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James: Wisdom For Believers (Exiles)
Contributed by Joel Gilbert on Aug 12, 2024 (message contributor)
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1. Tribes, Trials, Trust
Contributed on Aug 12, 2024
In this sermon, we consider James' opening remarks to believers as they face trials and persecution.
How do you respond when your rights as a citizen or resident of the United States collides with the life that God has called you to live as a follower of Christ? Can there be a conflict? This week, one of the the guys who came through for training was a man named Stephen. Story: malfunctioning ...read more
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2. Content With God's Good Gifts
Contributed on Aug 12, 2024
Many of the trials that we face come from outside of us. Some of those trials come from within as temptations. James urges us to be content in our station, because our station and the trials that accompany it are good gifts from God.
In 2016, Rosario Butterfield was speaking at university. After her talk, she met a young woman who was struggling. To Rosario and this lady went to visit the campus chaplain, who was also a counselor over the course of their conversation they found out that this young woman had been listening to a ...read more
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3. Quick, Slow, Slow
Contributed on Aug 12, 2024
As James continues to provide wisdom to exiles, he begins to discuss our interactions with other people - especially our reactions.
Today, as we return to our study in the book of James, we are confronted with some helpful and convicting words that relate to how we interact with other people and even respond to sticky situations. Even as he presents this information - James does so with a specific outcome in mind: James ...read more
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4. How Bad Is Favoritism Really?
Contributed on Aug 12, 2024
On the topic of pure religion and our interactions with other people, James addresses the topic of favoritism.
Mean Girls and Bullies Are a common theme in the movies and entertainment in part because… It is a part of human nature - to be accepted and to be close to people who can help us get ahead. In school that might look like working your way into the crowd of cool kids - even if that means ...read more
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5. A Tale Of Two Kinds Of Wisdom
Contributed on Sep 3, 2024
James focuses on the leaders of the church as he calls into question the source of wisdom - essentially noting that wisdom from God is drastically different than wisdom of the world.
There are decisions that all of us make on a daily basis. Some of those are minor and relatively inconsequential, others are major and potentially life altering. Some impact only us (or so we think), where others reap ramifications on our families, church, workplaces, school, community, and more. ...read more
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6. This Is War
Contributed on Sep 9, 2024
As we continue to pursue the "true religion" that James encourages us to embody, we come face to face with a war that we face. Sure, there are battles with culture, but this war is within.
One of my favorite bands is the group “Switchfoot.” While I like their sound (it is unique and often very easily identifiable), what I like most is their lyrics. Switchfoot is a band that is made up of Christians. Their lyrics and songs have made their way onto both Christian and secular charts ...read more