Faith Works (Sparks)

Faith Craves Prayer

July 21, 2024 • Mark South • James 5:13–18

In this sermon, Pastor Mark delves into James 5:13-18, emphasizing the importance of prayer in every season of life, whether in suffering or cheerfulness. He explains how the faith-driven prayer can foster deeper faith, helping believers navigate through personal struggles and communal challenges. Mark stresses three kinds of prayer: personal prayer, intercessory prayer from others, and pastoral prayer, each playing a crucial role in the spiritual wellness and growth of Christians. He also tackles the relationship between sin and sickness, advocating for confession and spiritual healing through prayer. The sermon includes insightful examples and practical advice on embracing prayer as an innate urge of true faith. 03:56 Faith in Action: The Urge to Pray 05:34 Personal Prayer and Its Importance 16:35 The Role of Community in Prayer 18:11 The Unique Power of Pastoral Prayer 21:05 The Symbolism of Oil in Scripture 21:27 The Role of Pastors in Anointing and Prayer 23:22 Understanding the Prayer of Faith 25:47 The Concept of Healing in Faith 31:18 The Connection Between Sin and Sickness 37:08 The Power of Faith and Prayer 41:25 A Call to Respond to the Impulse to Pray

Patience Pays off in the End

July 14, 2024 • Carlos Orozco • James 5:7–12

Pastor Carlos delves into James 5:7-12, urging believers to be patient and steadfast as they await the return of Jesus Christ. Drawing on analogies of farmers and the fairness of divine judgment, he emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's perfect timing and remaining faithful despite suffering and trials. He also encourages the faithful to live out their beliefs through their actions, focusing less on earthly concerns and more on spreading the gospel and exemplifying Christ-like patience. He closes with a call to renew commitment to faith and to work towards glorifying God in current times. 04:54 Understanding Patience and Perseverance 06:08 The Christian Response to Suffering 10:08 The Importance of Faith and Endurance 13:19 Establishing Your Heart in Faith 16:16 The Role of Patience in Faith 20:18 Hope in Christ's Return 24:50 Listening and Brokenness 25:14 Christ's Promise and End Times 25:56 Suffering and Patience 27:09 Lessons from the Prophets 30:47 The Story of Job 33:43 Living with Integrity 37:50 Overcoming Evil with Good 41:59 Revival, Not Revolution 44:14 Commitment to Christ

Chasing Riches

July 7, 2024 • David Beck • James 5:1–6

Pastor David explores the critical messages from James Chapter 5, emphasizing the perils of chasing worldly riches and self-indulgence. He discusses how the passage, though addressing persecuted Jewish Christians 2,000 years ago, remains highly relevant today, particularly to middle-class communities. Pastor David unpacks the harsh but necessary rebuke against wealth accumulation and the mistreatment of laborers, urging listeners to shift their focus from material wealth to the treasures of God's kingdom. He shares personal anecdotes and biblical verses, including parallels from Matthew Chapter 6 and Hebrews Chapter 13, to encourage a heartfelt pursuit of God's glory and fulfillment over earthly possessions. 02:41 The Theme of Money and Riches in James 05:14 A Warning to the Rich (v1) 09:37 What you are chasing is worthless (v2-3) 17:09 How you are chasing is evil (v4) 24:50 Why you are chasing is destructive (v5) 37:59 Conclusion and Final Prayer (v6)

Who Made You God?

June 30, 2024 • Pastor Mike Rydman • James 4:13–17

In this heartfelt sermon, Pastor Mike explores the teachings of James 4:13-17, emphasizing the importance of humility and acknowledging God's sovereignty over our lives. The sermon addresses the pitfalls of assumptive and relational arrogance, illustrating how easily we fall into the trap of believing we control our own destinies. Pastor Mike shares personal anecdotes to highlight the necessity of submitting to God's will and recognizing our transient nature. The sermon concludes with a call to embrace spiritual maturity, characterized by trust, obedience, careful speech, and compassionate service, while avoiding the arrogance of assuming God's blessings and other people's cooperation. 00:00 Introduction and Scripture Reading 01:31 Greeting and Introduction to the Sermon 01:49 Understanding the Book of James 03:03 Relational Arrogance 04:49 Assumptive Arrogance 10:12 Reality Check: Life's Uncertainty 10:48 The Parable of the Rich Fool 13:35 The Therapeutic Gospel and Cultural Arrogance 15:10 Acknowledging God's Sovereignty 16:58 Personal Reflections and God's Plans 23:48 Spiritual Maturity and Humility 28:55 Conclusion and Final Prayer

Dethroning Jesus

June 23, 2024 • John Wolfe • James 4:11–12

In this sermon, Pastor John explores two potent verses from James 4:11-12, which caution against speaking evil or passing judgment on others. He emphasizes the profound implications of such actions by connecting them to broader theological principles. The sermon highlights the importance of measuring our judgments against the grace of Christ rather than personal convictions or secular ideologies. Pastor John calls for Christians to live in true community, focusing on reconciliation and restoration rather than condemnation. It's a powerful reminder of the weight our words carry and the importance of embodying the language of the kingdom of heaven. 02:49 The Power of Words and the Tongue 05:03 Do Not Speak Evil Against One Another 10:35 Judging Others and the Law 19:02 The Role of the Christian Community 36:56 Final Thoughts and Conclusion

