In James 1:19-27 the half-brother of our Lord focused on the Word of God and man's response to that Word. As he did so he spoke of urgency, intensity, and activity; urgency toward hearing the Word is stressed in verses 19-21; intensity in observation and observance is stressed in verses 22-25; and finally, activity that is the proof of true discipleship is stressed in verses 26-27.
I. You will either practice wickedness or else learn holiness from God's Word. (James 1:19-21)
A. You should have an urgency to hear and heed God's Word. (1:19a)
B. You must lay aside the sin that hinders hearing. (1:19b-21)
1. Be slow to speak.
2. Be slow to wrath.
3. Lay aside all filthiness and rampant wickedness.
II. You will either neglect the truth or observe and obey it. (James 1:22-25)
A. You have a problem of forgetfulness. (1:23-24)
B. You are to practice what you hear. (1:25)
III. You will either have a worthless or worthy religion depending on your response to God's Word. (James 1:26-27)