09/02/18
“Faith That Works: Just Do it!”
Rev. Kevin Hay
James 1:17-27
1:17 Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above,
coming down from the Father of lights,
with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
1:18 In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth,
so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
1:19 You must understand this, my beloved:
let everyone be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to anger;
1:20 for your anger does not produce God’s righteousness.
1:21 Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness
and rank growth of wickedness,
and welcome with meekness the implanted word
that has the power to save your souls.
1:22 But be doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
1:23 For if any are hearers of the word and not doers,
they are like those who look at themselves in a mirror;
1:24 for they look at themselves and, on going away,
immediately forget what they were like.
1:25 But those who look into the perfect law,
the law of liberty, and persevere,
being not hearers who forget but doers who act—
they will be blessed in their doing.
1:26 If any think they are religious, and do not bridle their tongues
but deceive their hearts, their religion is worthless.
1:27 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.
Just Do It!
…be doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
Just Do It!
during the fitness craze of the 1980’s
as Reebok was making huge strides in capturing the athletic shoe market
in response to people getting excited about Fitness and Aerobics classes
and buying home exercise machines…
Nike wanted to move beyond being a niche athletic shoe company
providing specialized shoes for a small group of specialized athletes
marathon runners and track athletes…
and instead, compete with Reebok for the developing market of people
wanting to wear athletic shoes for their personal fitness activities
or simply as fashion statements…
and so in a marketing meeting with an advertising agency
the catch phrase for Nike
was born…
Just Do it!
and Nike began a mass-media campaign
of tv commercials, magazine ads, billboards, and more
with celebrity athletes like…
Bo Jackson, John McEnroe, and Michael Jordan
all saying
Just Do it!
all decked out in their Nike gear with the signature swoosh…
Nike cross training shoes
shirts, shorts, socks…
working out and training for their respective sports…
Just Do it!
as Nike launched a campaign to build a brand
that would appeal to the masses…
whether you were an intense marathon runner or aerobics junkie
someone just starting to think about personal fitness
or you just wanted to look cool…
Nike launched a campaign to appeal to everyone
regardless of your age, gender, or physical-fitness level
and it worked…
everyone wanted to wear Nike
to workouts at the gym
aerobics classes
running in the neighborhood
pickup basketball games…
or simply to school or social events…
Nike created a brand that said
“Just do it!”
and everyone wanted to be a part…
much like Under Armour has become the brand all the kids are wearing today…
Just start getting into fitness, and athletic apparel…
regardless of your age, gender, or physical-fitness level…
quit talking about it, or thinking about it… and…
Just do it!
and that’s kinda what James wants to say to the early Christians…
and perhaps to us today…
James is known for taking a no-nonsense approach to the life of faith…
getting to the heart of the matter…
so as the early church was just beginning to develop
as the word was growing about Jesus
overcoming sin and death in the resurrection
and offering us the gift of God’s love and grace…
as the early christians were beginning to spread this good news
to tell one another about God’s love and grace…
as excitement for the movement was beginning to grow
on the cusp of blowing up into something huge…
James wants everyone to get to the heart of the matter
and to
Just Do it!
to.. be doers of the word,
and not merely hearers who deceive themselves.
as the church was on the cusp of blowing up into something huge…
James wanted the early christians
a grass-roots movement of small groups gathering in their homes…
and re-telling the stories of Jesus
to quit talking about it, or thinking about it… and…
Just do it!