Reconciliation and Humility

June 16, 2024 • Carlos Orozco • James 4:1–10

In this sermon, Pastor Carlos delves deeply into James 4:1-10, examining the internal causes of quarrels and conflicts within the church, emphasizing the importance of reconciliation, humility, and submission to God. He connects contemporary issues of pursuit and desire with ancient philosophical concepts like hedonism and encourages the congregation to shift their focus from worldly pleasures to spiritual wholeness through God. Pastor Carlos highlights God's grace, the necessity of unity within the church, and the power of humility in resisting the devil and worldly temptations. He ends with a heartfelt prayer for church unity and a celebration of God's paternal love. 05:23 Understanding Quarrels and Passions 07:29 The Concept of Hedonism and Its Impact 13:01 Pursuing Reconciliation Within the Church 20:07 Examining Temptations from the World 22:21 The Bread of Life and Divine Jealousy 23:39 God's Righteous Jealousy and Our Response 24:57 The Importance of the Old Testament 25:53 Submitting to God and Resisting the Devil 27:21 Jesus' Temptation and Our Defense 33:58 Humility and Repentance 40:41 Unity in the Church and Reconciliation 42:00 Final Reflections and Call to Faith

Fork Stuck in the Road

June 9, 2024 • Mark South • James 3:13–18

This sermon examines James 3:13-18, addressing the characteristics of divine wisdom versus earthly wisdom. Pastor Mark emphasizes the necessity of wisdom from above, which manifests in purity, peaceability, gentleness, and mercy, contrasting it with earthly wisdom driven by jealousy and selfish ambition. The sermon encourages viewers to seek God's wisdom, remain vigilant in their faith, and live a life marked by humble and godly decision-making. It also touches on cultural perspectives of wisdom and the importance of prayer and discernment in making life decisions, urging believers to uphold their faith in every season and situation. 02:20 The Importance of Continuous Spiritual Growth 04:15 Wisdom and Decision Making 07:02 Understanding True Wisdom 12:52 The Meekness of Wisdom 19:25 Earthly Wisdom vs. Godly Wisdom 25:08 Understanding Selfish Ambition 27:21 Earthly Wisdom vs. Spiritual Wisdom 34:01 Characteristics of Godly Wisdom 42:59 The Gift of Wisdom from Above 45:51 The Courage to Pursue Godly Wisdom

Scorched Earth Policy

June 2, 2024 • Mark South • James 3:1–12

Pastor Mark delivers a powerful sermon on James 3, emphasizing the responsibility and potential peril of the tongue. Drawing on vivid metaphors like small rudders steering large ships and bits controlling horses, he illustrates how our words can steer our lives and impact our faith. Pastor Mark reflects on the personal conviction he felt while preparing the sermon and the transformative power of grace through Jesus Christ in taming the tongue. The message calls for conscious speech that aligns with the kingdom of God and encourages believers to be mindful of their words as a true test of their faith and spiritual maturity. 02:49 Introduction 03:20 Faith and Trials 05:48 The Struggle with Words 07:25 Personal Convictions 11:02 Teaching and Accountability 13:39 The Impact of Words 23:04 The Destructive Nature of the Tongue 25:14 The Power of Words: Setting Relationships on Fire 26:18 The Tongue: A World of Unrighteousness 28:24 Fluency in the Language of Hell vs. Heaven 30:26 Peter's Rebuke: Speaking Like a Demon 32:21 Taming the Untamable Tongue 36:08 Blessing and Cursing: The Dual Nature of the Tongue 39:13 The Need for Divine Intervention 42:54 A Personal Anecdote: God's Silliest Goose 45:12 A Prayer for a Tamed Tongue

Faith Works

May 26, 2024 • Jim Perkins • James 2:14–26

In this sermon, Pastor Jim explores the relationship between faith and works, as discussed in James 2:14-26. He emphasizes that true faith is evidenced by deeds, illustrating this with biblical examples such as Abraham and Rahab. Pastor Jim also addresses the societal and spiritual challenges of living out this kind of active faith, calling on the church community to support one another in tangible ways. The sermon concludes with a call to let faith be evident in daily life, aligning actions with beliefs, and emphasizes the importance of community groups in fostering genuine, supportive relationships.

The Mercy Manifesto

May 19, 2024 • Mark South • James 2:1–13

Only Good and Perfect Gifts

May 12, 2024 • Mark South • James 1:12–18

In this sermon we explore the blessings and trials of faith. It underscores the promise of the crown of life to those who remain steadfast under trial, reiterating that God tests but does not tempt with evil, aiming to build endurance in faith rather than lead believers into sin. The sermon emphasizes that temptations arise from personal desires rather than God's will, cautioning against deceiving oneself into blaming God for personal failures. It highlights the distinction between trials intended to strengthen faith and temptations that lead to sin and death. Concluding with an encouragement, the sermon reassures the congregation of God's unchanging nature in giving good and perfect gifts, which include trials that ultimately lead to spiritual growth and completeness. It serves as a reminder that what may seem challenging or undesirable at the moment can be God's perfect gift tailored for the individual's growth in faith. 00:00 Scripture reading 02:25 Celebrating Mother's Day with Humor and Reflection 03:05 The Essence of True Gifts and Motherhood 05:18 Navigating Trials with Faith and Joy 10:30 Understanding the Depth of Being 'Blessed' 18:34 The Journey Towards a Crown of Life 22:37 Distinguishing Between Testing and Temptation 26:47 Exploring the Nature of God's Tests 27:47 The Difference Between Testing and Temptation 31:51 Understanding Our Own Temptations 34:01 The Consequences of Yielding to Temptation 40:50 Embracing God's Perfect Gifts 46:07 The Ultimate Gift: The Crown of Life

Living Stones Churches

The Book of James