Wishers, Talkers, Dreamers, Dabblers and Doers
An Illustrated Sermon by Mark Hardgrove
Text: James 1:22-25
http://www.churchnetwork.com/suwaneecog

(Before Pastor speaks, 5 people take the stage.  Four are seated in a
row, one is standing at the end.  In order from left to right, they will
need the props noted below.)

INTRODUCTION:
Tonight I want to show you five kinds of people you will find in every
church.  You also find these people in a lot of businesses and factories
and such.  But it occurs to me, that only one of these types truly
glorify God.  Only one will ever accomplish anything great for God. 
Only one will ever step out in faith and find God waiting when they get
out of the boat.  The four types that I and my drama team here, are
going speak about and illustrate, are the "Wishers, Talkers, Dreamers,
Dabblers and Doers."

WISHERS 
(Does the following while the Pastor speaks -- Holds a cupcake with a
candle, looks wistfully into the air and then blows out the candle.  
Next picks up a long stick with a star on the end and mouths the words
for "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")
(Pastor)  Wishers sign and cry, but never try.  They know there's more
to the Christian life than they are experiencing, but they will not do
anything to change their status.  They wish things would change all by
themselves.  They wish they had a better prayer life, but they will not
get up an hour earlier, or come to church prayer meetings.  They wish
they had a better devotional life but they do not open their Bibles
except during Church services.  They wish they could lead the lost to
Christ, but they never share their faith.  They wish the church had more
ministries, but they don't do ministry.

TALKERS
(Does the following while Pastor speaks -- Moves mouth as though talking
a lot.  Picks up phone and acts like talking on it.  Uses exaggerated
hand motions as though illustrating a point.)
(Pastor)  Talkers blab and gab.  Talkers are always telling, always
talking about what they'd like to do, or what they have done, or what
they're going to do.  That's the key, talkers are always going to do
something but never seem to get there.  They often get people stirred up
and excited (especially the pastor) but then they leave you hanging out
on a rope somewhere.  Talkers usually end up bounding from church to
church because folks usually catch on to them after awhile and stop
listening.   If you're going to talk the talk, then you need to walk the
walk.

DREAMERS
(Does the following while Pastor speaks -- Looks into the air and
sighs.  Puts head in hands, reads a book, writes on a note pad.)
(Pastor)  Dreamers plan and prepare but never dare.  Dreamers read
books, go to seminars and write-out mission statements.  Dreamers write
down goals and pray about it, but never carry through, never get from a
plan to a practice, from a list to a living ministry.  Dreamers are
always learning but never able to live out their dreams.   In some
respects, they are a combination of wishers and talkers.   

DABBLERS
(Does the following while Pastor speaks-- acts like painting, then
reading a book, then writing on paper.)
(Pastor) Dabblers like to start projects, but they do not finish.  Like
a person who dabbles in painting, it's not a commitment, it's just and
interest.  Dabblers get bored easily and often leave things half done,
often leave things unfinished.  Dabblers often leave a wave of
disappointment behind them.  They dabble in ministry and dabble in
serving God.  There are far too many Christians who are dabblers.

DOERS
(Does the following while Pastor speaks-- Goes to each of the others in
the chair, prays with the Wisher, brings a glass of water to the talker,
reads the Bible with the dreamer, pats the dabbler on the back and moves
mouth as though encouraging him/her.)
(Pastor)  Doers make things happen.  Doers don't just wish about it. 
Doers don't just talk about it.  Doers don't just dream about it.  Doer
aren't dabblers, doers are daring.  Doers built ministries.  Doers step
out and lead the Bible study.  Doers don't just listen to the Word, they
obey the Word and they are the ones who are excited about what God is
doing.   Doers are the ones with the testimonies.  Doers are the ones
bring others to church.  Doers of the Word are what every Christian has
been called to be.
(The Drama Team departs stage.)

  Well, if we are to be Doers, then let's look at the benefits, the
reasons why every Christian should be a Doer.

1.)  First, Doers are doing what they do, to glorify God.
"Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the
glory of God."(1 Cor. 10:31)

2.)  Second, Doers are the happiest Christians in the Church.
"If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them." (John 13:17)

3.)  Third, Doers do God will and give Him pleasure.  If you are not
doing what Christ said to do, then you cannot be doing His will and you
are not giving Him pleasure.  When you are a Doer you are letting God do
His will and pleasure through you.

"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good
pleasure."(Philip. 2:13)

4.)  Fourth, Doers receive strength and power from God.
"I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philip.
4:13)

5.)  Finally, Doers are the most blessed people in the Church.
"But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth
therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this
man shall be blessed in his deed."(James 1:25)

Conclusion:
No church has aver grown without a healthy number of Doers.  We usually
have more than enough of the others, but we must all become Doers and
not hearers only.  Everyone here tonight who desires to be a Doer please
stand to your feet and we are going to pray that we have a resolve to be
a Doer of the Word and Works of God.