James

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

The call to friendship with God

July 31, 2022 • Denis Garijo • James 4:1–10

My impression is that some Christians are playing what looks like a "hide and seek game" with God. In this "game," they seem to be trying to hide from Him, but there are also times when they think God is hiding from them. But the truth is that they are playing this game by themselves. First, no one can hide from God (Psalm 139), and second, God never hides from us (Deuteronomy 31:6-8, Hebrews 13:5). These first ten verses of chapter 4 can seem a harsh admonition about friendship with the world, but it is actually a loving call to a friendship with God. As a gracious and merciful God, He teaches us how to grow closer to Him in friendship. James 4:8a "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you…." I am looking forward to learning more from God with you on Sunday. Pastor Denis Garijo

Wait… There’s a test?

August 7, 2022 • Josh Burt • James 4:13–17

This Sunday we look at the last part of chapter 4 in James. These verses, like the rest of James, do not let up when it comes to the “challenges” brought about as one aligned with Christ. These challenges seem insurmountable when we use the measurements, gauges, and evaluations of the world. In fact, what is seen most of the time is that when we are in the will of God, seeking His timing, His will, and His mission - the world tends to not only push back, but defend against these actions. We will look at these verses this Sunday and not just read them, hear them, and see them - but we will look to leave seeking Him together! It is not about how we see success, satisfaction, or sustainability - it is all about our Savior! Let’s look to Him! We tend to put so much weight on a single moment, movement, or monument - and we miss being a part of the ministry! See you this Sunday! Pastor Josh

Faith Tested by Wisdom

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

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

Testing of the Tongue

July 17, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 3:1–12

If the eyes are the windows to the soul then the mouth is the door to the heart! What comes out in moments of unguarded passion are the often the worst and most vile expressions of thought and mind. The tongue can be employed to hurt and cut and even crush. Yet by God’s grace it can also be the tool of expression used for praise, worship, prayer and encouragements. With such a wide swing of outcomes the tongue must be a well taught and carefully controlled instrument of our life. Remember what the tongue cost Zacharias! 40 weeks of silence for the doubting of his heart about God’s promises for his son (Luke 1). Such stories in the Bible should remind us of the serious consequences brought on by our words. Everything we say in life will eventually be tested by our life. James begins with warning to teachers and goes through a series of examples of how dangerous the tongue can be – comparing it to literal HELL. The truest tests in life are not how we speak but rather how we control our speech. Since the tongue can only reflect the heart and mind of the speaker it becomes the measure of what is real in our life – good and bad! Be Careful! The speech made angry may very well be your best ever … and most regretted. Remember – whoever gossips to you will gossip about you! See you Sunday - John 7:46, “No man ever spoke like this Man.” Jesus! Pastor Mike

One hand clapping

July 10, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 2:14–26

“Faith and works are bound up in the same bundle. He that obeys God trusts God; and he that trusts God obeys God. He that is without faith is without works; and he that is without works is without faith.” C.H. Spurgeon You cannot hear one hand clapping! There must be a matching pair to contact and generate sound. So a believer cannot claim to have faith in Christ without the accompanying obedience and submission to Christ. The only way we can be saved and inactive is to be disobedient. Sunday we will read that James gives the clear contrast of faith without works or works without faith. They must be together for the sound of clapping to be heard. James goes on to use a pair of Old Testament examples – Abraham and Rahab. Both demonstrate that faith held is observed in faith lived. Abraham acted by offering what was most precious to him – Isaac. Rahab put her life on the line to protect the spies of Moses from the soldiers of Jericho and helped them escape. Interestingly the demons believe but without the surrender of faith – one handed clapping. In fact, I do not think there is any clapping in Hell – no joy there! Come Sunday for a message from James, some great Old Testament illustrations, some powerful quotes and clapping! See you Sunday, Pastor Mike

Royal Law or Royal Love

July 3, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 2:1–13

“The Gospel is good news of mercy to the undeserving. The symbol of the religion of Jesus is the cross, not the scales.” John Stott Have you ever wondered what would happen to us if God were not impartial? We live in a day when special interests are constantly seeking preferential treatment for a particular group or from a particular group. Yet, so many people around the world suffer because of biased treatment given to some on the basis of their ethnic preference, gender bias, religious prejudice, or socio-economic class discrimination. Fortunately, James teaches us in this passage about God’s perfect impartiality that rises above any hint of favoritism. Can we do this on our own? We can read the Mosaic Law, how can we learn the Royal Law? Only God is able to help us rise above our sinful preferences to become impartial in our dealings with others. It is the Lord’s impartiality that helps us become less judgmental, inclusive and merciful in our attitudes toward those who need Christ. James gives us a glimpse into the early church where bribes, corruption and favoritism were the rule of the day inside and outside of religious circles. Not so much different than today I am afraid. Sunday I will try to take us past our preferences and over our bias and beyond any discrimination – to the Royal Law – whose crown is mercy. See you Sunday! Pastor Mike

What do you know? What do you show?

