In Sermon Illustrations: "James 1:1-5:20"

Hearing And Making Good Choices

Contributed by Tim Baker on Jan 20, 2018

I remember so clearly my storm chase on May 13th 2009 of the Kirksville Missouri tornado. My chase started with spotting my first tornado near Novinger Missouri, where I played tag with it several times, getting some nice video clips of it, until finally it approached the city limits wrapped in ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:26-27, James 1:22-24

Tags: Choices, Hear And Obey, Obedience, Action, Disbelief, Decision Making, Ignore, Doers Of The Word  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Judging God's Mirror

Contributed by David Goering on Sep 1, 2018

Suppose a young couple woke up in the morning after a good night sleep and the husband looked in the mirror on the dresser and became very angry at the reflection because of what he saw... his hair was disheveled and he had a sleep wrinkle that ran down the one side of his face, so he took his ...read more

Scripture: James 1:23-25

Tags: Character, Reflection, Mirror, Gods Word

Pride (Augustine)

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Dec 31, 2018

Augustine on pride: Every proud man heeds himself and he who pleases himself seems great to himself. But he who pleases himself pleases a fool for ...read more

Scripture: James 4:6-8

Tags: Humility, Pride

Denomination: Pentecostal

The Deadly Hand

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 7, 2019

It was the nearly dark as James entered the room , over in the corner a poker game was getting ready to start. James joined in the poker game looking to beat the other players out of their hard-earned money. In this worldly realm it was just another poker game, with only money at stake, but in ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Sin, Temptation

Denomination: Pentecostal

Tomorrow

Contributed by Steve Kinnard on Feb 10, 2019

It is reported that Colonel Rahl, commander of the British troops in Trenton, New Jersey, was playing cards when a courier brought an urgent message stating that General George Washington was crossing the Delaware River. Rahl put the letter in his pocket and didn't bother to read it until his ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-17

Tags: Procrastination, Tomorrow

Denomination: Pentecostal

You Think We Listen!

Contributed by Davon Huss on Feb 17, 2019

An engineer and a professional counselor meet for their 20th college reunion. The engineer says, “I’m surprised to see you looking so young. I’d have thought listening to people’s problems all day would have ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-20

Tags: Listening, Hypocrisy

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Complaint Department

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on May 29, 2019

A gentleman decided to withdraw from society and its busyness. He joined a monastery and took a vow of silence.At the end of each year he could say two words. At the end of the first year of absolute silence, he met with his supervising monk and was given the opportunity to say two words. With ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-12, James 1:19-21, James 1:26

Tags: Words, Complaining, Tongue

Denomination: Pentecostal

Great Endurance Produces Great Reward

Contributed by Charlie Roberts on Jun 23, 2019

I’m reminded of the story of a man born in the late 1800s. One of several children being the oldest, took care of the younger children and began to cook for them at a young age of seven yrs old. His father died when he was young leaving him even more responsibility. He worked many jobs in his ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2

Tags: Endurance, Faithfulness, Reward

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Healing

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Aug 19, 2019

Frederick Buechner, from Wishful Thinking The Gospels depict Jesus as having spent a surprising amount of time healing people. Although, like the author of Job before him, he specifically rejected the theory that sickness was God's way of getting even with sinners (John 9:1-3), he nonetheless ...read more

Scripture: James 5:14, Mark 2:1-12, Mark 1:33-34

Tags: Healing, Salvation, Power, Prayer, Faith  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Grandfather And The Dog

Contributed by Dr. David Hallum on Sep 11, 2019

When my grandchildren were young, introduced them to my dog, Chuey. They were not well received by the old Chow. The dog would stalk around and shoot dirty looks when the kids were present. He finally got used to them and now pays them no attention. The other day, we were all in the back yard. ...read more

Scripture: James 3:6, Ephesians 4:14

Tags: Obedience, Selfishness, Immaturity

Denomination: Baptist

Unforgettable Bombs - All We Can Do Is Pray?

