Sermon and Worship Resources

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James 2:1-13

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... shop instructed me to get my snow tires off and the right tires on. I needed a word of instruction. It was to my benefit to make the change. This same principle is at work whenever God''s word instructs us to do something His way--rather than our way. James loved the church too much to let it escape with a "final notice." As long as we condone what is wrong or incomplete, Jesus will always have a word to share with his church, so we can reflect more of his ...

2. Changed Lives: The Man Born Blind from Birth

John 9:1-12

Sermon

King Duncan

... , an overactive seven‑year old who talks a mile a minute, who sleeps sporadically, and who is boundlessly enthusiastic about everything. James loves the company of Angus and Minnie, a retired farm couple in their 80s. For the most part, they enjoy his company as well. It’s Halloween. James bursts into Angus and Minnie’s living room. In deep anguish, he complains that his mom bought him a Teenage‑Mutant Ninja Turtle costume to wear. “No one cares about Teenage‑Mutant Ninja Turtles anymore,” he ...

3. Where Is Your Pebble?

Ephesians 4:1-16

Sermon

King Duncan

... Kingdom, and the day will come when “every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” 1. Jerry Clower, Let the Hammer Down! (Waco: Word Books, 1978), pp. 92-93. 2. James Love http://www.jameslove.com/sermons/ yeara_pentacost16_2002.htm. 3. Frederick E. Maser and Robert Drew Simpson, If Saddlebags Could Talk (Franklin, TN: Providence House, 1998), p. 58. 4. Anne Lamott, Traveling Mercies (New York: Anchor, 2001). 5. Rev. Donald Ng, http://www.fcbc ...

4. Good News for Widows

Mark 12:41-44

Sermon

King Duncan

... use some good news. It’s not easy losing a spouse. Some of you have a void in life that nothing will ever fill. But here’s the good news. Jesus is aware of your situation, and Jesus is aware of your faithfulness to the church. Pastor James Love tells about a friend of his, a young minister, who serves at a large church. This church hired a professional church fund-raiser to help them with a large capital-funds campaign. The fund-raiser told this story: At the initial meeting, the fund-raiser asked the ...

5. Favoritism Forbidden

James 2:1-13, James 2:14-26

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... particularly “to preach good news [or the gospel] to the poor” (Luke 4:18) and who further said, “Blessed are you who are poor; for yours is the kingdom of God” (Luke 6:20). Jesus selected the poor as the special recipients of his kingdom; James picks up this idea adding those who love him to limit the promise to the poor who respond to the good news. If there are any favorites in God’s eyes, they are the poor, for God has a very different way of viewing them than the world has. The world sees ...

6. Faith and Deeds

James 2:14-26, James 2:1-13

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

7. Proper 17

James 1:19-27, Song of Songs 2:1-17, Mark 7:1-23

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... , then with desire sees him through the lattice. He joyously announces that the winter rainy season is past and that the earth is in full bloom. He beckons his lover to come and celebrate love and life around them and within them. Old Testament: Deuteronomy 4:1-9 Epistle: James 1:17-27 James emphasizes the practical aspects of the Christian faith, especially ethical considerations. He identifies the Father of Jesus with the God of heavenly lights (stars) and asserts that he is the source of all blessings ...

8. The Christian and the World

James 4:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... did?” It is immaterial whether the accusations are true or false, for however true the charge may be, to spread it to people uninvolved in the situation is destructive to community harmony. “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Pet. 4:8). It does not broadcast sins, so Christians must not speak negatively about others. James justifies his command not by citing Jesus, “Do not judge” (Matt. 7:1–5), but by using a reason that might bring the seriousness of the offense home more clearly: Such a ...

9. Proper 18

Mark 7:24-30, Mark 7:31-37, Proverbs 22:1-16, James 2:1-13

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... street corner. They are hoping that someone will open the gate for them, that they might be accepted as citizens and not aliens in the city. Today they wait at the gate; tomorrow they might try to knock the gate down. Lesson 2: James 2:1-10 (11-13) 14-17 Love is blind. James warns the Church against showing partiality to the wealthy and those who are richly attired. Don't let your attention be distracted by the glitter of their gold so that you discount the brother or sister who is poor. Like the statue of ...

10. Trials and Temptations

James 1:1-18, James 1:19-27

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... arrived there (e.g., Phil. 3:12–16). The idea of receiving the crown of life at the last judgment is expressed in identical language in Rev. 2:10 and in similar language (“the crown of glory”) in 1 Pet. 5:4. The promise to those who love him (cf. James 2:5) is nowhere explicitly stated in scripture, although its general sense is frequent enough (Exod. 20:5–6; 1 Cor. 2:9; Eph. 6:24). Some have argued that this verse cites an unrecorded saying of Jesus, which is possible, but not provable. 1:13 When ...

11. Listening and Doing

James 1:19-27, James 1:1-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

12. Taming the Tongue

James 3:1-12, James 3:13-18

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... for Paul (2 Cor. 12:20; Phil. 2:4), for without it moral and communal disintegration occur. 3:17 In total contrast to the demonic “wisdom” is the wisdom that comes from heaven. To stress this, James lists a catalog of its virtues that can be compared in both form and content with Paul’s catalogs for love and the Spirit (1 Cor. 13; Gal. 5:22ff.). This wisdom is first of all pure, which means that the person is wholly and sincerely committed to following God’s moral directives; there are no crooked ...

