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HeartCry Missionary Society
  • About
    • Who We Are
      • HeartCry at a Glance
      • History of HeartCry
      • Mission Statement
      • The HeartCry Missionary Society Statement of Faith
      • Core Convictions
      • Oversight and Accountability
      • Staff
    • What We Do
      • Indigenous Missions
        • Comparative Strategies
        • The Advantages
        • Governing Principles
        • Missionary Selection and Accountability
        • Our Ministry Focus
      • Equipping Missionaries
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“They who had no news of Him shall see, And they who have not heard shall understand.” - Rom. 15:21

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Doctrine In Life Article

ARTICLE 22—Biblical Methodology: Doers of the Word

Oct 15, 2020 Topics Application, Methodology, missionary, Missions, The Great Commission Series HeartCry Guide to Missions

HeartCry Guide to Missions

22/40
40
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

Article 40: Planting Biblical Churches

May 13, 2021 Missions + 2 More
Article 40: Planting Biblical Churches
39
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 39: Characteristics of a Biblical Church

Apr 22, 2021 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 39: Characteristics of a Biblical Church
38
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 38: The Church —The Sender of Missionaries (continued)—

Apr 15, 2021 The Great Commission + 2 More
ARTICLE 38: The Church —The Sender of Missionaries (continued)—
37
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

Article 37: The Church —The Sender of Missionaries—

Apr 08, 2021
Article 37: The Church —The Sender of Missionaries—
36
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

Article 36: The Church —The Ordainer of Missions—

Apr 01, 2021
Article 36: The Church —The Ordainer of Missions—
35
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 35: The Church — The Incubator and Training Ground of Missionaries

Mar 25, 2021
ARTICLE 35: The Church — The Incubator and Training Ground of Missionaries
34
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 34: The Church and the Great Commission in the Book of Acts

Mar 18, 2021 Polity + 3 More
ARTICLE 34: The Church and the Great Commission in the Book of Acts
33
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 33: The Centrality of the Church in the Great Commission

Mar 11, 2021 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 33: The Centrality of the Church in the Great Commission
32
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 32: The Prominence of Preaching —Why the Silence—

Mar 04, 2021 Preaching + 2 More
ARTICLE 32: The Prominence of Preaching —Why the Silence—
31
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 31: The Prominence of Preaching in the Epistles

Feb 26, 2021 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 31: The Prominence of Preaching in the Epistles
30
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 30: The Prominence of Preaching in the Book of Acts

Feb 18, 2021 The Great Commission + 5 More
ARTICLE 30: The Prominence of Preaching in the Book of Acts
29
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 29: Pentecost and Us

Feb 11, 2021 Tongues + 7 More
ARTICLE 29: Pentecost and Us
28
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 28: The Central Promise of Pentecost

Dec 17, 2020 The Trinity + 5 More
ARTICLE 28: The Central Promise of Pentecost
27
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 27: The Necessity of the Spirit

Dec 03, 2020 The Great Commission + 2 More
ARTICLE 27: The Necessity of the Spirit
26
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 26: The Power of Prayer

Nov 19, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 26: The Power of Prayer
25
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ARTICLE 25: Biblical Fidelity and Cultural Sensitivity

Oct 26, 2020 The Great Commission + 5 More
ARTICLE 25: Biblical Fidelity and Cultural Sensitivity
24
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ARTICLE 24: Biblical Methodology — According to the Pattern

Oct 22, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 24: Biblical Methodology — According to the Pattern
23
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 23: Biblical Methodology—Rules of Conduct

Oct 19, 2020 The Great Commission + 2 More
ARTICLE 23: Biblical Methodology—Rules of Conduct
22
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 22—Biblical Methodology: Doers of the Word

Oct 15, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 22—Biblical Methodology: Doers of the Word
21
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ARTICLE 21: Biblical Methodology — The Great Error

Oct 12, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 21: Biblical Methodology — The Great Error
20
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 20: The Tale of Two Cities

Oct 08, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 20: The Tale of Two Cities
19
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ARTICLE 19: Sola Scriptura

Oct 05, 2020 The Great Commission + 5 More
ARTICLE 19: Sola Scriptura
18
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ARTICLE 18: The Sufficiency of the Scriptures

Oct 01, 2020 The Sufficiency of Scripture + 3 More
ARTICLE 18: The Sufficiency of the Scriptures
17
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ARTICLE 17: The Primacy of Gospel

