The Anatomy of Temptation: Does God Tempt Us or Not?

I'll Be Honest

The Anatomy of Temptation: Does God Tempt Us or Not?

Tim Conway | James #4

May 21, 2024 • Tim Conway • James 1:9–14

In James 1:12-16, the passage highlights the blessedness of those who endure trials, emphasizing the eventual reward of eternal life promised to those who remain steadfast in their faith. It warns against attributing temptation to God, affirming that temptation arises from one's own desires rather than divine influence. The progression from desire to sin to death underscores the seriousness of succumbing to temptation, urging believers not to be deceived but to remain vigilant in their faith.

0:00 - Introduction

1:50 - Teaching on James is tougher than it would appear on the forefront.

3:34 - God can't be tempted with evil?

6:37 - Temptation, tested, peirasmos?

9:33 - Why am I doing this word study?

11:13 - Trial versus being tempted to sin?

14:54 - What does peirasmos lead to in both cases?

15:30 - First—the positive view of peirasmos.

21:46 - Second—the negative sense of the word.

22:42 - Is the desire for sex a bad desire?

29:53 - Notice "fully grown" in verse 15.

31:35 - Let us combine together the positive and the negative views of this word being used.

37:18 - A list of the ways we blame God for our sin.

46:31 - We must be steadfast!

47:22 - Are you unmerciful?

59:24 - Not purposely sinning in a day?

1:01:40 - Closing prayer.

How Faith Produces Works

November 13, 2024 • Tim Conway

Brethren, this isn’t about whether works save us—that’s not the point here. James is not contradicting Paul. The issue is this: true faith, the kind that actually saves, is never alone. It’s completed by works. That’s what James is saying. Look at Abraham—he believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness. But it was when he acted, when he offered Isaac, that his faith was shown to be real. Faith without works? It’s dead. It’s like a body without the spirit—there’s nothing there. The question James is asking is this: can a faith that has no works really save you? The answer is no, because real faith is always proven by what it does.

Dead Faith Crumbles; Living Faith Conquers Giants

November 8, 2024 • Tim Conway

Tim Conway | James Series | The believer lives by faith, facing situations like Israel entering the Promised Land. Do we have a faith that trusts God in the face of great opposition, or one that crumbles when things get tough?

The Christian Phenomenon: From Selfishness to Genuine Mercy

October 15, 2024 • Tim Conway • James 2:1–12

This sermon from James 2 invites us to reflect on the significance of partiality in our lives and its deeper implications. Tim focuses on how favoritism violates the royal law, "Love your neighbor as yourself," and stresses that partiality is not just a small flaw but a serious matter of love, law, mercy, and judgment. James connects partiality to judgment, reminding us that mercy triumphs over judgment, and that God will look for this mercy in His people on the final day. The message explains how true Christianity is a phenomenon—a transformation from selfishness to genuine compassion.