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Faith's Lifestyle

Why does a brother err from the truth

August 21, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

What a great summer we've had walking through James together! The letter of James is Christianity with its sleeves rolled up. It is the working person's practical guide to living the Christian life. It spells out what it means to follow Jesus day by day. James emphasizes faith in action. The Church must serve with compassion, speak lovingly, and truthfully, live in obedience to God commands, and love one another. The body of believers ought to be an example of heaven's principles applied on earth, drawing people to Christ through the love of God and one another. if we truly believe God's Word, we will live it day by day. God's Word is not merely something we read or think about, but something we do. This Sunday we will wrap up this great study by looking at part two of the Wayward Brother.

Restoring the Wayward

August 14, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

This Sunday we will be looking at how we can Restore the Wayward from the last few verses in the James’ letter. James says that Christians can stray away from the truth (James 5:19). When this happens, the believers of the church are to seek to convert them, that is to lead them to repentance. The word convert means to turn, to take him by the hand and lead him to repentance. What a descriptive picture: loving one another so much that as soon as a believer slips into sin we take him or her by the hand and help them come back to the Lord. What a different place the church and world would be if we loved one another so much that we actually did this! How desperately such a ministry of restoration is needed today! Remember when we turn a believer around from his or her sin, we save their soul from death, and cover a multitude of sin (James 5:20).

The Believer and his Prayer Life

August 7, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

Prayer is certainly a high and holy privilege. To think that, as God's children, we can come freely and boldly to His throne and share with him our needs! (Hebrews 4:16) Seven times in James 5:13-20, James mentions prayer. The mature Christian is prayerful in the troubles of life. Instead of complaining about his situation, he talks to God about it; and God hears and answers his prayers. "Taking it to Lord in prayer" is certainly a mark of spiritual maturity. This Sunday we will see how James encourages us to pray by describing four situations in which God answers prayer. Don't miss this life changing message this Sunday, as God's word teaches us how to pray.

Patience is a Trait

July 31, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

Time is precious. So, is it any wonder that waiting has become the most hated and frustrating experience in life? We wait in bank lines, in supermarkets lines, at the doctor's office, and in traffic, especially on Highway 280. And while we wait, we are wasting time. I know you feel like I do that I need more time to get it all done. James 5:7-12 is for us! The words patience, endurance, and perseverance are mentioned no less than six times. Patience is the quality that the apostle Paul continually stressed as a requirement for a godly life. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness," Galatians 5:22 (ESV). This Sunday as we walk through this passage verse by verse, we will learn together some things about patience that will help us live the Christian life with greater integrity as followers of Christ.

Money Talks

July 24, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

"If money talks," said a popular comedian, "all it ever says to me is good-bye!" But money was not saying "good-bye" to the men James addressed in this fifth chapter of his letter. These men were rich, and their riches were being used for selfish purposes, as well as persecuting the poor in the process. James did not say it was sinful to be rich. After all, Abraham was a wealthy man, yet he walked with God, and was greatly used of God to bless the whole world. James was very concerned about how they were using their wealth, and advised them to "weep and howl." A judgement day is coming, and we will give an account of how we used our money. This Sunday we will look at the three exhortations James gave to the wealthy about their wealth. The principles apply to all of us, whether we are poor, struggling to make ends meet, comfortable, or wealthy.

A Life lived without God

July 3, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

This Sunday we will be looking at James 4:13-17, which deals with people living their lives without God. Solomon wrote a whole book that describes life without God, the book of Ecclesiastes. In it, he explores all that life on this earth has to offer. As the richest and wisest man who ever lived, he had access to the finest things the world could afford. And what did he find in a world of pleasures devoid of God? "The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor the ear filled with hearing" (Ecclesiastes 1:8). However, at book's end, he tells us that a life lived in the fear of God is a meaningful life (Ecclesiastes 12:13). This Sunday we will see what James has to say about A life Lived without God. It’s a sobering message, but one that we need to hear!

