Recently, our HS students looked at James 1:22—“Be doers of the word, and not hearers only.” In a world where information is endless, it’s easy to confuse knowing with growing. Our teenagers can access sermons, worship playlists, Bible apps, and Christian influencers in seconds. (Honestly, they probably know how to find a podcast faster than we can find the remote.) But James reminds us that spiritual maturity isn’t measured by how much truth we consume—it’s revealed in how much we live out. Faith was never meant to sit in our heads; it was meant to shape our actions. James goes on to say that faith without works is... dead. (2:17)
If we’re honest, this isn’t just a teen struggle—it’s an adult one too. We’ve all nodded along to a sermon about patience… and then lost it in traffic five minutes later. We’ve agreed with a message about grace… and then struggled to extend it at home. James’ words challenge all of us: Don’t just stand there—do something. This week, consider choosing one small act of obedience as a family. Maybe it’s apologizing first, serving someone quietly, praying together for five minutes, or speaking more intentionally with kindness. Spiritual growth doesn’t require perfection—just the next faithful step. So I'll leave us with the same challenge that was extended to the students - Don't just stand there with your Bible knowledge, do something with it!
Blessings,
Joe Newton | Pastor of High School | Hessel Church | joe@hessel.org