Sunday Sermon

Got Religion? Dave Shaner July 13, 2003

Introduction: Many claim that they have religion but the way they live makes you wonder what kind they have.  Religion can easily lead to self-deception. James gives us a description of what real religion looks like.

Text: James 1:26-27

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his 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.

What is real religion? You can observe rituals giving the impression you are deeply religious. The real test is visible evidence of spiritual fruit.

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him?  - James 2:14

Test of Pure Religion:

I. Religion that is pure ______________ when ______________ . - 1:26

A. James 3:9-10

With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.

B. The tongue is the window of the heart.

What goes into a man's mouth does not make him 'unclean,' but what comes out of his mouth, that is what makes him 'unclean.'  - Matthew 15:11

II. Religion that is pure ___________ personal ____________. - 1:27

A. I Peter 1:14-16

As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

B. To be holy is to be set apart for God.

III. Religion that is pure ___________ the needs of ___________. - 1:27

A. Helping other people in need is how I keep myself holy.

B. Psalm 68:4-5

Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds--his name is the LORD--and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling.

C. Mark 9:33-37

They came to Capernaum. When he was in the house, he asked them, "What were you arguing about on the road?" But they kept quiet because on the way they had argued about who was the greatest. Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, "If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." He took a little child and had him stand among them. Taking him in his arms, he said to them, "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."

D. The best cure for your own trouble is ministering to others.

E. James 1:2

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds

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