Contributed by Martin Spoelstra on Sep 30, 2019

Elmer Bendiner, a crewmember in a World War II B-17 bomber, the Tondalayo, was barraged by flak from Nazi antiaircraft guns. That was not unusual, but on this particular occasion, the gas tanks were hit. Later Elmer reflected on the miracle of a 20 mm shell piercing the fuel tank without touching ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 7:7-11, James 5:15, Psalm 34:15

Tags: Prayer, Power In Prayer, Intersession, Watchman Prayer

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed

Thinking Has A Way Of Getting Me Into Trouble

Contributed by James Snyder on Oct 26, 2019

Just when I think I have all my bases covered, a new one shows up, and it’s not a homerun. I know all my tocks don’t tick, but I do the best I can. I may not be the best all the time, but I try, and I try, and I try. I do not want to be a nuisance to anybody, so I try not to, especially with the ...read more

Scripture: James 3:2

Tags: Family, Food

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Parachute Illustration

Contributed by David Goering on Nov 2, 2019

SCRIPTURE: James 2:19 "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble." ILLUSTRATION: Two men are on a plane, an announcement comes over the loud speakers and says "This plane is going to crash, please put on the parachute that is under ...read more

Scripture: James 2:19

Tags: Faith, Salvation, Repentance

Have You Burned Your Ships Yet?

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Feb 9, 2020

When the Spanish explorer Hernando Cortez landed at Vera Cruz, Mexico in 1519 he was intent on conquest. To assure the devotion of his men, Cortez set fire to his fleet of eleven ships! With no means of retreat, Cortez’s army had only one direction to move, into the Mexican interior. Cortez ...read more

Scripture: Matthew 5:1-12, James 1:8

Tags: Commitment, Discipleship, Following Jesus, Counting The Cost

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Yanking And Pulling.

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Jun 19, 2020

A woman that had boarded a plane to visit family struggled to wedge her suitcase into the tight overhead bin. Eventually triumphantly closing the door and taking her seat. When the plane landed, she got up opened the bin and found her suitcase was struck so she began yanking and tugging. The ...read more

Scripture: James 5:10-11

Tags: Persistence, Resilience

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Do Not Hinder Prayer

Contributed by James Dina on Jul 19, 2020

Do not hinder prayer. Those that live without prayer in the world, live without God in their lives. “Pour out your wrath on the nations that do not acknowledge you, on the peoples who do not call on your name.” (Jeremiah 10:25). To restrain prayer is worse than not to pray. The latter indicate only ...read more

Scripture: Job 15:4-5, Psalm 60:11, Psalm 51:15, Matthew 12:37, Isaiah 50:4, James 3:8  (view more)  (view less)

Tags: Faith, Prayer, Words, Tongue, Hypocrite, Hinder  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

No Obstaculice La Oración

Contributed by James Dina on Jul 19, 2020

No obstaculice la oración. Aquellos que viven sin rezar en el mundo, viven sin Dios en sus vidas. "Derrama tu ira sobre las naciones que no te reconocen, sobre los pueblos que no invocan tu nombre." (Jeremías 10:25). Restringir la oración es peor que no rezar. Las segundas ...read more

Scripture: Job 15:4-5, James 3:8, Psalm 60:11

Tags: Prayer, Oracion, Obstaculice

Denomination: Pentecostal

Huwag Hadlangan Ang Panalangin

Contributed by James Dina on Jul 19, 2020

Huwag hadlangan ang panalangin. Ang mga nabubuhay nang walang pagdarasal sa mundo, nabubuhay nang walang Diyos sa kanilang buhay. "Ibuhos mo ang iyong galit sa mga bansa na hindi ka nakikilala, sa mga bayan na hindi tumatawag sa iyong pangalan." (Jeremias 10:25). Ang paghihigpit ng ...read more

Scripture: Job 15:4-5, James 3:8, Psalm 60:11

Tags: Faith, Prayer, Words, Tongue, Hinder Prayer  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal

Fix The Dishwasher

Contributed by Roy Fowler on Sep 13, 2020

A Mother and her son were talking. His mother lived for nearly 94 years. One day around her 90th year she said something like, "If I had known I would live this long, I would have fixed the dishwasher." It had stopped working. So there it sat quietly waiting to be fixed. She thought it ...read more

Scripture: James 5:7, Isaiah 64:4, Exodus 14:15

Tags: Fix Our Problem, Now Is The Time

Denomination: Independent/Bible

Jesus Feet

Contributed by Dr. Fred W. Penney on Oct 5, 2020

His naked feet intrigued him, for they moved with purpose which his mind had not yet measured. Besides they each one wore a curious scar of some wound as yet unopened; yet they had been there long before his birth. What twist of meaning had Earthmaker given him, ...read more

Scripture: John 1:1-4, John 1:14, John 3:16, James 5:16

Tags: Christmas, Easter, Salvation, Gospel, The Cross  (view more)  (view less)

Denomination: Pentecostal