Faith Tested by Wisdom

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Faith Tested by Wisdom

July 24, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 3:13–18

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James chapter 3, we're going to be looking Sunday at verses 13-18, and we're going to be looking at the issue of wisdom and the contrast between earthly wisdom and heavenly wisdom. There are two kinds of wisdom that James is going to talk us through. He's going to make them very clear and how different they truly are. The question is, which of those two: earthly wisdom or heavenly wisdom - is going to characterize us individually and which is going to characterize our church family?

The wisest possible thing anyone can do is to save their soul by faith in Jesus Christ. Conversely, the most foolish thing anyone can do is to lose their soul through neglect. This is the theme of the heavenly wisdom that comes down from Heaven to earth. Jesus said in Matthew 16, "What would it profit someone if he should gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? Or what would you give in exchange for your soul?"

It is the essence of wisdom that you spend eternity in Heaven through faith in Christ. And the most foolish thing you could do is to lose your soul for some earthly thing and spend eternity in torment, in anguish over your foolish choice. Therefore, Christ crucified, the message of the cross and of the empty tomb, is the centerpiece of the heavenly wisdom. It's the centerpiece of everything God has to say to us. In Colossians it says, "In Christ are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Sunday we will be challenged about the choices we make – wise or foolish? See you Sunday!

Pastor Mike

What do you expect?

August 28, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 5:13–20

Pray for one another! “Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons, but they are helpless against our prayers.” J. Sidlow Baxter Prayer should be seeking the face of God and asking His will in our world. Too often, prayer is asking God to look in on us and get His blessing. World events, COVID, racial tensions, poverty, natural disasters, political uncertainties. All these cause us stress, concern and too often worry. However, God tell us that we have a divine outlet – prayer! As the final short message in James, the brother of Jesus encourages us to turn our heart toward heaven in prayer. Sunday we will focus on prayer – the expectations, the expressions and even a few errors. I know many of you will be at our Family Retreat so we will have the message recorded and available by the time you get back – check our website to wrap up this last chapter in James. “Pray and let God worry!” Martin Luther

Identity of a true Missionary

August 21, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 2:14–20

Home from Liberia, West Africa – God is Good! Sunday, I want to share what God is doing in the Churches of Liberia. What a great group of men and so many wonderful Church Families. I want to talk about missions from the perspective of James, the brother of Jesus. Missions of outreach and love going beyond boundaries, borders and comforts. I wanted to spend some time talking about what unites us as a Church. What brings us together as a Church. So, for that reason I wanted to jump all the way to the end of Romans, where we see Paul repeating to the church in Rome his reasons for writing them this long letter in the first place. Sunday morning, we are going to look at Romans 15:14-21 together. James told us that words or faith alone is not enough – deeds, obedience and action are called for! Paul gives us the three key elements to Mission – folks who are fruitful, faithful and focused. You prayed and God blessed – let me share some of that Sunday and let us all hear God’s call to the Great Commission! See you Sunday, Pastor Mike

Truly Rich

August 14, 2022 • Josh Burt • James 5:1–12

This Sunday we look at the first part of James, Chapter 5. James describes two extremes and their impacts. Here we see the James points out two things… First that this world can distract us from God, and second NOTHING this world can do is worth distracting us from God. We see God’s protection, provision, and purpose in these verses. We are continually reminded of His love and leading for what is truly most important. I hope, the same, as every Sunday, that we leave seeking Him together! We will take a look at the lessons that James wrote about here and will seek to apply them in our life as well. Patience is so hard! It is not just a hard lesson “learned” - it is hard to see the “purpose” of learning this lesson. Suffering is the same! But we are reminded of Christ in these times. Hebrews 5:8 "Although He was God’s Son, He learned obedience through what He suffered.” - We can not look at suffering simply in terms of lacking, losing, or loathsome - We need to see it as LEARNING to walk as He did. See you this Sunday! Pastor Josh