Introduction To Christian Living Series

James 1 Introduction to Christian Living

Some of ya’ll never consider how things get done around here. We are a small church, with a limited budget, and so the things done around here are done by volunteers. The place is mowed and trimmed by volunteers. The pavilion and plastic walls are cleaned by volunteers. The wood is split and buildings built, and Christmas in the Country decorated by volunteers. The music is led and the church records are kept by volunteers.

I remember speaking with one of our volunteers one time and I mentioned how nice the bathroom looked and what a great job she did and how much I appreciated it, and she responded, “After what the Lord has done for me, this is nothing.” The true heart of a servant.

Wednesday night, during prayer meeting, I mentioned a man in our community who had a need. He loves and has served the Lord for many years. He called me while Gladys and I were out of town and asked me to come see him. I got to visit with him earlier this week. Even though he is on hospice, he said the Lord still has him around for a reason and he wanted to know how he could serve, what ministry he could be a part of.

I got to thinking and I remembered that a few years ago, he had a prayer and card ministry. If there was a death at Meadowlea, or if someone was sick there, people would let him know, he would pray for the person and send them a card. I suggested he start that again.

He said, “Yeah, I could do that, but my computer is broken and I’ll to see what I can do.” His hand shakes so much that he can barely write. So, during prayer meeting Wednesday night, I mentioned that this man had this need and asked folks to keep their eyes and ears open for a computer.

Yesterday, as I was arriving at Highbanks Marina for George’s celebration of life, a lady came up to me and said, “Brother Gene, I have a computer for that man you mentioned Wednesday.”

I took it by his place yesterday afternoon and he was so exited. He was beside himself. He said, “I can’t believe you got one and that you got it so quickly.” And then he said, “This is just like the one I had that got broken.”

This, my friend, is Christianity lived out. This is Christianity with skin on it.

Over the past several years we have covered several books of the Bible and a number of subjects and topics along the way. Two years ago we went through the Gospel of John, and we examined Jesus’ life and teachings as presented by John.

Next we traveled through the book of Romans, and we looked at man’s need, due to his sin. We looked at God’s provision, and His means of salvation as made available through Jesus Christ.

Earlier this year we went through the book of Nehemiah and examined how God raises up a people to bring about changes and to restore what seemed hopeless and destroyed.

We just finished a short examination of heaven, and through scripture we saw together how heaven is not the way many depict it. The glories of heaven are beyond our imagination and dreams. Those living there are so much better off than we are, and it is a magnificent place the Lord Jesus has prepared for those of us who are followers of His. Included in that study, we saw that not all roads lead there. To be heaven bound requires a definite choice. It requires a definite decision to make Jesus the Lord of your life.

If you remember, Jesus said in Matthew 7,

> Matthew 7:13-14 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.”

Not all roads lead to heaven.

Today I would like to begin a series on living the Christian life in the real world. What makes us different? Open your Bibles this morning and turn with me to the book of James. It will be there near the end of your Bible. We’re going to begin in James 1 and verse 1.

- Read James 1:1

If you remember, in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells us that we are to be salt and light. Salt helps stop rot and decay, and brings flavor to food that would otherwise be tasteless; and light exposes truth and dispels darkness.

That’s what Jesus calls you and I to do. He says, “Ya’ll aren’t supposed to be like the rest of the world. Ya’ll aren’t supposed to have the same priorities as everyone else in the world. Ya’ll aren’t supposed to live like the rest of the world.