Sermon Central
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The Book Of James
Contributed by Darrell Ferguson on Aug 6, 2020 (message contributor)
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1. James The Slave
Contributed on Sep 28, 2020
How do you know for sure that the Bible is reliable? How can I be sure that what I believe is really true? This message summarizes some of the most compelling evidence.
James the Slave Suffering, Tests, and Temptation James 1:1 8-17-2014 James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Introduction: Doubt Today we begin a study of the book of James, which is a letter that ...read more
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2. Pain, Perseverance, And Pure Joy - James 1:2-4
Contributed on Oct 13, 2020
When James commands us to consider it pure joy when we suffer, does that mean we are to pretend we are happy when we aren’t?
James 1:2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Introduction: Perseverance Years ago ...read more
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3. From Trials To Wisdom - James 1:4-6
Contributed on Oct 20, 2020
Exactly how does suffering produce perseverance?
James 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must ...read more
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4. The God Who Gives - James 1:5-8
Contributed on Jan 28, 2021
Why are there so many times when we pray for wisdom and then end up making unwise choices?
Introduction Review I hope these last few weeks that we have spent together in James 1 have been as helpful to you as they have for me. God has really spoken to me in some powerful ways through this text. I was gone last week so I’ll just refresh your memory a bit. When you face hardship in ...read more
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5. Love Your Loserness - James 1:9-11
Contributed on Feb 12, 2021
We all have those areas in our lives where we feel like … losers. Most people respond by trying to feel good about themselves, but there’s a better way.
James 1:9 The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. 10 But the one who is rich should take pride in his low position, because he will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty ...read more
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6. Proof Of Love James 1:12
Contributed on Apr 17, 2021
Expository Sermon on James 1:12
The Promise: Life for Love We have been studying through the book of James and we come today to 1:12. This is one of those verses that is so rich and jammed full of truth that we won’t make it any further today than this one verse. So, whatever kind of Bible you have, take a look at the last ...read more
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7. Proof Of Love - James 1:12
Contributed on Feb 25, 2021
This sermon will help you increase your desire for the crown of life.
James 1:12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. The Promise: Life for Love We have been studying through the book of James and we come today to 1:12. This is one of ...read more
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8. Conception By Deception - James 1:13-15
Contributed on Apr 22, 2021
Why do some temptations strike a chord in our desires while others don’t?
James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is ...read more
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9. How To Undeceive A Desire James 1:15-17
Contributed on May 13, 2021
The reason you sin is not desire. Jesus desired food but didn’t fall when tempted with food. The problem is not desire; it’s deceived desire. It’s a desire that is deceived about sin, about life and good days, and about God. This passage exposes those deceptions and the way to correct them.
How to Undeceive a Desire Suffering, Tests, and Temptation Part 9 James 1:15-17 12-7-2014 The reason you sin is not desire. Jesus desired food but didn’t fall when tempted with food. The problem is not desire; it’s deceived desire. It’s a desire that is deceived about sin, about life and good ...read more
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10. Look Out, Look In, Look Up - James 1:17-18
Contributed on May 26, 2021
What does the Bible tell us to do about our evil desires? This passage describes three attributes of God that, if we understand them, can repair evil desires.
James 1:13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is ...read more
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11. Quick Slow Slow (James 1:19-20)
Contributed on Jun 10, 2021
We all struggle with sinful anger. For some it’s violent and red-faced; for others it’s a quiet, building resentment. Whatever the form, James teaches us how to overcome it in this passage.
James 1:19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. 21 Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the ...read more
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12. Absorb The Word (James 1:21 )
Contributed on Jun 19, 2021
What does it mean that the Word is already in you? Does that mean you don’t have to read it? No, it means you have the ability to receive it.
James 1:18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. 19 My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, 20 for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life ...read more
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13. The Perfect Law Of Freedom - James 1:23-25
Contributed on Jul 17, 2021
The first half of this message is a crash course on how to interpret Scripture. The second half explains how God’s law increases the freedom in your life.
James 1:22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But the one ...read more
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14. Intensive Stare James 1:25
Contributed on Jul 24, 2021
One of the main reasons we fail to put God’s Word into practice is forgetting. This message gives practical steps you can take to learn how to meditate deeply on God’s Word so it becomes a part of your life.
James 1:22 But be doers of the word and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man looking at his own face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But the one ...read more
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15. True Religion James 1:26-27
Contributed on Jul 31, 2021
James 1:26 speaks of "true religion." We know about caring for orphans and widows, but what about the other part?
James 1:26 If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless. 27 Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the ...read more
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16. Playing Favorites (James 2:1-4)
Contributed on Aug 19, 2021
Are you more likely to be friendly toward someone at church who is attractive than someone who is repulsive in some way? Do you look with more favor on wealthy people than homeless people? This passage teaches us how to look at people the way God looks at them.
