Are you a grumbler? Are you patient with God? James warns us about grumbling and a lack of patience; both of which can be cancer to our hearts, destroying us from the inside out. We must acknowledge our impatience and even indifference toward God and let the depths of His mercy and patience toward us penetrate our hearts so that we don't just know the gospel but can begin to live it out.
Do we live our lives in anticipation of Christ's return asking ourselves, "How can I further the gospel, how can I change a life"? To often the desires of this world rule our hearts causing us to seek after only our own comfort. As the gospel penetrates our hearts the question becomes, "How should I give in light of what Christ has given to me"?
Does your speech reflect a desire to build up or tear down? When you make plans do they reflect God's will first or is He more of an after thought? As we study through the Book of James, we consistently see that James' goal is to preach one theme, that of applying the gospel in our lives. To seek the truth of scripture and apply it to our hearts. In these verses James asks us to open our hearts and reveal what is at the root of both our speech and our plans.
Living out the gospel requires us to be in community, we cannot do it by ourselves. How then can we live out the gospel in community while overcoming the our worldly desires that seek to destroy that community and our witness to the unbelieving world? James tells us we must submit and draw near to the Lord, resist worldly desires, humble ourselves and the Lord will lift us up.
Can a genealogy provide transformation? Yes, it can. As we look at the genealogy of Christ we can see four nuggets of truth that can transform our lives. We see that God keeps His promises, the story of Christ is true and was lived out in history, it turned the world upside down and Christ gives us rest.
At Christmas Christ who possessed none of the things this world values (money, position, education, looks, etc) came and turned the wisdom of this world upside down. The "wise men" of today look at the Christmas story and say, "It doesn't make sense" and yet today God's wisdom through Jesus Christ is changing lives around the world.
Is your life a Bible study or a Bible living? A wise life is demonstrated by purity, peace, gentleness, and mercy. Does your life reflect God's balance and beauty or does it reflect chaos? When we come humbly before God crying out for His wisdom He will transform our lives.
Communication is a powerful tool that can be wielded to bring life or death as Proverbs 18:21 states. Often times we damage and splinter relationships, churches, and work places, simply by allowing our tongue to express what is in our hearts. Let's consider where the source of power comes from so that we may use our words to build up, instead of tearing down.
Do you have a living faith? A living faith shows itself; it loves, it is courageous even to death or the sacrifice of something you love dearly. It is lived out to an unbelieving world by showing love to those who persecute, hate, and slander. This is how Christ loved us. Does the way you love others reflect Christ's love for you?
Do you love the unlovely? Do you see them as Christ saw them? Convictions are not enough, they don't feed people, keep them warm or encourage them. Our convictions must lead us to action. We must deliberately seek after the poor, following the example Christ gave us. The gospel tells us we are all poor, crying out, beggars before God. As we have been shown mercy and compassion let us live that out to others.
How does God view you? Why is Jesus key to answering this question? What part do I play in how God views me? In this message, you'll hear how believing that you are in Christ changes and transforms who you are and the way you live.
Do you show favoritism? When we show favoritism we are judging people on what we perceive to be their "worth." When we reject them because they are poor or have no perceived value to us, we are in fact rejecting God's children and ultimately God Himself. We are called to show mercy as we have been shown mercy. Does your heart break for those who have no food either literally or spiritually?
Does your pride leave God's word standing outside the door, turned away like an unwanted salesman that you don't want to invite in? A changed life and consequently changed actions flow out of a radical transformation in the understanding of ourselves and who we really are. God's word is the mirror which first tells me who I am and then what to do.
What is the key to overcoming trials? The word of God implanted in you. The word is God's will, mind, heart, purity, power, His Holy Spirit placed into us. It is Christ alive in us. To overcome trials we must humbly accept God's word. As Christians we can enjoy the gifts of God but we must look beyond the gifts to the gift giver and know that it is not the gift but the giver, Jesus Christ, who sustains us through trials.
James informs us that every trial in life can be an opportunity for growth or a temptation to sin. Trials come as we live our lives but the temptation comes from within our very own heart. The desires of our heart keep dragging us away from the true lover of our soul, Jesus. So may we run to him rather than be enticed by another lover that promises so much but leaves us empty, for He will always satisfy!
In the midst of trials James brings us back to the promises and goodness of God to help us persevere.