13. Two Kinds of Wisdom

James 3:13-18, James 3:1-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

14. Faith Working In Love

James 2:14-26

Sermon

Maxie Dunnam

... turned to Him in faith. And when there is a testing of that faith, it will involve not the doctrinal positions to which we have given intellectual ascent, but whether our faith expressed itself in love. So, I use Paul's word as a graphic description of what James is calling for: Faith working in love -- a good definition of practical Christianity. Let me close now by going back to Mama Hale. Along the drug grapevine, word spread about "crazy lady, five flights up," who would give your baby a home. Before ...

15. The Problem with ‘Hail Mary’ Moments

James 3:13-18

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... “wisdom” in the violent language of warfare and murder. The root cause of all this bad behavior is once again described by James not as any theological misunderstanding, but as a direct failure for individuals to take action. Those consumed by envy and covetousness do not “have” because they have not asked. They have not asked for the wisdom and love and forgiveness God has offered through Jesus Christ. They have only asked for “things,” for greedy goodies that will bring them “pleasure ...

16. The Tenacity of Trouble

James 4:1-12

Sermon

Eric Ritz

... himself. When he got home, the first thing he saw was his own wallet on the work bench. (4) We must be careful how we address rights and wrongs in the church. Mercy is always better than the mouth in the church house. James writes that everything has been given to us that we need to live in love, mercy and unity in the Body of Christ. We do it by denial of self and submitting our lives to God. We do it by prayer. We do it by fleeing from the Tempter and by trusting the truth of God. Only in ...

17. James 2:1-10

James 2:1-13

Sweet

Leonard Sweet

... “rich in faith.” God’s way and the world’s way are at opposite ends of the spectrum. Those whom the world despises will be “Rich” and will become “the heirs of the kingdom that he has promised to those who love him” (v.5). James’ words recall Jesus’ own beatitude — “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:3). This promised “inheritance” is nothing less than the gift of grace and the endowment of salvation. In the first century social ...

18. The Sin and Doom of Godless Men

Jude 1:1-16

Understanding Series

Norman Hillyer

... became the leader of the Jerusalem church (Acts 12:17; 15:13). So the sense of the opening words of this letter is: “Jude, the bondslave, I dare not say brother, of Jesus Christ, but certainly James’s brother.” Jude addresses his readers as called … loved … kept. The writer’s fondness for triple expressions constantly surfaces throughout his brief letter (see Introduction, p. 19). “Called” is one of the great biblical terms to describe believers. The verb “to call” (kalein) is regularly ...

19. Proper 20

Proverbs 31:10-31, Mark 9:30-37, James 3:13-18; 4:1-12

Sermon Aid

Russell F. Anderson

... calls upon the Christians to manifest goodness borne of wisdom and to divest themselves of envy and selfish ambition, which leads to disorder and wickedness. Divine wisdom is peaceable, gentle and willing to yield in a spirit of love. James believes that all conflicts and disputes issue from internal craving and desire. The lust of things leads to violence. Rather than take what we want, Christians should ask God for the things we need. The reason we don't receive what we pray to God for is because we only ...

20. Eleven Plus One

Acts 2:1-13

Sermon

Leonard Sweet

... of victories; some go beyond their individual abilities to teamwork; and suddenly, a team destined for the dumpster is sitting on top. We love these Cinderella teams. They make us feel like the little guy can still win, that the richest and the biggest don't ... They fought with one another over who was the greatest (Mark 9:33-37). They lacked loyalty. When he needed them the most (Peter, James, and John), and asked them to stay awake and keep watch for him, they fell asleep (Mark 14:32-34). One of them ...

21. Tomorrow Doesn't Always Come

James 4:1-12

Sermon

Edward Inabinet

... ''s spirit moment by moment. It is not being anxious about the past or about the future, but it''s living every day, this day, one day at a time, in sweet communion with the Father, letting him lead us and guide us, letting him bless us with his love and power. James closes this section with a stern warning. He says, "Whoever knows what is right to do and fails to do it, to him it is sin." He''s warning against the sin of omission. A teacher in Sunday School asked her class one day what was the difference ...

22. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

... multitude of sins is not to stress the wickedness of the sinner but the extent of God’s grace (Ps. 85:2, Ezek. 28:17). A related expression from Prov. 10:12, “Love covers over all wrongs” or “Love covers a multitude of sins,” is quoted in 1 Pet. 4:8. It became a favorite of the church fathers, who believed Jesus coined James’ version of the saying. The one problematic issue in this verse is whether the action will save him [that sinner] or him [the rescuer]. The Greek is not clear, but the NIV ...

23. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:1-6, James 4:13-17, James 5:7-12, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

24. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:7-12, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:13-20

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids

25. Praying for Endurance and Healing

James 5:13-20, James 4:13-17, James 5:1-6, James 5:7-12

Understanding Series

Peter H. Davids