Command: No Favoritism One of the most unsettling things that can happen when I read the Bible is when I discover that something is especially important to God, and it is not really a big deal in my thinking. For whatever reason, there are certain sins that we are all very aware of, and there are ...read more
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17. Whose Side Are You On? - James 2:5-7
Contributed on Aug 28, 2021
The key to loving people and treating them the way God wants us to treat them lies in what we value.
James 2:1 My brothers, as believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ, don’t show favoritism. 2 Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in shabby clothes also comes in. 3 If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, ...read more
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18. The Royal Law - James 2:8-9
Contributed on Aug 28, 2021
We tend to disguise our sinful favoritism under the guise of loving our neighbor. Favoritism seems like love towards those we favor, but James shows that it’s really a violation of the royal law of love.
James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. The Importance of the Command Is anybody here interested in seeing the most important ...read more
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19. Judgment Please, Hold The Mercy - James 2:8-13
Contributed on Aug 28, 2021
Showing mercy means giving people what they need rather than what they deserve. This message will help you enjoy receiving God’s mercy every day and will motivate you to show mercy to others—especially in your thoughts toward people.
James 2:8 If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. 9 But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of ...read more
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20. The Power Activator - James 2:14-19
Contributed on Sep 6, 2021
How can you have assurance of your salvation? And how can a deceived person avoid having false assurance? James makes the answers clear by giving a clear definition of the one aspect of the gospel that is all too often left vague: exactly what you have to do to be saved.
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical ...read more
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21. The Friend Of God - James 2:20-24
Contributed on Sep 6, 2021
We are often told to trust God. But this passage makes trust seem more desirable by casting it in the context of friendship. This message defines friendship and explores what it means to have that with God.
James 2:14 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? 15 Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical ...read more
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22. The Friend Of God’s People - James 2:25-26
Contributed on Sep 6, 2021
This sermon shows how differently God sees people than we do. By our standards, Abraham and Rahab couldn’t be more different. For God, they are the same.
James 2:20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? 21 Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? 22 You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by ...read more
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23. The World’s Most Dangerous Profession - James 3:1-2
Contributed on Sep 23, 2021
This passage stands out because teaching is so highly valued throughout the New Testament. Why is it discouraged here? James considered himself a teacher and was teaching even as he penned these words about not many should be teachers.
James 3:1 Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. Introduction: We Talk a ...read more
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24. Fire Danger: High - James 3:2-10
Contributed on Sep 23, 2021
We rarely have adequate conscious awareness of how dangerous our speech really is and the degree of damage that can be done by the forest fires our tongues can start. This message may be a hard one to listen to, but it is full of many crucial warnings. I urge you to give it a listen.
James 3:2 We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check. 3 When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. 4 Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large ...read more
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25. God’s Iq Test (The Talking Dumb) - James 3:9-16
Contributed on Sep 23, 2021
This sermon shows how that kind of pride can be detected in your speech (the "sun complex"), and what the remedy is.
James 3:9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? 12 My brothers, can a fig ...read more
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26. Portrait Of A Peacemaker - James 3:17-18
Contributed on Sep 23, 2021
This message shows how several of the elements of human wisdom have been dressed up and have found their way into the church. We must beware of those. The message also gives insights into how to convert incidents of conflict into peace in the church and restore broken relationships.
James 3:17 But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18 Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness. Introduction God will call us His children, if and only if… How ...read more
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27. What Causes Fights & Quarrels? - James 4:1-3
Contributed on Oct 3, 2021
When we have flashes of anger or irritation, very often we find ourselves asking, “Where did that come from? Why did that bother me so much?” This message will answer that and show the way to refreshment of soul
James 4:1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You want something but don’t get it, so you kill. You covet, but you cannot have what you want. You quarrel and fight. You do not have, because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you ...read more
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28. Hostile Desires - James 4:1-3
Contributed on Oct 3, 2021
If you struggle with anger or are having conflicts with people, this is an important message for you. It shows how good desires become hostile desires and how to fix the problem.
James 4:1 What causes wars and battles among you? Don’t they come from your desires that wage war within you? 2 You covet something but don’t get it – you murder. And you envy, but you cannot have [what you want] - you battle and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 When you ask, you do ...read more
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29. Worldliness & The Jealousy Of God - James 4:4-6a
Contributed on Oct 3, 2021
How can you derive comfort and joy from God's jealousy?
James 4:1 What causes wars and battles among you? Don’t they come from your desires that wage war within you? 2 You covet something but don’t get it – you murder. And you envy, but you cannot have [what you want] - you battle and war. You do not have, because you do not ask. 3 When you ask, you do ...read more
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30. Grace For The Humble - James 4:6
Contributed on Oct 3, 2021
What could be more important than gaining the one quality that determines whether God gives you grace or fights against you?
James 4: 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Introduction Listen very carefully to these words I am about to read because Jesus said your eternal destiny depends on whether you understand them. Matthew 18:1 At that time ...read more