Just go out there and be the Church
live out the good news that you experience in Jesus Christ
the gift of God’s love and grace…
and I think there’s more parallels to this message from James
to be doers of the word
and the marketing campaign from Nike
than just a catchy slogan…
How many times have we said to ourselves…
I’m gonna get back to taking better care of myself…
whether we make a New Year’s resolution
or we get motivated after a birthday
or we’re trying to get in shape for a reunion
or family wedding…
or getting in shape for summer bathing suit season…
or even coming off a scary health situation…
or just a Dr.’s visit where they really get onto you…
I’m gonna start going to the gym more
or walking or running
or trying to eat healthier…
and it seems like the fitness craze of the 80’s
has had a bit of a resurgence today
with people tracking their steps with fitbits
and counting calories
and more gyms like Crossfit and the Wellness center popping up…
but as much as we say it to ourselves…
it’s like we need a kick in the pants
to really get us moving…
for someone to tell us to
Just do it!
and sometimes, we do the same thing in living out our faith…
how many times have we said to ourselves…
I keep meaning to…
I keep meaning…
to go help out w/ the Senior Food Box ministry
I keep meaning…
to go help out w/ the Backpack program
I keep meaning…
to get involved with revitalizing the community
or volunteering with a ministry that is meaningful to me…
or sometimes it’s more personal acts of faith…
I keep meaning…
to check in on that person that’s been going through a tough time
I keep meaning
to take my neighbor something for dinner one night
I keep meaning…
to call someone that I haven’t seen at church in a while
I keep meaning…
to visit someone that was in the hospital recently
or send them a card, or give them a call…
I keep meaning to…
or sometimes
it’s things we always talk about at church
in worship, Sunday School, Bible Studies, youth group
Session and committee meetings…
we have all these great ideas for what the church ought to be doing…
we talk a big game…
about how to reach new people
or serve the needs of our local community
or, as we begin a new year in the life of the church…
I keep meaning to
start singing in the choir
or offer my musical gifts in some other way
I keep meaning to
start coming to Sunday School or Bible Study
or teaching Sunday School
I keep meaning to
volunteer to help with Youth Group
I keep meaning to
get involved with a committee in the church
where I can use my gifts…
I keep meaning to
start a small group or dinner group at the church
but as much as we say it to ourselves…
I keep meaning to…
or
I think we ought to…
it’s like we need a kick in the pants
to really get us moving…
like we’re waiting for someone to tell us to
Just do it!
even in the Interim period, during this time of transition…
sometimes it’s as if we’re
waiting on the new pastor to come in
and tell us how to be the Church…
but the thing is…
just like Nike knew
that anyone can get involved in the fitness craze of the 80’s and 90’s
anyone can wear their running shoes or training gear…
regardless of your age, gender, or fitness-level…
whether you’re a marathon runner or aerobics junkie
or someone just starting to think about personal fitness
or you just want to look cool…
anyone can wear Nike shoes and clothing…
the same is true in the Church
as the early church was just starting to figure out what it meant
to share the good news of God’s love and grace…
and as we still keep trying to figure out how what it means today
to share the good news of Gods love and grace…
anyone can be the Church
anyone can…
Just do it!
we don’t have to have any special skills…
we don’t have to have the most beautiful voice
or be a dynamic teacher
we don’t have to be the most engaging leader or speaker
or be the most inspiring community organizer…
we don’t have to be be the most social and outgoing person
or the world’s greatest cook…
more than anything else, all we need…
is to quit talking about it, or thinking about it… and…
Just do it!
Just go out there and be the Church
live out the good news that you experience in Jesus Christ
the gift of God’s love and grace…
Just do it!
Just be the Church…
it seems so simple…
when Nike came out with that campaign…
they redefined the athletic shoe and apparel industry…
from 1988 to 1998
Nike’s share of the shoe industry grew rapidly from
18% of the market to 43% of the market
from $877 million dollars in sales
to $9.2 billion dollars in sales in 10 years’ time…
Nike capitalized on the growing interest in fitness
by simply encourage all people
regardless of their age, gender, or fitness-level
to Just Do it!
and maybe if we follow the words of James
the church can do the same thing…
as James says…
1:25 But those who look into the perfect law,
the law of liberty, and persevere,
being not hearers who forget but doers who act—
they will be blessed in their doing.
so having received God’s love and grace in Jesus Christ
let’s be doers of the word
so that in our doing, we might be blessed…
let’s quit talking about it, or thinking about it…
or waiting for someone to arrive to tell us how…
and let’s… Just do it!
Just be the Church…
AMEN