Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says!
The Summer 2026 sermon series
Most of Paul’s letters spend at least their first half warmly setting out the gospel (how the suffering of Jesus in our place has bought us freedom from sin and a restored relationship with God through Christ). Not so James’ letter! He simply dives in with wisdom and encouragement about how a disciple of Jesus should live in a testing and often hostile world.
He channels, and often quotes his brother’s own teaching on how to live well – much of it from the Sermon on the Mount. In that sermon, Jesus was ‘stirring the moral imagination’ of his hearers with visions of a better way of living. He did that both as a mirror showing how far they fell short (and needed his renewal) and as an inspiration painting a picture of God’s ways – the life he was calling them into.
Perhaps we should read James in this way too – as both a mirror and an inspiration. That’s what James himself seems to say…
‘Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirrorand, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.’ (James 2:23-25)
Sermon recordings
The recordings of most of the Sundays sermons and children’s talks are below for anyone who missed them or wants a reminder.
James 1:2-11
19th April 2026
Jim Crossley
Series guide
If you want get some more context, or read ahead, you can read or download the series guide below.
