We will start in the book of James this morning
Things to Know about the Book of James
1. James is a letter to Christian. Most likely in response to misunderstandings of Paul’s teaching
2. This Letter was written between 49-60 AD – After Jesus’ Death.
3. Most Historians Believe James – Jesus’ brother wrote this letter
It is important to know who wrote it, who was it written to, and Why was it written.
I would suggest get a good STUDY bible. The introductions to each book will help
Pure JOY!
James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers,[b] when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
1. Trails bring perseverance. A Testing of Faith
2. When you learn and let your Faith have full perseverance, You Become complete! Lacking Nothing
3. This is not easy. But through Jesus you can become complete!
We tend to just want God to stop the storms.
We need to understand Jesus was tteaching there is a peace and rest you can find in the storms
**Look at the boat ride in
Mark 4:35-41 ESV
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Faith in Action!
1. This was not about the fact Jesus could stop the storm. It was what Jesus said and did?
2. He said “ Let us go to the other side” – That means you will make it!
3. He went to sleep in the stern on the cushion. Get comfy and Take a Nap. It will look crazy, But You will Make IT!
4. Jesus questioned their Faith.
Our Faith should be in the goodness of God. Of course, we need to pray, But are we praying for an easy out or praying for what God wants us to do?
James 1:19-24
19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. 22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like.
1. Listen! Slow to Speak, Slow to Anger!
2. If you clean up, You can receive the word and Save your soul
3. If you only listen to the word and don’t do, You deceive yourself and forget who you are
Full Fill What Jesus said!
James 2:1-10 ESV
2 My brothers,[a] show no partiality as you hold the faith in our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory. 2 For if a man wearing a gold ring and fine clothing comes into your assembly, and a poor man in shabby clothing also comes in, 3 and if you pay attention to the one who wears the fine clothing and say, “You sit here in a good place,” while you say to the poor man, “You stand over there,” or, “Sit down at my feet,” 4 have you not then made distinctions among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? 5 Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which he has promised to those who love him? 6 But you have dishonored the poor man. Are not the rich the ones who oppress you, and the ones who drag you into court? 7 Are they not the ones who blaspheme the honorable name by which you were called?
8 If you really fulfill the royal law according to the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing well. 9 But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors. 10 For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become guilty of all of it.
1. We need to get ready for all types of people coming into the church!
2. Everyone who loves God, is rich in Faith and Heirs in the Kingdom
A. The Church can not separate ourselves to just want to have the rich or the ones who look a certain way from the outside.
B. We have to love all the same, Not use people cause of money or influence
C. We need to go after the one! We have to love the marginalized. We need to love our neighbors
3. We must love all. If we don’t we are in full sin and guilty!
We are called to be like Jesus!
John 14:12 ESV
12 “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.
John 20:21 ESV
21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.”
Jesus - Sheperd going after the one
Luke 15 ESV
15 Now the tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to hear him. 2 And the Pharisees and the scribes grumbled, saying, “This man receives sinners and eats with them.”
3 So he told them this parable: 4 “What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he has lost one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the open country, and go after the one that is lost, until he finds it? 5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 6 And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep that was lost.’ 7 Just so, I tell you, there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who need no repentance.
This is a great parable that we can learn from.
Some points for you to ponder:
1. Jesus goes after the LOST.
• If we are to be like Jesus (John 14:12), then we should Go After the lost.
• If Jesus is called the good shepherd (John 10), then we need to be good shepherds.
2. Jesus does wait for the sheep to wounder back.
• God pursues the Lost.
• You might have family lost – pray for them. God is pursuing them. You might be used to reach them, or God might send someone else.
3. Jesus Carries the Sheep
• When the Shepherd finds the sheep and carries it back to the flock. No dragging or breaking a leg.
• When the shepherd carries the sheep, it gets to know the heart of the shepherd.
• When the shepherd carries the sheep, it gets to know the shepherd's voice.
4. When the shepherd returns – Everyone celebrates.
• Friends, Neighbors, and HEAVEN CELEBRATE THE ONE THAT IS FOUND
• There is no talk of well you know what they did while they were gone.
It is easy to just think “This is for Pastors and not for me.”
Yes and NO
This is for Pastors, Leaders, Evangelist.
This is for YOU also!
At some point you have to stop hiding in the sheep pin (The CHURCH) and go out as a shepherd.
How can we fulfill the great commission of hiding as sheep in the pin?
Matthew 28:16-20 ESV
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
Disciples make Disciples that make Disciples.
As believers in Jesus Christ, we are called to go after the one!
W*hen need to make disciples!*
We need to go all in!