Sermon Central
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James
Contributed by Michael Stark on Aug 22, 2007 (message contributor)
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1. What Can James Teach Us
Contributed on Aug 22, 2007
Neglected verses set the stage for godly wisdom.
JAMES 1:1 WHAT CAN JAMES TEACH US? “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, “To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: “Greetings.” Whenever we read the letters of the New Testament, we are likely to hurry through the opening words treating them as unimportant formal ...read more
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2. What Trials May Come
Contributed on Sep 9, 2007
When trials come, as trials do come into each life, how shall the godly person respond?
JAMES 1:2-4 WHAT TRIALS MAY COME “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” One truth is ...read more
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3. Where Wisdom Is Found
Contributed on Sep 16, 2007
Encouraging God’s people to seek wisdom in the storms of life.
JAMES 1:5-8 WHERE WISDOM IS FOUND “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that ...read more
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4. Rich Man, Poor Man
Contributed on Sep 23, 2007
Learning how to assess our importance in a manner that pleases God.
JAMES 1:9-11 RICH MAN, POOR MAN1e grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.” The Word of God is countercultural and counterintuitive. ...read more
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5. The Crown Of Life
Contributed on Sep 30, 2007
Real life is promised when we have stood firm in the trials of life.
JAMES 1:12 THE CROWN OF LIFE “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” It is difficult, some might even think it impossible, to expect that Christians can be ...read more
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6. Wimps Need Not Apply
Contributed on Oct 13, 2007
Christian Faith demands vigorous, virile lives.
JAMES 1:12 WIMPS NEED NOT APPLY “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with ...read more
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7. When I Surrender To Temptation
Contributed on Oct 19, 2007
Temptation is always a threat to the child of God. The message is a consideration of the source of temptation and the consequences of surrender to temptation.
JAMES 1:13-15 WHEN I SURRENDER TO TEMPTATION “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God,’ for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives ...read more
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8. God Who Is Good
Contributed on Oct 28, 2007
A reminder to Christians of the character of God is necessary when we are enduring trials.
JAMES 1:16-18 GOD WHO IS GOOD “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should ...read more
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9. Rooting Out Rot
Contributed on Nov 18, 2007
Assessing and addressing the rot in evangelical churches requires a return to biblical holiness.
JAMES 1:19-21 ROOTING OUT ROT “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the ...read more
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10. Rules For A Righteous Life
Contributed on Nov 25, 2007
We Christians need to learn anew how to live a life marked by being quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger, if we will honour God through a righteous life.
JAMES 1:19-21 RULES FOR A RIGHTEOUS LIFE “Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is ...read more
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11. Fanatics For The Faith
Contributed on Dec 24, 2007
God calls His people to take seriously the instruction of the Word. In fact, He calls us to be fanatics for the Faith.
JAMES 1:19-27 FANATICS FOR THE FAITH “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness that God requires. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness ...read more
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12. Mirror, Mirror On The Wall
Contributed on Jan 11, 2008
We can be hearers of the Word and deceive ourselves, or we can be doers of the Word and be blessed. James calls each Christian to be a doer of the Word, receiving the blessing of doing what God commands.
JAMES 1:22-25 MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL… “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets ...read more
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13. Religion Condemned
Contributed on Jan 25, 2008
James exposes the difference between religion that comforts us and religion that reveals the power of Christ among us.
JAMES 1:26 RELIGION CONDEMNED “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Someone has said, “You can’t believe half of what you hear, but you can repeat it.” This points out a real problem in the church ...read more
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14. What Faith Looks Like
Contributed on Feb 6, 2008
What does pure religion and undefiled before God, the Father, look like? James challenges us to discover for ourselves what that religion looks like.
JAMES 1:26, 27 WHAT THE FAITH LOOKS LIKE “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless. Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to ...read more
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15. Discrimination In The Sanctuary Of God
Contributed on Feb 16, 2008
Favouritism dishonours God and destroys the Body of Christ.
JAMES 2:1-4 DISCRIMINATION IN THE SANCTUARY OF THE LORD “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you ...read more
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16. Pardon Me, Your Bias Is Showing
Contributed on Feb 22, 2008
God tests those who claim to follow Him, and the tests He applies are revealed through how we treat others.
JAMES 2:1-13 PARDON ME, YOUR BIAS IS SHOWING! “My brothers, show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, and if you pay ...read more
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17. Do We Have It All Backwards
Contributed on Mar 7, 2008
James confronts Christians about the natural tendency to show deference to the wealthy. He challenges us to look at wealth from God’s point of view.