June 26, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 1:19–27

“I firmly believe people have hitherto been a great deal too much taken up about doctrine and far too little about practice. The word "doctrine," as used in the Bible, means teaching of duty, not theory.” George MacDonald James is nearly done with his introductions to faith! He gives 5 characteristics of true faith and then explains how we can prove (demonstrate) our faith before an observing world. First, we will walk through the steps of genuine faith as seen by 5 character traits. These behaviors make us attentive students and honest observers of God’s Word – are we listening? Then on to the dilemma of doing and hearing. I am going to use the metaphor of a coin toss – heads or tails? We should never resolve to do one or the other but both! In fact, James says unless we are willing to do both neither are of any benefit to the believer alone. Hearing and not doing makes us a hypocrite and doing but not hearing makes us a legalist. Let’s not fool ourselves in our Christian walk – lets listen and obey! Both or neither matter! See you Sunday, Pastor Mike “Do the truth you know, and you shall learn the truth you need to know.” George MacDonald

Faith Tested by Temptations

June 19, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 1:13–18

Why don’t people “blame” God for the good things that happen in life? When things go badly, God is often blamed. The same thing is true in the face of trials and suffering. We may not thank God for all the good times or for what we have had up to this point. We simply cry out, “Why, God!” when we go through difficulties and losses. James is going to teach us to quit blaming God as the cause of trials and temptations - it is sin! Temptations do not come from God. Temptations come from within ourselves I used to think that Satan was to blame. I thought Satan was the cause of temptations. I thought he was the problem, not me. Sunday we will look at what James says about this and we can grasp how temptations come from within us. James uses a fishing illustration to explain how temptation works. First, we are lured and enticed by our own desires. This is a picture of bait placed on a hook. What is important to notice is that we are lured and enticed “by our own desire.” The picture is this: if we did not have the desires and weaknesses, then Satan would have nothing with which to tempt us. Satan is the one that puts the bait on the hook and drops the line in the water. But the temptation comes from within us because we want the bait. A fish will have no interest if I put a Brussel sprout on the hook and drop it in the water. A temptation only becomes effective based upon our own desires. Our problem with sin is our problem. The problem is with us! Join us Sunday for a clear reminder of the source and force and course of sin – then listen to God’s remedy for sin and His solution to death – you guessed it – Jesus! See you Sunday, Pastor Mike

Test of Time

June 12, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 1:5–12

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it's thinking of yourself less.” C.S. Lewis Who asks for a hard time? It is our selfish nature to think first of ourselves. Most seek the shortest line at the grocery store or the easier slope of the hill or the lightest burden to carry – James says that a man is blessed by going through the trials of life. Our prayers are too often – ‘God fix this!’ when God is saying from Heaven ‘go through this and I will be with you!’ Trials are really not the problem, because we are always going to have them - so it’s really how we respond that is the problem. We can take two approaches to trials, we can either complain about them, or learn from them. In both cases we have to face trials but the outcome can be very different. If we face our trials with complaint and contempt, we will end up resentful and bitter. Our attitude after our trials will be worse than before we entered them. Trials are like a refining fire and either we will be burned up or refined and made more pure by them. God’s intent is that when we face our trials with faith in Him, we can learn from them. Sunday I will be talking about what we need (not what we like) and what we do not need (even if we do like it) and how to grow through trials. Big Group this – grab a name tag and invite someone to join you or once you are here find someone to share lunch with after church. Pastor Mike

Faith Tested by Trials

June 5, 2022 • Mike Burt • James 1:1–4

“If we cannot believe God when circumstances seem be against us, we do not believe Him at all.” (C.H. Spurgeon) James is the brief book of Proverbs in the New Testament. A collection of the pithy points from several sermons in the Early Church. The gathering of these message summaries revolves around the theme of faith. The Epistle of James has much to say about faith. The noun faith pistis - πίστις occurs sixteen times and the verb believe pisteuo - πιστεύω three times. James does not become a theological exposition of faith but rather a series of reminders of faith active in everyday life for the believer. The design of this letter is to be practical more than doctrinal – though it is fully complimentary to sound doctrine! James insists that a saving faith is a living faith, proving its genuineness by what it does. But it is a misconception to assume that his purpose is simply to stress the importance of good works. James is not advocating works apart from faith, but he is vitally concerned to show that a living faith must demonstrate its dynamic character by its deeds. The purpose of James is to prod his readers to recognize and accept their need for a living, active faith and to challenge them to test their own faith by the basic criterion that “faith without works is useless” (2:20). We will get there but first James tackles a most common foe of faith – trials. Sunday we will address the trials of life and threats to faith – join us as we begin the Biblical adventure studying James – Faith Tested by Life. Hope to see you Sunday! Pastor Mike

Grace Bible Church

Faith that Works