Sep 24, 2023
Don’t You Just Hate to Wait?
Series: James
Patiently waiting is something that doesn't come naturally to most of us. We tend to want instant gratification – microwave popcorn, fast food drive-thru, overnight shipping. We’ve got super-fast internet, but, if a page takes more than a second or two to load, we get frustrated. Waiting takes patience, especially when waiting through circumstances that are unfair.
The people that James is writing to understood being treated unfairly. They were struggling in many ways and through many circumstances, but James encourages them to be patient. There are 3 points James makes about patience in James 5:7-11: 1) We Are Called to be Patient; 2) James Presents 3 Case Studies in Patience; 3) We Need to Confront Our Lack of Patience.
God calls us to patiently persevere through all of life's problems.
James 5:7-11
Sept. 24, 2023
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- Sep 24, 2023Don’t You Just Hate to Wait?
Sep 24, 2023Don’t You Just Hate to Wait?Series: JamesPatiently waiting is something that doesn't come naturally to most of us. We tend to want instant gratification – microwave popcorn, fast food drive-thru, overnight shipping. We’ve got super-fast internet, but, if a page takes more than a second or two to load, we get frustrated. Waiting takes patience, especially when waiting through circumstances that are unfair.The people that James is writing to understood being treated unfairly. They were struggling in many ways and through many circumstances, but James encourages them to be patient. There are 3 points James makes about patience in James 5:7-11: 1) We Are Called to be Patient; 2) James Presents 3 Case Studies in Patience; 3) We Need to Confront Our Lack of Patience.God calls us to patiently persevere through all of life's problems.James 5:7-11Sept. 24, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Sep 17, 2023The Power & Peril of Wealth
Sep 17, 2023The Power & Peril of WealthSeries: JamesWealth is a powerful tool, allowing a person to do a great number of things, either good or bad. But, wealth is also a perilous thing, as there are a number of dangers that come with it. This is what James takes on in the 5th chapter of his letter.The 3 things we'll discover in our passage are: 1) Wealth Should Come With a Warning; 2) Wealth Has a Major Weakness; and 3) Wealth Can Tempt Us to Do Wrong. After we consider each of these things, we’ll finish up by talking about how we might 4) Choose to Live Well With What We Have.In light of James’ warning, we should prayerfully consider how to best use what God has given us.James 5:1-6Sept. 17, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Sep 10, 2023Planning for Uncertain Times
Sep 10, 2023Planning for Uncertain TimesSeries: JamesIt seems that uncertainty is alive and well in our world today. One look at the cost of many items, people’s retirement savings & plans, or the housing market shows that life is uncertain at best. So, what are we to do? How do you plan for uncertainty?Really, there are only two options here. One is to strive for self-sufficiency – try to do it all ourselves, figuring things to the best of our natural abilities. But, the better way is to seek God’s direction – relying on the one who can see all things and holds the future.There are two major movements in the last few verses of James 4. James warns us that 1) Self-Sufficient Planning is Full of Problems, and 2) Self-Sufficiency is Boastful & Sinful.We need to seek God’s direction in all we decide to do.James 4:13-17Sept. 10, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Sep 3, 2023Judge, Jury & Executioner
Sep 3, 2023Judge, Jury & ExecutionerSeries: JamesFrom TV courtroom dramas to the dreaded Jury Summons, we all have some familiarity with the justice system. We may think of the judge as being the one to render the judgment, but actually the judge is just there to make sure the law is followed. The jurors are the ones to make the final decision.Outside the courtroom, however, we make judgements all the time. Unfortunately, sometimes these judgements can be unkind or harsh evaluations of other people. It’s one thing to allow thoughts like this to rattle around in our heads. Worse yet is to speak these things out loud, that’s when we truly become judge, jury and executioner.In James 4:11-12, our author once again takes up the topic of speech. His only command in these verses is to 1) Steer Clear of Critical Speech. With the remainder of the passage, he shows us that 2) Critical Speech Causes Problems for the Speaker. The last thing we'll consider are 3) Four Ways We Can Avoid Critical Speech.We need to reject a harsh, judgmental attitude, and the critical speech that comes from it.James 4:11-12Sept. 3, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Aug 27, 2023The Work of Restoration
Aug 27, 2023The Work of RestorationSeries: JamesIt can be a fun project to restore something. Usually, the reason whatever it is needs to be restored is that it’s been left to itself too long and has become rusty and unusable. Restoring something takes it back to its original purpose. Instead of letting it continue to degrade and decay, it is the process of renewing it and helping it again do what it was intended for.This same work of restoration is necessary in each of our lives as well. We can spend too much time focusing on our own self-interest. Spiritually, this can lead to the equivalent of rusting and corroding. So if, as Christians, we want to be everything God wants for us to be, how do we sacrifice self-interest? How do we make the choice to go God’s way instead of our own?James 4:7-10 offers these 4 recommendations: 1) Renew Your Submission to God; 2) Resist the One Opposed to God; 3) Reestablish Closeness with God; and finally 4) Repent Before God.Sacrifice self-interest by submitting to God and serving Him only.James 4:7-10Aug. 27, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Aug 20, 2023Friend or Foe?