Sep 28, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 17: The Primacy of Gospel
16
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ARTICLE 16: A SUMMARY OF THE GREAT COMMISSION —RANGE OF ACTIVITIES—

Sep 21, 2020 Witnessing + 9 More
ARTICLE 16: A SUMMARY OF THE GREAT COMMISSION —RANGE OF ACTIVITIES—
15
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 15: A Summary of the Great Commission —Message and Purpose—

Sep 18, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 15: A Summary of the Great Commission —Message and Purpose—
14
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ARTICLE 14: A Summary of the Great Commission —Authorization and Sphere of Ministry—

Sep 14, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 14: A Summary of the Great Commission —Authorization and Sphere of Ministry—
13
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 13: The Missionary-Teacher

Sep 10, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 13: The Missionary-Teacher
12
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ARTICLE 12: The Missionary-Theologian

Sep 03, 2020 Theology + 4 More
ARTICLE 12: The Missionary-Theologian
11
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ARTICLE ELEVEN: Missions as a Theological Endeavor

Aug 31, 2020 Theology + 5 More
ARTICLE ELEVEN: Missions as a Theological Endeavor
10
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE TEN: The Means of the Great Commission —Going, Baptizing, Teaching—

Aug 27, 2020 William Carey + 5 More
ARTICLE TEN: The Means of the Great Commission —Going, Baptizing, Teaching—
9
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 9: The Great Commission and the Extent of Discipleship

Aug 24, 2020 Nations + 3 More
ARTICLE 9: The Great Commission and the Extent of Discipleship
8
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ARTICLE 8: The Great Commission & the Character of Discipleship

Aug 20, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 8: The Great Commission & the Character of Discipleship
7
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Article 7: THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP

Aug 17, 2020 The Great Commission + 6 More
Article 7: THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP
6
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 6: Going Out Under Christ’s Authority

Aug 13, 2020 The Sufficiency of Scripture + 4 More
ARTICLE 6: Going Out Under Christ’s Authority
5
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 5: Going Out In Christ’s Authority

Aug 10, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 5: Going Out In Christ’s Authority
4
Compass 2946959 1920

Article Four: THE AUTHORITY BEHIND THE GREAT COMMISSION

Aug 06, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
Article Four: THE AUTHORITY BEHIND THE GREAT COMMISSION
3
Compass 2946959 1920

Article Three: THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE GREATEST COMMAND

Aug 03, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
Article Three: THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE GREATEST COMMAND
2
Compass 2946959 1920

Article Two: THE NEED & THE OPPORTUNITY

Jul 30, 2020
Article Two: THE NEED & THE OPPORTUNITY
1
Compass 2946959 1920

Article One: A WORD TO ASPIRING MISSIONARIES

Jul 27, 2020
Article One: A WORD TO ASPIRING MISSIONARIES
ARTICLE 22—Biblical Methodology: Doers of the Word

Paul David Washer

Paul David Washer

“But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.”

– James 1:22-25

Our text begins with the admonition to prove ourselves “doers” of the word.1 The Apostle Paul uses this same term in Romans 2:13, when he writes, “For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the ‘doers’ of the Law will be justified.” With this emphasis on “doing the word,” James and Paul are aligning themselves with the teachings of Christ Himself:

“… Everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock… Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.”2

“Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?”3

In the Spirit of Christ, James is calling us to “prove ourselves doers of the word.” The word, “prove” is translated from the Greek verb gínomai, which literally means “to be” or “to become.” The command is in present tense and communicates that the believer must “keep on becoming” a doer of the word. The idea is that as the Christian goes through life, he is to continually grow in his knowledge of God’s word and to continually increase in his submission to the word he knows. To the degree that there is a discrepancy between what we claim to know and what we actually do, we are guilty of “deluding” ourselves.

The word “delude” is translated from the Greek word paralogízomai, which means to deceive through false reasoning.4 The Apostle Paul uses the term in Colossians 2:4, “I say this so that no one will delude you with persuasive argument.” However, in James 1:22, the verb is found in the middle voice denoting that this delusion or deception is something that we do to ourselves. Whenever our “hearing” is not coupled with “doing,” and we do nothing to remove the discrepancy, we are “fooling” ourselves. Whenever we affirm Sola Scriptura and the Sufficiency of Scripture, and yet we neglect the Scriptures or chose human wisdom over them, we are likewise guilty of folly. In fact, James tells we are like a man who looks in a mirror and sees his own reflection. But no sooner does he turn away than he forgets what he looks like. We do the same when we hear and understand the truths of Scriptures, but then fail to obey them or apply them to our lives and ministries.

