James: Faith & Works - Testing & Persevering

The testing of our faith through trials, adversity, suffering, etc… produces in us a steadfast spirit and perseverance. And perseverance is an invaluable characteristic of those who follow Christ.

Prayer: “Lord Jesus please give us the strength to endure, to persist, and to thrive throughout the various trials and sufferings of this life. And thank you that at the end of it all, we’ll receive the greatest promise of hope… An eternity with you.”

Scripture: James 1:2-12, 2 Timothy 3:12 (All scripture quoted comes from the ESV unless otherwise noted)

The testing of our faith through trials, adversity, suffering, etc… produces in us a steadfast spirit and perseverance.

Introduction

Today, we begin an amazing 5 week series through the New Testament book of James. As many of you have probably read before, the book of James is well known for its emphasis and teaching on both faith and works. Which by no great coincidence is the title of our series.

The book of James is believed to be the earliest of all books written in the New Testament. It’s author, James, was the half-brother of Jesus and the pastor/leader/elder of the church in Jerusalem. Also, significant to our series is the intense persecution and adversity this early church faced. James is not writing as a disconnected observer but rather as an active participant in the lessons of faith and perseverance that he encourages through his letter.

“James the just,” as he was affectionately referred to, is a good pastor with an important message for the early church. Importantly, his message continues to be relevant as the years go by, the persecution of the church carries on, and the experience of personal adversity is felt by every last living being.

Each week we will look at two big ideas from the book of James. Today we’re going to dive into James chapter 1 and it’s teaching on testing & persevering. The testing of our faith through trials, adversity, suffering, etc… produce in us a steadfast spirit and perseverance.

Main Teaching

Read James 1:2-12. Our passage begins with an intentionally shocking statement; “Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you meet trials of various kinds.” It’s hard to hear this and imagine there can be joy in the midst of trials. I can think of numerous things I find joy in and none of them include pain, suffering, destruction, or adversity. And yet James calls the early church to joy in the midst of persecution.

Also worth noting here is that James doesn’t say, “if” you experience trials, but rather, “when” you do. Adversity was a foregone conclusion. 2 Timothy 3:12 says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Not, “might be” persecuted, but, “will be” persecuted.

And just because you and I aren’t experiencing persecution like the early church did or like some of our brothers and sisters around the world currently are, that we’ve somehow lucked out and been spared the trouble. Not at all… In fact, what James goes on to articulate in our passage is that we count our trials as joy, not because we’re masochists and we love being in pain, but because we trust that the testing of our faith is producing in us something of immeasurable value. Something so valuable that every believer needs to experience it in one form or another.

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