Christianity Meets The Crossroads of Culture
James
Closing Statements
December 20, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
This week we consider a few final ideas for growing in the faith while being mindful of what can derail our progress. I think it's interesting that his closing statements circle back around to the spiritual care of our lives. James begins by talking about suffering that is NOT the result of sin in our lives.
Overcoming Our Corruption
November 8, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
We’ve learned that practical Christian living at the Crossroads of Culture is the core message of James. But remember, James was a half-brother to Jesus and he was antagonist & critical toward the methods / message / & miracles of Jesus (John 7:3-5) NLT. However after James saw the resurrected Jesus (1 Cor. 15:7) NKJV, he became a radical defender & supporter of the faith! James writes a NO non-sense book about Christian living in a corrupt culture…
The Practical Side of Faith
May 10, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
Today our study takes us beyond theory & ideas of walking with God and into HOW a believer lives as a Christian. This portion of James is all about results... hurting people who found hope and healing in Jesus RESULTING in genuine faith! And James is teaching us that genuine faith is visible. UNDERSTAND THIS: The point of these verses is not to question or doubt your salvation, rather they are to stir up expressions and evidence of your faith.
Does Jesus Have Access To Your Life?
May 3, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
This week we're back in the book of James and he's teaching us about partiality. James is cutting deep into the issues of our heart and there's not one person this doesn't affect. Because we're all prone to act on partialities and prejudices! So how can we walk away from these divisive habits?
Is This For Real?
April 26, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
In this episode of Calvary at home we are jumping back into the book of James. We're going to discuss what it looks like living in a post Christian moment which means people want the benefits of the Kingdom with out the King (Jesus). James is teaching Christians that real faith produces evidence! But we must also realize that growth takes time, so he's not teaching us about perfection but showing us the way Jesus wants us to go.
How Am I Different?
March 8, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
James says if you’ve accepted Jesus Christ as your savior then let your life give evidence of that profession! His own life teaches us that proximity to Jesus doesn’t guarantee faith! He was raised in the same house as Jesus yet dismissed the very teachings of Christ. So too in the buildings we call churches, religious people do all kinds of special deeds, but don’t know Jesus! Kids are raised in the best Christian homes and don’t know Jesus! This is an all too tragic reality, lives governed by RULES instead of GRACE.
Help Me Avoid That!
February 2, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
Today we come to temptations! One’s from God (trials) & ones from Satan (temptations). Let's start by looking at (Matt. 6:13) NLT. Jesus taught the disciples to pray for protection against temptations! Why?! Because the Devil is roaming around looking to wreck lives because he hates humanity! (1 Peter 5:8) NLT
Help Me Understand This Pt. 2
January 26, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
Last week, in Part #1, of this study we covered the background of (James). In order to gain perspective on who James was and how his epistle of truth balances out the Gospel of grace! We came to understand that proximity to Jesus doesn’t guarantee faith! James was raised in the same house as Jesus and early-on dismissed Jesus! However, everything changed after He saw the resurrected Christ. So, James is writing to exhort Christians to live an authentic faith in a difficult world! And his main point is real Faith Produces Genuine Works – (Spiritual maturity).
Help Me Understand This
January 19, 2020 • Pastor Jeff Cramer
Let me start by sharing that James is the half-brother of Jesus. But the Bible also records that James didn’t believe who Jesus said He was (John 7:5) NKJV. James was a good Jewish man yet skeptical of Jesus’ claims! In fact, James and the entire family said Jesus was crazy (Mark 3:21) NLT. Point being: proximity to Jesus doesn’t guarantee faith! James was raised in the same house & still dismissed Jesus! Perhaps that speaks to you here this morning. Maybe you're like James who believed in God but rejected his need for forgiveness of sins by Jesus! Once James saw Jesus for who He is (1 Cor. 15:7) NKJV everything changed from that point! James becomes a leader & pillar in the early church in Jerusalem (Gal. 2:9(a) NLT. James then writes exhorting Christians to live an authentic faith in a hostile world! So, the main theme in this book is Real Faith That Produces Genuine Works.