JAMES 2:5-7 DO WE HAVE IT ALL BACKWARDS? “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? But you have dishonoured the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress ...read more
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18. You Cannot Outrun The Law
Contributed on Mar 14, 2008
The Royal Law, though neglected, is nevertheless the standard by which Christian conduct is judged.
JAMES 2:8-13 YOU CANNOT OUTRUN THE LAW “If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself,’ you are doing well. But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. For whoever keeps the ...read more
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19. Real Faith Is Never Passive
Contributed on Mar 29, 2008
Faith in Christ the Lord is life-changing, and the changes are evident to all people.
JAMES 2:14-17 REAL FAITH IS NEVER PASSIVE “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without ...read more
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20. A Worrisome Truth
Contributed on Apr 11, 2008
The Reformers were right when they said, "Faith alone justifies, but the faith that justifies is never alone." James compels us to example this essential truth.
JAMES 2:14-26 A WORRISOME TRUTH “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Go in peace, be warmed and filled,’ without giving ...read more
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21. Orthodoxy Of The Devil
Contributed on Apr 18, 2008
If we believe there is a God, our faith is no better than that of the demons. They believe God is one, and they shudder. The message explores the faith of the demons, encouraging us to have the faith of saints.
JAMES 2:18-19 ORTHODOXY OF THE DEVIL “Someone will say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” Though orthopraxy is absolutely ...read more
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22. Useless Faith
Contributed on Apr 25, 2008
Faith is so much more than a passive agreement to a set of doctrines. Saving faith transforms the one who believes. Without this transformation, how will anyone know whether we are saved, or merely pretending to be a follower of Christ?
JAMES 2:20-26 USELESS FAITH “Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar? You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his ...read more
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23. How To Destroy Your Church
Contributed on May 18, 2008
Christians may unconsciously destroy their church. Often, they perform this nefarious deed with the best of intentions. James warns us to review our actions and our attitudes so that we will not destroy our church or dishonour the Lord.
JAMES 3:1-12 HOW TO DESTROY YOUR CHURCH “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his ...read more
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24. The Most Powerful Force Man Ever Created
Contributed on May 24, 2008
"No human being can tame the tongue." Now, that is a sobering thought! James confronts us as believers, calling us to account for our speech. The message reviews the destructive power of the tongue, with encouragement to change how we often speak.
JAMES 3:1-12 THE MOST POWERFUL FORCE MAN EVER CREATED “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to ...read more
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25. The Teacher's Burden
Contributed on Jun 7, 2008
God appoints men to teach His people. Self-appointed counterfeits promote themselves to the detriment of the assemblies of our Lord. However, those whom He appoints bless the people of God.
JAMES 3:1, 2 THE TEACHER’S BURDEN “Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness. For we all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole ...read more
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26. A Perfect Christian
Contributed on Jun 15, 2008
Many Christians that are thought to be mature demonstrate immaturity through their speech. James confronts Christians, demanding that they look at what is said and how they say it.
JAMES 3:2-5a A PERFECT CHRISTIAN “We all stumble in many ways. And if anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle his whole body. If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. Look at the ships also: ...read more
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27. The Devil Goes To Church
Contributed on Jul 12, 2008
Uncontrolled speech may reveal a devilish heart that has never been regenerated. James challenges us to review our heart by examining our speech to determined our relationship to the Master.
JAMES 3:5b, 6 THE DEVIL GOES TO CHURCH “How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.” At 9:00 ...read more
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28. Spiritual Schizophrenia
Contributed on Jul 20, 2008
It is impossible to live a life characterized by blessing God while simultaneously cursing other believers. To attempt to so live is to demonstrate that one is suffering spiritual schizophrenia.
JAMES 3:7-12 SPIRITUAL SCHIZOPHRENIA “Every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people ...read more
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29. Demonic Wisdom
Contributed on Aug 23, 2008
Many churches operate with demonic wisdom rather than with heavenly wisdom. James confronts us, calling us to recognise the evil that can destroy us.
JAMES 3:13-16 DEMONIC WISDOM “If you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. This is not the wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder ...read more
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30. Divine Wisdom
Contributed on Aug 30, 2008
What does wisdom from above look like? What would happen in a church displaying such heavenly wisdom? James gives us the answer to these questions.
JAMES 3:17, 18 DIVINE WISDOM “The wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. And a harvest of righteousness is sown by those who make peace” James called for people of wisdom to identify themselves. Those ...read more