Sermon Central
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James
Contributed by Dan Jackson on Aug 19, 2005 (message contributor)
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1. Let's Be Practical
Contributed on Aug 19, 2005
First message on James. James’ letter is more a practical paper on corrrect conduct, than a doctrinal discourse. He assumes a knowledge of doctrine (dangerous assumption today!) and urges us to live out the truth.
“It is a bewildering paradox that one-third of all American adults claim to be born again and yet fail to impact our society which becomes sicker and more corrupt by the day. Religion is up but morality is down,” says Chuck Colson. George Gallup reached the same conclusion when he polled the nation ...read more
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2. Don't Worry, Be Happy
Contributed on Aug 19, 2005
2nd message on James. Troubles and trials are part of the core curriculum of life. James shows us how to deal with them.
Lucy offers one of her unsolicited observations about life in a “Peanuts” cartoon. “Life,” she muses to Charlie Brown, “is like a deck chair. Some place it so they can see where they are going. Some place it so they can see where they have been. And some place it so they can see where they are at ...read more
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3. "When Temptation Overwhelms
Contributed on Aug 20, 2005
3rd in series on James. True faith is often displayed in its reaction to trouble. Trials produce opportunities for growth and development in the Christian life.
Chuck Swindoll tells of a mountain man from West Virginia who had never seen a city, or bright lights and modern inventions. He married a girl of the hills and they spent all their married years in the backwoods. Their one son, creatively named “Junior,” reached his sixteenth birthday, [and] ...read more
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4. Just Do It
Contributed on Aug 21, 2005
4th message in James Series. How to receive, react, and respond to the Word of God in obedience.
“The Bible: Highly Revered but Seldom Read” was the headline for a Christianity Today article reporting the results of a Gallup Poll. Americans expressed their attitudes toward God, the church, the Bible and their personal faith. Interestingly, 42 percent recognized in principle that the Bible is ...read more
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5. The Quality Of Mercy
Contributed on Aug 27, 2005
5th message in James series. james’ warning against partiality or favoritism. We are subject to a higher law.
A brilliant medical doctor discovered the use of blood plasma that resulted in saving thousands of lives in World War II, Korea, and the Vietnam War. At Pearl Harbor, for example, 96% of those who received plasma, survived. After World War II Charles Drew was named director of the National Blood ...read more
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6. Marks Of A Genuine Faith
Contributed on Aug 27, 2005
6th message in James series. James pleads for marks of Christ’s Lordship to be evident and shows that genuine faith must be expressed not only in confession, but in practice.
Danish theologian, Soren Kierkegaard, told of a make-believe country inhabited only by ducks. One Sunday morning the ducks all came to church, and waddled down the aisle into their pews. The duck preacher took his place behind the pulpit, opened the duck Bible and read, “Ducks! You can have wings, ...read more
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7. To Tame The Tongue
Contributed on Aug 28, 2005
7th message on James. The ability to control the tongue is a test of character for all Christians. James concern is to tame the tongue, a small organ that can indicate the temperature of your soul.
Winston Churchill rallied the Free World against the threat of totalitarianism by the power of his speech. During those same days, Adolph Hitler, mesmerized the German nation with his oratorical skill, and led the Axis war machine to enslave much of Europe. Churchill and Hitler demonstrate the ...read more
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8. How To Be An Influential Person
Contributed on Sep 5, 2005
8th message in James series. James has a decidedly different concept of what counts for influence than our secular society does.
On Christmas Eve 1985 this article appeared in Our Daily Bread: In the early 19th century, a war-weary world was anxiously watching the march of Napoleon. All the while babies were being born. In 1809, midway between the battles of Trafalgar and Waterloo, William E. Gladstone was born in ...read more
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9. A Winnable War
Contributed on Sep 11, 2005
9th in James series. The history of the world is a war history. James brings it even closer home when he makes it clear that our personal stories are war stories as well, James shows how we can acheive victory over the world!
World War II had ended. On September 2, 1945 General Douglas MacArthur spoke to a waiting world from the Battleship Missouri anchored in Tokyo Bay, “Today the guns are silent...the skies no longer rain death...the seas bear only commerce...men everywhere walk upright in the sunlight. The entire ...read more
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10. How To Measure Humility
Contributed on Sep 14, 2005
10th message in James series. James identifies two spheres of life as yardsticks for humility. The first is the relationship we have with other people, especially in what we say about them. The second is the goal or plans we have for the future.
Shirley MacLaine, the Oscar-winning actress, is a spokeswoman for the self-consumed philosophy of our day. The Los Angeles Times reported an interview in which she said: The most pleasurable journey you take is through yourself…the only sustaining love is with yourself. When you look back on ...read more
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11. Rich Man, Poor Man
Contributed on Sep 18, 2005
Message 11 in James Series. God never judges by a bank account, or a statement of worth. He looks for righteousness and where it is lacking, His judgment follows. Riches are morally neutral, neither good nor evil. Wealth is like fire — very useful, but al
In his three years of life, Bobby has seen an undue share of suffering. Born in Southern California to a drug-addicted mother, Bobby went through withdrawal at the age of two weeks. He has lived in two foster homes, barely survived a life-threatening case of spinal meningitis, and is now back with ...read more
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12. Be Patient! Stand Firm!
Contributed on Sep 28, 2005
12th in series on James. Here, he tells us how to respond correctly when we are treated unjustly. He suggests four specific attitudes - two we should adopt and two we should avoid.
How do you cope with the pressure of hurtful situations? In a former pastorate I had a week when I met one day with a young father whose family has disintegrated through a divorce he did not want. On that Monday I listened to the director of the local child treatment center tell of their work with ...read more