One hand clapping

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One hand clapping

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

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“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

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