How can we avoid the deadly malady of hearing and not doing, of seeing and forgetting, or of confessing Sola Scriptura while building our ministries upon human wisdom? The answer is found in verse 25. We must devote our lives to “looking intently” at God’s word, interpreting it according to the sound principles of hermeneutics, and walking in reverent obedience to what is written. The phrase “looks intently” is translated from the single Greek verb parakúpto,5 which means to bend beside or near, to lean over (so as to look closely). It is used of Peter and Mary who “stooped to look” (parakúpto) into Jesus’ tomb,6 and of the angels who long to “look” (parakúpto) at the things contained in the gospel.7 This is the cure for whatever ails global missions and the key to advancing the same. Positively, the church and its missionaries must devote themselves to knowing and obeying the simple wisdom, precepts, and commands of the Scriptures. Negatively, we must reject every strategy that promises a more effective, faster, or less costly way of reaching the nations.

The church’s mission strategy must not be shaped by the psychologist, anthropologist, or avant-garde church growth specialist, but by those who have devoted themselves to Sola Scriptura and who hold unwaveringly to the Sufficiency of Scripture. Our missionaries do not need to be trained in the latest “church planting techniques” that are all the rage today and will be replaced tomorrow. They must be trained in biblical languages, hermeneutics, systematic theology, and church history. Those disciplines which will enable them to correctly interpret the Scriptures, and to “do” missions by “doing” the word!

  1. The word “doer” is translated from the Greek noun poiétes, from the Greek verb poiéo, which means, “to do.”
  2. Matthew 7:24-26
  3. Luke 6:46
  4. paralogízomai [pará = against + logízomai = to reason].
  5. parakúpto [para = beside, near + kúpto = to bend forward].
  6. Luke 24:12; John 20:5, 11
  7. I Peter 1:12

Author

More By Paul David Washer

Paul David Washer

Paul is the founder of HeartCry Missionary Society and currently serves as its missions director. He also ministered as a missionary in Peru for ten years. He has preached hundreds of sermons and has authored a dozen published works. Paul lives in Radford, Virginia, with his wife Charo and their four children: Ian, Evan, Rowan, and Bronwyn.

More By Paul David Washer

HeartCry Guide to Missions

22/40
40
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

Article 40: Planting Biblical Churches

May 13, 2021 Missions + 2 More
Article 40: Planting Biblical Churches
39
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 39: Characteristics of a Biblical Church

Apr 22, 2021 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 39: Characteristics of a Biblical Church
38
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 38: The Church —The Sender of Missionaries (continued)—

Apr 15, 2021 The Great Commission + 2 More
ARTICLE 38: The Church —The Sender of Missionaries (continued)—
37
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

Article 37: The Church —The Sender of Missionaries—

Apr 08, 2021
Article 37: The Church —The Sender of Missionaries—
36
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

Article 36: The Church —The Ordainer of Missions—

Apr 01, 2021
Article 36: The Church —The Ordainer of Missions—
35
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 35: The Church — The Incubator and Training Ground of Missionaries

Mar 25, 2021
ARTICLE 35: The Church — The Incubator and Training Ground of Missionaries
34
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 34: The Church and the Great Commission in the Book of Acts

Mar 18, 2021 Polity + 3 More
ARTICLE 34: The Church and the Great Commission in the Book of Acts
33
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 33: The Centrality of the Church in the Great Commission

Mar 11, 2021 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 33: The Centrality of the Church in the Great Commission
32
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 32: The Prominence of Preaching —Why the Silence—

Mar 04, 2021 Preaching + 2 More
ARTICLE 32: The Prominence of Preaching —Why the Silence—
31
Hc Guide To Missions (3)

ARTICLE 31: The Prominence of Preaching in the Epistles

Feb 26, 2021 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 31: The Prominence of Preaching in the Epistles
30
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 30: The Prominence of Preaching in the Book of Acts

Feb 18, 2021 The Great Commission + 5 More
ARTICLE 30: The Prominence of Preaching in the Book of Acts
29
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 29: Pentecost and Us

Feb 11, 2021 Tongues + 7 More
ARTICLE 29: Pentecost and Us
28
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 28: The Central Promise of Pentecost

Dec 17, 2020 The Trinity + 5 More
ARTICLE 28: The Central Promise of Pentecost
27
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 27: The Necessity of the Spirit

