In Sermon Illustrations: "James On Doing"

Reveal Your True Colors

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Nov 10, 2023

TO SHOW YOUR TRUE COLORS DATES BACK TO THE 1700s. Ships were required to fly flags at sea. These flags would identify where the ship was from and the type of cargo. PIRATES OFTEN HID THEIR REAL IDENTY BY FLYING FALSE FLAGS. By doing doing this the PIRATES WOULD DECEIVE OTHER SHIPS TO NOT RAISE ...read more

Scripture: James 1:3

Tags: Faith, Flag

Denomination: Assembly Of God

And Then It’s Monday… Again

Contributed by James Snyder on Jul 26, 2025

I'm not sure if it's just me getting old or something altogether different. Time seems to go by fast. My father used to say, "The older you get the faster time goes." I'm finally beginning to understand what he meant by that. At the time, I laughed at him and didn't ...read more

Scripture: James 4:13-15

Tags: Time, Monday

Denomination: Christian Missionary Alliance

Facing Down A Mountain Lion  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 14, 2011

FACING DOWN A MOUNTAIN LION Did you know that in the United States, mountain lions are the number one predator of human beings? So says author and naturalist, Craig Childs. On one occasion, he was doing research on the lions in Arizona’s Blue Range Wilderness. As he approached a water hole from ...read more

Scripture: James 4:7

Tags: Satan

When Prayers Are Answered Just The Opposite Of How You Prayed!

Contributed by Dr. Larry Petton on Nov 14, 2021

Found on the body of a Confederate Soldier during the Civil War: I asked for strength that I might achieve; I was made weak that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health that I might do greater things; I was given infirmity that I might do better things. I asked for riches that I might be ...read more

Scripture: James 4:1-3

Tags: Prayer, Will Of God, Mysteries, Surprises

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Running Past The Red Flags

Contributed by Glynda Lomax on Dec 27, 2014

“Wisdom is the quality that keeps you from getting into situations where you need it.” - Doug Larson The house looked like a fairy tale come true. Though my friend had a nagging feeling about the owners, she ignored it and went to inspect the house. It was spacious and full of sunshine with a big ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Wisdom, Caution, Lack Wisdom

Denomination: Charismatic

Would You Look At That...  PRO

Contributed by Paul Carlson on Feb 10, 2009

"WOULD YOU LOOK AT THAT..." The story is told of an old man whose grandson rode a donkey while they were traveling from one city to another. The old man heard some people mumbling, "Would you look at that old man walking, suffering on his feet, while that strong young boy is totally capable of ...read more

Scripture: James 1:5

Tags: Complaining

Denomination: Baptist

Woman Steals From Church And Blames Satan

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 23, 2010

WOMAN STEALS FROM CHURCH AND BLAMES SATAN In March 2009, a 62-year old woman was charged with stealing more than $73,000 from her church in the state of Washington. When the detectives interrogated her, she told them: "Satan had a big part in the theft." It sounds like she was saying that the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-15

Tags: Temptation Resisting

Charles Spurgeon Once Told Of Sitting In A Nice ...  PRO

Contributed by Tim George on Mar 7, 2001

Charles Spurgeon once told of sitting in a nice restaurant. As he ate he kept noticing a rather angry looking man across the dining room who scowled at him every time he looked his way. Finally Spurgeon decided to go over and speak to the man to see what his problem was. However, as he stood he ...read more

Scripture: James 1:19-27, James 1:22-25

Tags: Bible Influence

Denomination: Baptist

A Man In A Small Village Had Been Found Guilty Of ...  PRO

Contributed by Greg Warren on Apr 24, 2001

A man in a small village had been found guilty of starting a malicious rumor about another man. This rumor was not only untrue, but had seriously damaged the other man’s reputation and family. As is often the custom in small villages, the accused was taken before the chief of the village who ...read more

Scripture: James 3:1-18, James 3:1-18

Tags: Christian Love

Denomination: Christian/Church Of Christ

Look Carefully  PRO

Contributed by John Williams Iii on Apr 16, 2002

LOOK CAREFULLY In the Greek original of the New Testament the word often translated sincere means `judged in the sunlight’; and the English word is derived from the Latin--- `sine cera’, which means `without wax’. In the days when art flourished in ancient Greece, it was the common ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-17, James 1:13-17

