James
Walk of Faith
Prayers Without Power Are A Problem (Part 2)
January 31, 2024 • Curtis Epnett • James 4:1–10
Unfortunately, no audio was captured when this lesson was taught. In part 2 of Prayers Without Power Are A Problem, James share a third issue that depletes our prayers of power: worldliness. When we live for the world, our prayers lack power. James shares fives things that can bring power to prayer lives: 1) Sensitivity to the Spirit (v. 5) 2) Submission to the Sovereign (v. 7) 3) Stand against Satan (v. 7) 4) Separate from the secular (v. 8) 5) Succumb to self (v. 10)
Words Of Faith
January 10, 2024 • Curtis Epnett • James 3:1–12
Our walk of faith is an all or nothing thing. Our faith is to be lived out in every area of our lives, including our speech. An untamed tongue is going to cause us trouble in our faith soon and/or eventually. 1. The Importance Of The Tongue (vv. 1-2) - The truth of who we really are is revealed by the words we speak. 2. The Influence Of The Tongue (vv. 3-5) - Our speech has the ability to influence actions, outcomes, directions, attitudes, opinions, destinations, etc. 3. The Iniquity Of The Tongue (v. 6-8) - Our speech can defile us and bring destruction into the lives of others. 4. The inconsistency of The Tongue (v.9-10) - Inconsistency in our speech is inappropriate.
Words Without Works Are Worthless
January 3, 2024 • Curtis Epnett • James 2:14–22
Is our faith working or worthless? 1. A profitless profession (vv. 14-17) The profession of our faith (our words) is no good unless we have works to back up our statement of faith. 2. A barren belief (vv. 18-19) How do we know a person's belief is true? It produces fruitful works. 3. A fatal faith (vv. 20-22) Faith without works is dead. We are justified by faith unto salvation without any works (cf. Eph.2:8-9; Rom. 4:3-5). But our salvation is justified (i.e. we are proven to have a real saving faith) by the works we produce (Jas 2:21-22).
Walk The Talk
December 20, 2023 • Curtis Epnett • James 1:17–27
If we're going to walk the talk of our faith then we must: 1) Live in the Light (v. 17) 2) Welcome the Word (vv. 18-25) - Be quick to receive the Word - Be slow to refute the Word - Be slow to reject the Word - Be quick to react properly to the Word, i.e. Do the Word, don't just hear it. 3) Be real in our religion (vv. 26-27) - The word religion in the Greek is referencing a "worship of God" lifestyle.
Tame Your Temptation
December 13, 2023 • Curtis Epnett • James 1:12–16
There is a definite possibility of temptation. It is sure. Temptation is not a matter of if but when. And when it comes, it is singularly crafted for each individual. There is a divine impossibility of temptation. It is impossible for God to be tempted or to tempt any man. There is a direct responsibility of temptation. We're tempted when we are drawn away by our own lust and desires, therefore we have a responsibility to turn away from temptation. Looking long turns to lusting after the wrong. There is a decided accountability. We are accountable for the decisions we make to give into temptation. When we choose to sin, it is a choice for which we are accountable.