This week tragedy struck a family within our church body and we, as a church family, shared in that pain and grieved together as a family. When tragedy strikes what sustains us? Jesus Christ, is our only hope. The gospel saves the unbeliever but for the believer it secures our lives today and tomorrow, next week and next year. Jesus Christ walks into our pain and carries us through it. While we do not know how God will use Grant's life, we do know it will be used for His glory.
Trials in life are not optional they are sure to come. How then can we, "consider it all joy"? As we encounter trials and tribulation, we are to cry out to God. We must cry out for wisdom and then let God work in our lives. Let Him shape us and change us and when wisdom comes, then we will see God at work in our lives. But first we must stand and cry out for wisdom.
This week we begin our new sermon series in the Book of James. We find out that James, the younger half-brother of Jesus, was a significant leader in the church. James calls himself a "bond servant." He willingly chose to be a slave to Christ. Having encountered Jesus Christ and experienced His grace, everything changed. A bond servant says, "Whatever you want I am yours"! Do our lives reflect that?
Joy is central to the life of the Christian. Is your life marked by joy? Have you tasted the joy of Christ? Do those around you see that "joy" in you? Joy is the essence of Jesus Christ's heart, passion, desire and purpose. It is what He calls us to. Jesus Christ is the bridegroom who delights in us, His bride. We know God is loving but we must feel it, experience it, touch it. We must do more than know the love of God, we must taste it.
Do you trust God? Our initial response may be yes but do our daily lives reflect that? Do we "roll over" everything to God trusting Him for the outcome? God has given us free will in order to make choices but it is God who takes those choices and weaves them into His sovereign plan. God's wisdom guides our steps when we commit to Him and walk daily with Him. Only when we trust God can we say, "give or withhold whatever you will."
We all know a marriage begins by taking wedding vows to each other, under God. The marriage union is the covenant by which a man and woman live out the gospel to each other. With your spouse as your best friend and lover, you are free to minister to them with the same dedication and sacrifice that Christ shows to the church.
What do you run to for security? If we as Christians do not run to Christ then we are running to something that is imaginary and will not protect or save when the attack comes. We must stop listening to ourselves and preach the gospel to ourselves daily. When that "moment" hits (insecurity, anger, temptation, etc) we have one hope, to remind ourselves of who He is and what He has done.
What angers you most? Anger can be defined as love in motion toward a threat to that which you love. To live wise and discerning lives we must learn to understand and handle our anger and the anger of others. At the cross Jesus Christ absorbed our misguided rage toward Him. Not only did He take on our anger but He took on the Father's anger toward us as well. A powerful example for how we are to handle anger, to come closer, absorb and don't pay back.
What do you treasure? Real treasure is an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ where we daily seek Him. A step by step daily walk with Him as he leads us along the path He has chosen for us. Treasure must be valued, sought, found, taken hold of and ultimately shared.
Do you fear the Lord? What does fear of the Lord mean to you? This week we learn that fear of the Lord is the foundation of our relationship with God. It is knowing God, not just knowing about God. It is trusting God and it is the heart of the gospel which we claim as Christians. The fear of the Lord is all I am called to do and be as Christian.
What can an ant, a badger, a locust and a gecko teach us about wisdom? As we look at Proverbs Chapter 30 this week we see how God uses His creation to show us four distinct characteristics of wisdom. Wisdom plans, recognizes limitations and is both humble and bold.
What has captured your gaze? What is the desire of your heart? It is the desires of our heart that rule our choices. If we want wisdom to mark our path, then Christ must reign as the desire of our heart.
Do you see wisdom as a path or a door? The Bible describes wisdom as a path which leads me somewhere and ultimately makes me into the person I am; it demands a slow yet steady pace, discipline, and focus. Our journey down this path begins with knowing Christ. Along the way we must come to know His word, ourselves and ultimately suffering. Yet even in suffering, Christ transforms us and turns suffering into wisdom.
Wisdom is something we all say that we want and yet what is true wisdom? As a Christian, what does it look like to build my life on Jesus Christ and to build it wisely? This summer as we study through the Book of Proverbs we will come to see that wisdom is the character and nature of Jesus Christ and that in order to obtain wisdom we need to be in a deep intimate relationship with Christ. In life, we need to not only walk with wise people but more importantly to walk with the One who is wise.