Tags: Leadership General, Truth, Faith

Denomination: United Methodist

Irritation  PRO

Contributed by Paul Fritz on Jan 3, 2004

IRRITATION Imagine all of the obstacles a person might have to overcome if he were to walk from New York City to San Francisco. One man who accomplished this rare achievement mentioned a rather surprising difficulty when asked to tell of his biggest hurdle. He said that the toughest part of the ...read more

Scripture: James 1:2, James 1:2-4

Tags: Endurance

Denomination: Evangelical/Non-Denominational

Trying To Win Their Case Some Lawyers Have Been ...  PRO

Contributed by D. Greg Ebie on Jan 27, 2004

Trying to win their case some lawyers have been known to ask some incredibly unbelievable questions. The Massachusetts Bar Association Lawyer’s Journal gave the following example: Question: Doctor, before you performed the autopsy, did you check for a pulse? Answer: No. Question: Did you check for ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26, James 2:14-17

Tags: Faith General

Denomination: Assembly Of God

The Seven Steps Of Temptation  PRO

Contributed by Melvin Maughmer, Jr. on Mar 11, 2004

THE SEVEN STEPS OF TEMPTATION: · Tempted – The thought of evil NOT A SIN YET!!! · Drawn away – strong imagination · Lust – self gratification and desire · Entice – weakening of the will · Lust conceived – yielding to that desire / carrying out the thought. · Sin – committing the act missing ...read more

Scripture: James 1:14-15, James 1:13-15

Tags: Temptation General

Denomination: Apostolic

Power Of A Praying Mother  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Sep 28, 2004

POWER OF A PRAYING MOTHER The year was 1820 and Peter Richley was a grateful man. He had survived one of the strangest and most harrowing events known to mankind. The ship which he had been traveling on sank. He was rescued. By some strange twist of circumstance, however, this ship sank. He was ...read more

Scripture: James 5:1-10, James 5:1-10

Tags: Prayer Answered, Prayer General, Mother's Day

The Shock Of Sin  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Dec 6, 2004

THE SHOCK OF SIN In a book called All Thumbs Guide to VCR’s which is a repair guide for amateurs, author Gene Williams begins with a warning. He writes: “Getting a jolt form the incoming 120 volts ac (120 Vac) is more that just unpleasant; it can be fatal. Studies have shown that it takes very ...read more

Scripture: James 1:13-16, James 1:14-15

Tags: Sin Deceptive

Pulling On Both Oars  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Oct 26, 2009

PULLING ON BOTH OARS An old Scotsman operated a little rowboat for transporting passengers. One day a passenger noticed that the good old man had carved on one oar the word "Faith" and on the other oar the word "Works." Curiosity led him to ask the meaning of these oars. The old man, being a ...read more

Scripture: James 2:14-26, James 5:1-7

Tags: Faith Vs. Works

Are You Seaworthy?  PRO

Contributed by Sermon Central on Aug 3, 2011

ARE YOU SEAWORTHY? In his book, Life before Death, Ian Leitch, a Scottish preacher, talks about three luxury ocean liners, the Queen Mary, the Queen Elizabeth, and the QE2. He says, "When they built [these ocean liners], they did not test them in dry dock. They didn’t leave them in dry dock and ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-15, James 1:2-4

Tags: Faith

The Highest School Of Learning In God's Arsenal ...  PRO

Contributed by Wade Martin Hughes, Sr on Apr 10, 2002

The highest school of learning in God’s arsenal is the Graduate School of Affliction and Suffering. All of God’s greatest workers had to attend this graduate school. If you are a chosen vessel and have a work to do for God you will attend and learn in ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Denomination: Assembly Of God

There, But For The Grace Of God, Goes...(Insert ...

Contributed by Sermon Central on Jul 14, 2009

THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GOES...(INSERT YOUR NAME) Someone has said that the only person God sends away empty is the person full of himself. Charles Spurgeon once said, "Our imaginary goodness is more hard to conquer than our actual sin." I fall into the thinking that I can do things on my ...read more

Scripture: James 4:10

Tags: Pride

A Stinging Blow For Good  PRO

Contributed by Curry Pikkaart on Mar 2, 2010

A STINGING BLOW FOR GOOD Always remember that God knows what he is doing with us, even if we don’t know. Many years ago there was found in an African mine the most magnificent diamond in the world’s history. It was presented to the King of England to wear in his crown. The king sent it to ...read more

Scripture: James 1:1-12

Tags: Affliction

Denomination: Presbyterian/Reformed