James: Faith in Everyday Life
Prayer and Healing
August 25, 2019 • Murray Lee
To those who experience difficult circumstances in this life, Jesus is coming again. To those whose circumstances cause them anxiety, worry and pain, Jesus is coming again. To those who are oppressed, downtrodden, and full of sorrow, Jesus is coming again. The promise of Jesus coming again brings hope for the future as well as the present. God is not merely concerned with the end. He is also concerned with today. And he tells us in James 5:13-18 that whatever season of life you find yourself in, believers are to pray.
Golden Repair
August 18, 2019 • Murray Lee
James has warned the wealthy non-Christian landowners in the first six verses of chapter five that their hoarding of money brought about by fraud and oppression to feed self-indulgence commits violence against the poor and will not go unpunished. God is coming to judge those who oppress his people and the riches laid up in storage to guard against potential catastrophe will serve to fuel their inevitable catastrophe. Beginning in verse seven, James speaks to those who are oppressed: be patient, the Lord is coming soon. Why do we need to hear this? Because life’s circumstances cause anxiety and worry. But knowing the Lord is coming gives strength to the Christian to persevere.
Warning!
August 11, 2019 • Murray Lee
James 5:1-6 tells us that the abuse of wealth leads to the judgement of God because God defends the oppressed. James is rough in his wording, and rightly so. God’s people were experiencing the systematic abuse from the money-hoarding wealthy non-believers. James writes warning to comfort God’s people that he knows of their suffering, he will defend their cause, and one day their suffering will end.
Two Kinds of Wisdom
July 21, 2019 • Murray Lee
James 3:13-18 puts two kinds of wisdom side by side and says, choose. If we choose earthly wisdom which is concerned with self, it will lead to chaos and evil. If we choose heavenly wisdom which is concerned with others, it will lead to peace and purity. The choice seems easy, but James says wisdom from above cannot be attained through human strength, but is a gift from God.
Hope for Our Speech: Do We Just Try Harder?
July 14, 2019 • Murray Lee
James sounds harsh when he says in 1:26: “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Chapter 3 begins with a discussion about taming the tongue. Why is James so concerned about the tongue? Because it is a window into our hearts. And so he says that the tongue must be tamed. He also says no human being can tame the tongue. What are we to do?
Hearing and Doing
June 23, 2019 • Murray Lee
Life is full of trials. James instructs his readers to count it all joy when they encounter trials because the purpose of the trial is to mature the Christian. To negotiate the trial, Christians need wisdom, and are therefore to ask God who will give it to anyone who asks. In our passage this week, James 1:19-27, he says when Christians contemplate various life trials what they need most is the Word of God which has the power to give eternal life as well as mature them into disciples of Jesus. But Christians aren’t just to hear the Word of God but to do it as well.
Living Life as the Parent or the Child
June 16, 2019 • John Pearson
Let no one say they are being tempted by God. It is our own sinful desires that cause us to fall into temptation and sin. Let us fight against temptations with steadfastness in our faith in God, who promises to those who love him the crown of life!
Wisdom and Money
June 9, 2019 • Murray Lee
James says that life is full of various trials that are designed by God to produce maturity in faith in the Christian. In order to negotiate those trials, the Christian is to ask for wisdom and God will give it generously. One of the most pressing trials is money. For the poor, the trial is believing that God isn’t good. For the rich, the trial is believing that God isn’t needed. The wisdom that God provides the poor and the rich is to glory in the heights of heaven and the depths of rescue, and the grip of money will fade from holding the Christian’s heart captive.
Facing Trials
June 2, 2019 • Murray Lee
The Bible says that Christians must serve as catalysts for change in the world. In order to do so, personal maturity of faith is necessary. James 1:2-8 discusses how faith grows through trials that are ordained by God in order to produce steadfastness. In order to navigate those trials, God gives wisdom generously to all who ask.
The People of the Mission
May 26, 2019 • Murray Lee
We live in a world full of brokenness and sorrow. Sin and its effects touch every aspect of our lives. Through Jesus Christ, Christians, are given an eternal hope that one day they will be with Him and He will make all things right and new. Until then, how will positive change happen in this world? James 1:1 tells us that God’s people are the catalyst for change in this world.