James 1:18

The Church Brought Forth by the Word

Living the Word: Faith in Action
June 7, 2026 · Waupaca Church of Christ
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“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth.”
James 1:18 · NASB 1995
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The church is “the household of God, the pillar and support of the truth.”
1 Timothy 3:15 · NASB 1995
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Thesis
The church was brought forth by the word of truth.
Therefore, the church must uphold that truth, live according to that truth, and serve under that truth.
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The church is not a club, a religious business, or a social circle.
The church is a people God brought forth by His word.
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If truth created the church, then truth must govern the church.
The church has no right to think, speak, worship, organize, or serve like the world.
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I.
The church was brought forth by the word, so it belongs to God.
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James begins with God, not man.
  • God acted deliberately.
  • God gave spiritual life.
  • God brought forth a people.
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The church did not begin by human design.

Not from man

No committee, culture, strategy, or religious model created it.

From God

God brought forth His people through the gospel.

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“Receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.”
James 1:21 · NASB 1995
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The new birth demands an obedient response to the word.
  • Receive the word with humility.
  • Do not resist it with pride.
  • Submit to the truth.
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The gospel calls for response.
  • Hear the word of Christ.
  • Believe in the Son of God.
  • Repent, confess, and be baptized.
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“Faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”
Romans 10:17 · NASB 1995
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Spiritual life is not born from emotion, tradition, or private experience.
The church is born through the word preached, heard, believed, and obeyed.
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A congregation can have the appearance of life and still be dead.
Activity, programs, crowds, and buildings do not authorize themselves.
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II.
The church must uphold the truth from which it was brought forth.
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The church does not invent the truth.
  • It upholds it.
  • It displays it.
  • It defends it.
  • It lives under it.
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The church must speak clearly where Scripture speaks clearly.
Salvation, baptism, worship, holiness, marriage, sin, and repentance cannot be softened to keep cultural approval.
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When Scripture speaks about baptism, the church must speak without fear.
  • Acts 2:38 is not optional symbolism.
  • Romans 6 joins baptism to Christ’s death.
  • Galatians 3 says we are clothed with Christ.
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“Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season.”
2 Timothy 4:2 · NASB 1995
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Paul did not tell Timothy to entertain people.
He commanded him to preach the word: reprove, rebuke, and exhort with patience and instruction.
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Conduct can lie against the truth.
A church can uphold truth with words while denying it with pride, jealousy, selfish ambition, and hypocrisy.
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“The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits.”
James 3:17 · NASB 1995
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III.
The church must serve as living proof of the truth.
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“Faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself.”
James 2:17 · NASB 1995
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Truth must produce action.
A church that speaks of doctrine but does not want to work does not honor the doctrine.
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Every member matters in the body.
  • God placed every member.
  • Every member has responsibility.
  • The body must function as God designed.
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The body grows “by the proper working of each individual part.”
Ephesians 4:16 · NASB 1995
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The question is not, “What do I prefer?”
The question is, “What am I supplying?”
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Truth does not produce spiritual spectators.
Truth produces servants.
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The church must hold the light high.
The light is not ours. The truth, the gospel, and the Savior belong to God.
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“Let your light shine before men… and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”
Matthew 5:14–16 · NASB 1995
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For the Christian
You strengthen the pillar when you receive the word with humility.
You weaken the pillar when you hear without obeying.
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For the congregation
The church must uphold truth in preaching and in conduct.
The word must reprove, exhort, correct, strengthen, and govern us.
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For the next generation
Children learn whether the word truly governs the home and the church.
They need to see Christians who love the truth enough to obey it.
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The question must be asked clearly.
  • Do we strengthen the pillar?
  • Do we serve under the word?
  • Are we doers, or only hearers?
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Invitation
If you have not obeyed the gospel, you are not part of the people brought forth by the word.
Hear, believe, repent, confess Christ, and be baptized.
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If you are hearing without doing, you must repent.
The word that brought you forth must govern you again.
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The church born from the word must live active, obedient, and faithful under the truth.
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Interactive Study Guide
evvfaith.com/study-guides/am-06-07-the-church-brought-forth-by-the-word/
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