We’ve been walking through this series Words Matter. In week one, we saw how our careless words can wound others more deeply than we realize. Last week, we learned that our words are shaped by what is in our hearts—the battles we don’t deal with on the inside eventually spill out in what we say and how we act. This morning, we’re going to press a little further: our words are tied directly to our faith—and our actions give proof to the faith we claim.
The World Already is Filled with Enough Critics, What We Need are Godly Encouragers
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Let me take you back to when I was eighteen. I was living in Yellowstone National Park, serving as a home missionary for a certain organization. My role was relatively straightforward: to invite people to a weekly Bible study, lead the group, and submit attendance reports. Nothing too fancy, but something happened that changed the trajectory of my philosophical ministry strategy, the way I look at ministry, words, and faith.
In our training, we discussed various ways to invite, build relationships, and have healthy conversations. Most of the missionaries in our group took the route of personal investment and were disciplining one or two people. But I had a passion to reach a bigger group, so our Bible studies often had 15–25 people. That was unusual, and honestly, it bothered leadership. They didn’t understand how it was happening, so they started questioning us. Surprise visits. Harsh evaluations. Judgment based on appearances and schedules, not on what God was doing in people’s lives.
The place and space we are meeting was an employee-only hangout and would be considered a PUB, and it was the only place where we were staying that we could gather in a larger area, or even spend time in relationship building, not just a Bible study. They had pool tables, open mic, jam bands every night, and this was the key for me- it was the only place to get food after dinner, a late-night snack. And they had the best plate of nachos- I mean, simple, greasy nachos.
This was the tough conversation about our reputation and that we could not meet there and have Bile studies, and we could not even go there for personal time. Well, when I am told that I can’t do something, it bothers me. I am working on it and have gotten better through the years. But this tone and this meeting were different; there was an angry and discouraging tone to the meeting.
I’ll be honest, it hurt. I was far from home, just a kid, trying to follow Jesus, and it felt like people in leadership were pushing me away instead of building me up. One day, after a particularly tough conversation, I called my dad. I was angry and frustrated, and I’ll never forget his words. He said, “Ryan, what did Jesus say about this? Who did He say He came for?”
I didn’t know how to answer. I muttered something about life being hard and maybe shaking the dust off your feet. He chuckled and said, “Go read Mark 2:17. Let Jesus answer it for you.”
That verse says: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Those words changed me, not from someone whom I deeply respected and admired, my father, but the words of Jesus Himself. They became a guiding principle in my walk with Christ. Not man-made systems, not rigid expectations, not rules for the sake of rules, but following the heart of Jesus.
That’s why words matter. Life-giving words pull people closer to the Lord, closer to His purpose for their lives. But weaponized words, harsh and judgmental words—they push people further away. Today, we’re going to see how Jesus’ words, and James’ challenge, teach us to use our words—and our actions—to bring encouragement, mercy, and hope.
There is Hope
Mark 2:15-17
Encouraging Words Don’t Cover Wounds; They Bring Healing
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Encouragement is Not Pretending We’re Fine; It’s Hearing Jesus Say, ‘I Came for You.’
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That’s why words matter. Life-giving words—like the words of Jesus—bring hope.
Mercy is Encouraging
James 2:12,13
When Mercy Triumphs, People See Jesus
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Most People Notice Our Flaws Before They Notice Our Faith, So Our Mercy Must Speak Louder Than Our Judgment
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And when mercy leads, encouragement flows. That’s what makes our words matter.
Living Out Our Faith for God is Encouraging
James 2:14-26
Faith is central to the Christian life. Paul writes in Ephesians 2:8-9 that we are saved by faith, not by works. And in 2 Corinthians 5:7, he reminds us that we are called to walk by faith, not by sight.
But James presses us here: real faith is not just something we say we believe. Real faith shows up in how we live. Faith is confidence that God’s Word is true and conviction that acting on that Word will bring encouragement, life, and blessing.
Now, we’ve already seen in this series that words matter, Jesus gives us hope, mercy shapes how we speak, and now James says faith must overflow into our actions. Because words without deeds… are empty. James gives us three pictures here: Dead Faith, Demonic Faith, and a Driven Faith
Faith That Never Acts is Faith That Never Lives
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Even Demons Believe…
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Verse 20 is a great transition verse into the section. We have talked about a dead faith, a faith that even the demons have, and now we see a faith that is driving action, and verse 20 in the NIV states it in a great way, it says,
“You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless?
James 2:20 NIV
Encouragement Is Not Optional; It’s the Language of Faith
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A Driven Faith is Not Action for Salvation, But Action From Salvation
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I get so encouraged when I see faith lived out in action right here in our church family. I see it when a family commits their lives to the Lord—or even when they simply commit to start trying again with more intention than before. I see it when someone shows up to their discipleship group and says, “I’ve never done this before, but this verse came alive for me this week.” That’s faith in action.
I see it when someone is honest enough to admit, “I’ve said the right words, I’ve tried to do the right things, but I never really understood faith until I started showing up and hearing the Word of God.” That’s faith becoming alive.
I see it in the stories of giving—when someone steps out in faith financially and then shares how God provided in ways they never imagined. I see it in the relationships being built through serving, when volunteers invest in the next generation. And remember—the next generation isn’t “just kids.” They are future worshipers, future leaders, future shepherds who will one day be the ones carrying the torch of faith forward.
But church—if our faith doesn’t move into action like that, if our words aren’t filled with encouragement and hope, then our faith becomes lifeless, and our church becomes powerless.
James isn’t just giving us theory; he’s giving us a mirror. We’ve talked about how our words matter, how mercy matters, and how faith without action is dead. The question is—what do we do with that?
Here are a few simple but searching questions:
Do my words build up or tear down?
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Do my actions match my faith?
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Does my faith move me toward people?
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The truth is: when our faith is alive, it cannot sit still. It drives us to mercy, to service, to generosity, to discipleship, to love. And here’s the encouragement, God isn’t asking for perfection; He’s asking for obedience.
As we close, remember James’ words: “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” (James 2:17). But in Christ, our faith doesn’t have to be lifeless. It can be alive, vibrant, and encouraging.
I am so encouraged when I see families committing to the Lord, discipleship groups coming alive, stories of giving, stories of serving, stories of God moving in everyday lives. That’s faith in action. That’s what it looks like when words and works come together.
And maybe today, God is speaking to you. Maybe your words haven’t lined up with mercy. Maybe your actions haven’t matched your faith. Or maybe—if you’re honest—you’ve been trying to work your way into salvation instead of trusting in Jesus. The invitation is simple: bring your faith to Him. Trust Him. Let Him breathe life into it.
Because the church, our faith is not meant to be dead or intellectual only. Our faith is meant to be alive. And when it is, it will always encourage, always connect people to Jesus, and bring glory to God.