Dec 03, 2020 The Great Commission + 2 More
ARTICLE 27: The Necessity of the Spirit
26
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 26: The Power of Prayer

Nov 19, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 26: The Power of Prayer
25
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 25: Biblical Fidelity and Cultural Sensitivity

Oct 26, 2020 The Great Commission + 5 More
ARTICLE 25: Biblical Fidelity and Cultural Sensitivity
24
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 24: Biblical Methodology — According to the Pattern

Oct 22, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 24: Biblical Methodology — According to the Pattern
23
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 23: Biblical Methodology—Rules of Conduct

Oct 19, 2020 The Great Commission + 2 More
ARTICLE 23: Biblical Methodology—Rules of Conduct
22
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 22—Biblical Methodology: Doers of the Word

Oct 15, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 22—Biblical Methodology: Doers of the Word
21
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 21: Biblical Methodology — The Great Error

Oct 12, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 21: Biblical Methodology — The Great Error
20
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 20: The Tale of Two Cities

Oct 08, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 20: The Tale of Two Cities
19
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 19: Sola Scriptura

Oct 05, 2020 The Great Commission + 5 More
ARTICLE 19: Sola Scriptura
18
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 18: The Sufficiency of the Scriptures

Oct 01, 2020 The Sufficiency of Scripture + 3 More
ARTICLE 18: The Sufficiency of the Scriptures
17
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 17: The Primacy of Gospel

Sep 28, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 17: The Primacy of Gospel
16
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 16: A SUMMARY OF THE GREAT COMMISSION —RANGE OF ACTIVITIES—

Sep 21, 2020 Witnessing + 9 More
ARTICLE 16: A SUMMARY OF THE GREAT COMMISSION —RANGE OF ACTIVITIES—
15
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 15: A Summary of the Great Commission —Message and Purpose—

Sep 18, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
ARTICLE 15: A Summary of the Great Commission —Message and Purpose—
14
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ARTICLE 14: A Summary of the Great Commission —Authorization and Sphere of Ministry—

Sep 14, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 14: A Summary of the Great Commission —Authorization and Sphere of Ministry—
13
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 13: The Missionary-Teacher

Sep 10, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 13: The Missionary-Teacher
12
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 12: The Missionary-Theologian

Sep 03, 2020 Theology + 4 More
ARTICLE 12: The Missionary-Theologian
11
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE ELEVEN: Missions as a Theological Endeavor

Aug 31, 2020 Theology + 5 More
ARTICLE ELEVEN: Missions as a Theological Endeavor
10
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE TEN: The Means of the Great Commission —Going, Baptizing, Teaching—

Aug 27, 2020 William Carey + 5 More
ARTICLE TEN: The Means of the Great Commission —Going, Baptizing, Teaching—
9
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 9: The Great Commission and the Extent of Discipleship

Aug 24, 2020 Nations + 3 More
ARTICLE 9: The Great Commission and the Extent of Discipleship
8
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 8: The Great Commission & the Character of Discipleship

Aug 20, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 8: The Great Commission & the Character of Discipleship
7
Compass 2946959 1920

Article 7: THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP

Aug 17, 2020 The Great Commission + 6 More
Article 7: THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE GOAL OF DISCIPLESHIP
6
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 6: Going Out Under Christ’s Authority

Aug 13, 2020 The Sufficiency of Scripture + 4 More
ARTICLE 6: Going Out Under Christ’s Authority
5
Compass 2946959 1920

ARTICLE 5: Going Out In Christ’s Authority

Aug 10, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
ARTICLE 5: Going Out In Christ’s Authority
4
Compass 2946959 1920

Article Four: THE AUTHORITY BEHIND THE GREAT COMMISSION

Aug 06, 2020 The Great Commission + 3 More
Article Four: THE AUTHORITY BEHIND THE GREAT COMMISSION
3
Compass 2946959 1920

Article Three: THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE GREATEST COMMAND

Aug 03, 2020 The Great Commission + 4 More
Article Three: THE GREAT COMMISSION AND THE GREATEST COMMAND
2
Compass 2946959 1920

Article Two: THE NEED & THE OPPORTUNITY

Jul 30, 2020
Article Two: THE NEED & THE OPPORTUNITY
1
Compass 2946959 1920

Article One: A WORD TO ASPIRING MISSIONARIES

Jul 27, 2020
Article One: A WORD TO ASPIRING MISSIONARIES

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