MORE THAN WORDS: Real Faith Produces Real Action
A Church's Responsibility
March 20, 2022 • Vlad Baraniuk • James 5:12–20
A Church’s Responsibility James 5:12-20 Pray Constantly • Our motivation: we can do nothing without Christ • Our concentration: Kingdom agenda • Our resolution: let prayer be foundational, not just additional Sing Biblically • Praise lifts my head up • Praise holds my heart steady • Praise anchors my soul in Christ Confess Regularly • Sin brings isolation • Accountability brings solidarity Restore Lovingly • Be sensitive to doctrine • Be sensitive to practice God’s good design is for a church to pray, sing, confess, and restore one another in unity, for the sake of the Kingdom LHBC Winter 2022 James Series Overview • Trials are certain, countless, but construction in that they produce perseverance and drive me to prayer (James 1:1-8) • In the midst of your trials, remember your identity in Christ, recognize the immutability of God, and run to the Word faithfully (James 1:9-27) • God doesn’t show favoritism and neither should His children (James 2:1-13) • Convictional, saving faith in the work of Jesus leads me to transformed works in my life (James 2:14-26). • In Christ, my speech can give life. Without Christ, my speech will destroy life (James 3:1-12) • Seek God’s wisdom through a relationship with His Son, not your own ambitions (James 3:13-18) • In view of God’s grace, I am challenged to pursue God consistently and resist sin aggressively (James 4:1-12) • Because life is short and God is sovereign, all of my plans should begin and end with “for me to live is Christ” (James 4:13-17) • To be patiently faithful is to remember that God is continually providing and sustaining my life in Him, as I live with Gospel intentionality towards others (James 5:1-12) • God’s good design is for a church to pray, sing, confess, and restore one another in unity, for the sake of the Kingdom (James 5:12-20)
Patient Faithfulness
March 13, 2022 • Vlad Baraniuk • James 5:1–12
Patient Faithfulness James 5:1-12 • Be patient, wealth can be dangerous • Be patient, envying the rich is not healthy • Be patient, generosity is a mark of the Gospel • Be patient, Christ is the ultimate Judge • Be patient, Christ is coming • Be patient, Christ is working among us • Be patient, God’s faithfulness has never failed • Be patient, Christ alone will hold you fast Psalm 73
Friendship Warnings
February 27, 2022 • Vlad Baraniuk • James 4:1–12
FRIENDSHIP WITH THE WORLD • Is fueled by the pursuit of selfish desires • Is marked by dissension • Has an end goal that rejects Christ's Lordship FRIENDSHIP WITH GOD • Is fueled by the pursuit of God • Is marked by unity • Has an end goal that submits to Christ's Lordship BIBLICAL ENCOURAGEMENTS: • Lean towards grace completely • Resist Satan aggressively • Pursue God consistently • Treat sin seriously In view of God's grace, I am challenged to pursue God consistently and resist sin aggressively.
Faithful Speech
February 13, 2022 • Vlad Baraniuk • James 3:1–12
How's your tongue? Our words have the ability to be life-giving or the ability to bring destruction. In this message on James 3, Vlad shows us that: "In Christ, my speech can give life. Without Christ, my speech will destroy life." James 3:1-12 1. My speech has the ability to determine a direction (vv.1-4) 2. My speech has the ability to deliver destruction. (vv.5-10) 3. My speech has the ability to diagnose my heart (vv.11-12) Biblical Encouragements: • Through His power, God alone can redeem my speech • Through His Word, God speaks life to me • Through His Spirit, the church speaks life to the world God has a design for how we should use our words. We are prone to respond quickly and rashly. Here are a few biblical cautions against that: • Prov 18:6-7 - A fool's lips walk into a fight, and his mouth invites a beating. A fool's mouth is his ruin, and his lips are a snare to his soul. • Prov 18:21 - Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. • Prov 12:18 - There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Words have power! • Gen 1:1 - And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light • Gen 1:6 - And God said, “Let there be an expanse in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” • Gen 1:9 - And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. • Gen 12:1-2 - Now the LORD said to Abram, “Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great so that you will be a blessing. • Exodus 3:14 - God said to Moses, “I AM WHO I AM.” And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I AM has sent me to you.’
Vibrant Faith
February 6, 2022 • Vlad Baraniuk • James 2:14–26
James 2:14-26 Convictional, saving faith in the work of Jesus leads to transformed works in my life. 1. A dangerous assumption (vv. 14-17) "All I need is intellectual faith" 2. A slippery objection (v. 18) "Some people are just gifted differently" 3. A common confidence (vv. 19-20) "Right theology is good enough" 4. A foundational conviction (vv. 21-26) "A Biblical faith is one that acts based on God's revealed Word" • Abraham: trusted in God's promises • Rahab: trusted in God's protection Biblical encouragements • In complete surrender, rest continually in Christ's finished work • In the strength of Christ, run daily towards active obedience
Perseverance in Trials
January 16, 2022 • Vlad Baraniuk • James 1:9–27
How does James encourage us to persevere in trials? 1. Remember your identity in Christ 2. Resist the desires of the flesh • Sin's progression - Desire - Drawn away - Deceive - Death 3. Recognize the immutability of God • God's purpose is Christlikeness • Satan's purpose is destruction 4. Run to the Word of God • Read humbly • Memorize consistently • Obey faithfully