Aug 20, 2023Friend or Foe?Series: JamesThere never seems to be any shortage of conflicts in life, does there? People disagree about something, lines are drawn, arguments and even wars ensue, with each side trying to force the other to change. Regardless of whether these conflicts take place in kindergarten or between countries, the suggested solution is to seek compromise, right?But, for as wonderful as compromise may be in many areas of life, there is at least one area where compromise is a terrible thing – that is in the area of faith. In James 4:4-6 James calls out compromising Christians, using Scripture to remind us that God jealously desires our exclusive devotion. Three things come to the surface: 1) You Need to Pick Which Party You Want to Pursue Friendship With; 2) God is Passionate for His People’s Obedience; 3) The Problem with Pride & the Power of Humility.There can be no compromise when it comes to choosing between God’s ways and the world’s.James 4:4-6Aug. 20, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Aug 13, 2023Recognizing Self-Centered Christianity
Aug 13, 2023Recognizing Self-Centered ChristianitySeries: JamesWe can all be tempted to follow our self-centered desires, that just fits in with our culture's focus on doing whatever feels good to you. Sadly, we can bring this self-centered attitude into our Christian relationships and prayer life. This is precisely what James warns us about in James 4:1-3.Two things come out of this passage: 1) Self-Centeredness Creates Conflict in the Church; 2) Self-Centeredness Causes Problems with our Prayers. We will conclude by talking about ways in which we can 3) Steer Clear of Self-Centered Christianity.Pursuing God’s will promotes peace within the church and a proper prayer life.James 4:1-3Aug. 13, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Aug 6, 2023The Wise and the Otherwise
Aug 6, 2023The Wise and the OtherwiseSeries: JamesWhether we realize it or not, most of us crave wisdom in some way. We want to make wise decisions in life, in business, at school, or at work. We want to do the right thing and do it well. So, how do we demonstrate wisdom in our lives?James again speaks to the topic of wisdom at the end of the 3rd chapter of his letter. He starts off by exhorting his readers to 1) Show Wisdom in Your Life. Then he turns to consider two types of wisdom and their origins, looking first at 2) False Wisdom which Comes from Below, and finally, 3) True Wisdom which Comes from Above.Wisdom is seen in our actions and shown in our humility.James 3:13-18Aug. 6, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Jul 30, 2023The Sermon on the Mouth – Part 2
Jul 30, 2023The Sermon on the Mouth – Part 2Series: JamesWhen things are out of control they often are dangerous and are prone to causing damage. This is especially true with our tongue – the words we say can cause damage disproportionate to the size of that little muscle in our mouth.In the conclusion of his "Sermon on the Mouth," James explains 3 things about the negative potential of our speech: 1) The Tongue is Destructive; 2) The Tongue is Difficult to Control; and 3) The Tongue is Prone to Double Talk.The destructive power of the tongue can only be tamed through our dependence on God.James 5b-12July 30, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
- Jul 23, 2023The Sermon on the Mouth – Part 1
Jul 23, 2023The Sermon on the Mouth – Part 1Series: JamesSmall things can have a great impact. Germs, for instance, are microscopic, but can cause us to become very sick. White blood cells are also extremely tiny, but, by contrast, can help us recover from being sick. In the same way, your tongue is among the smaller parts of your body, but it can have a great impact for good or evil.In the first half of chapter 3, James talks to us about controlling our tongue. He starts by warning that 1) Teachers Need to Cautiously Consider Their Responsibility. Secondly, James explains that 2) Careful Communication is a Sign of Christian Maturity.You have a choice: control your tongue, or let it control you.James 3:1-5aJuly 23, 2023To watch the video of this message, click here.
