they had worship in, it was dark. One of the
residents ran into me, and said We didnt think anyone would come out
in weather like this. He went and eagerly told the others, and their
response was uniformly one of joy. The unspoken message was We know the
world views us as unimportant people, thats why were stuck at the
County Home. Were amazed that anyone would consider us important enough
to brave the elements and come lead worship. I was touched, and felt
Gods Spirit in such a way that whether the service did them any good or
not, it sure moved me!

I told the residents I couldnt find a pianist, and wed have to sing a
capella. A resident jumped up and said she could play piano. It was an
experience Ill never forget. She pounded away at those keys. It had to
be the worst accompaniment Id ever heard. Wed be at the 2nd or third
line of a hymn before I recognized the tune, but she was giving it her
all. Her playing blended right in with the singing, because that was
horrible too. Yet there was real worship-service going on there! And
every time at the County Home when I asked for prayer requests, instead
of the awkward silence one sometimes hears, there would be a number of
requests. Pray for my home church, pray for my sister, pray for the
people that work here, pray for someone whos sick and cant come. And,
pray for me. I left every service at the County Home feeling Id
received far more than Id given! When we do something for widows and
orphans, for the least of Gods children, someone comes and joins us.
His presence touches our hearts, and we know that God is near. Thats
what pure and genuine religion is.

George Washington Carver grew up in sw Missouri, and became a
distinguished scientist, an outstanding teacher, and an inspiration to
many. Many of us know Carver invented numerous uses for the peanut, but
we may not realize how Carver started out each day. He would spend an
hour in prayer. Sitting down for his prayers, Carver would say Lord,
this is your humble servant, George W. Carver. Now what do you have for
both of us to do today? (Sanctuary For Lent, 1988, Maxie Dunnam, March
25, p. 39)

Thats the way we need to live--combining prayer and action, faith and
works, worship and service, always taking our marching orders from God.
When we do so, others about us may well conclude Now that is real
religion! Be doers of the Word!

CLICK HERE TO GO BACK TO THE START OF THE MAIN PAGE OR use the "Back button" on your browser to get back to where you left the main page.