Conflict in the Church

June 26, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

We all know that churches are not perfect places. It only makes sense because they are filled with very imperfect people. But when we participate in the ways of the world, we invite conflict into the church. Why? Because the things of the world are not the things of God and these polar opposites create conflict and division. Remember last week in James 3:17-18, where James described the wisdom of the world and its by-products which are earthly, sensual, and demonic? It follows that when this kind of thinking and actions are set loose in the church, it will bring about all the evil results that James tells us about in James 4:1-12. Don't be caught off guard by the strategies of the devil. If he can't beat us, he wants to join us by bringing his mischief into the church. Don't miss the message this Sunday, "What Causes Conflict in The Church".

Wisdom of God

June 19, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

As we continue in the book of James, we are reminded that though there is a lot of information about how to be wise, from books and videos on leadership and wealth-building to being a better parent, there is a better, more reliable source of wisdom. All of this other supposedly good information doesn't come from God, but from man. Unfortunately, man's wisdom is at best a passing folly, and looks like foolishness from God's point of view. When God talks about wisdom, He talks about wisdom that endures eternally. This Sunday we will compare and contrast the wisdom of the world with the wisdom of God.

Loose Lips, Sink Ships

June 12, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

In my previous message, we saw that when it comes to faith, actions speak louder than words. But that is not to diminish the power of the words that come out of our mouths. The words we speak carry great weight too. We can destroy lives or restore them with the flick of the tongue. As believers, how cautious we must be then about the things we say each day. Isn't it incredible? The kind of trouble our tongues can create for us? That little muscle, called the tongue, can start wars and stop them. It can create stress and relieve it. It can express love and renounce it. It can build up friendships and then tear them down again. With our tongues we can praise and worship God, and with that same tongue we can curse God and deny His existence. Proverbs 18:21 says it best: "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." This Sunday we examine this powerful force.

Faith is more than just Profession

May 29, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

Have you heard, "Actions speak louder than words"? Believe it or not Christianity shares this sentiment. Simple declarations of faith mean nothing if your actions undermine the faith you profess. Faith is better seen than spoken. James, in chapter two, calls us to a faith that is visible, one that is acted out. This Sunday we will be diving into James 2:14-26, "Faith Is More Than Just Profession". We will look at James' declaration when he said,"Faith without works is dead".

Everybody is Somebody in God's House

May 22, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

This Sunday we will move to the second chapter of James where we will learn that "Everybody Is Somebody in God's House." James continues a discussion of various temptations and trails that are common to all believers. One of the strongest temptations we face is that of showing partiality or favoritism, of discriminating against people. How would you like it if people based their friendship with you on what clothes you wore, or how much money you had, or how much power or popularity you had in the community? Do we shun those that might be poor or less popular? In James' day, some folks did this. I expect that we will all learn something as we see how James dealt with this serious problem in the Church.

The Believer and The Bible

May 15, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

We sometimes fit our Bible reading into our daily schedule with little thought. It is there alongside our morning coffee, workout at the gym, and our favorite TV show. But our time with the word of God should be more than small bits. It should be the most anticipated moment of our day, when we pause and read and consider God's truth for our lives. This Sunday we will continue in the book of James, specifically James 1:19-27, The Believer and The Bible. This passage focuses on the importance and priority of God's Word. James takes us through a five-step process that begins with the necessary preparation for study and ends with a powerful illustration of the difference the Bible makes in our lives. You don't want to miss this exciting, life-changing message!

How to be Victorious over Temptation

May 1, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett

The book of James is the letter written to the church about how to practice our faith. Last Sunday, we began by learning "How to Respond to the Trials of Life". James challenged us to celebrate the reasons for our trials to consider the results of our trials and to call upon God's resources during our trials. This Sunday, James will teach us that trials come from Satan and though we should count it all joy when trials come our way, we should run away and renounce temptation to sin. Temptation to sin is nothing new. It started all the way back in Genesis 3 when Adam and Eve desired the fruit which God had forbidden and then succumbed to the temptation and ate it. Ever since then we have continued to struggle to keep God's law. But God has not left us helpless. God in His mercy and grace has given us His Word so that we can combat the devil and the temptation that he has laid before us. This Sunday, James will show us "How To Be Victorious Over Temptation". You don't want to miss one of these practical lessons in this walk through the book of James.

How to respond to the trials in life

April 24, 2016 • Dr. Danny Lovett