Living Out Faith: Lessons from the Book of James

At Oasis Church, we dove into the book of James in our series The Test. This letter, written by Jesus’ half-brother, is full of practical wisdom for living a life that reflects true faith. One of the key messages James shares is that we must not only hear God’s Word but also do what it says.

Growing Up with Jesus
James didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah until after the resurrection. Can you imagine growing up with a perfect sibling? Once James fully believed, he became a key leader in the early church. His letter is a guide on how to live out genuine faith.

James starts with a bold statement: “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials” (James 1:2 NLT). These tests help us grow into spiritual maturity, or telios—complete and lacking nothing.

Be Doers of the Word
One of the central themes in James is taking action on God’s Word:

“Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry… But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says” (James 1:19-22 NLT).

Listening isn’t enough—we need to live out what we hear. It’s like the story of Erik Weihenmayer, a blind climber who summited the tallest mountains by listening to his team. We, too, must listen closely to God’s Word to navigate life’s challenges.

Accepting and Acting on God’s Word
James tells us to “get rid of all the filth and evil” in our lives so we can fully accept God’s Word. Just like earwax can block our physical hearing, sin can block our spiritual ears. When we accept God’s Word, it guides us, as Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path” (NLT).

But hearing and accepting isn’t enough. James 1:22 says we must do what the Word says. This means applying it to every area of life—whether it’s about forgiveness, generosity, or prayer.

Take Action
Here are a few practical steps to help you live out the Word:

•Read the Bible out loud to absorb its meaning.
•Write down key verses to reflect on them.
•Memorize Scripture, starting with James 1:22-25.

As James 1:25 says, when we both hear and do God’s Word, “God will bless you for doing it.”

Let’s commit to not just being hearers, but doers of the Word, and watch how God transforms our lives!