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We are justified by faith alone, but by a faith that is not alone. John Calvin

Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:18b Recommended Reading James 2:14-18 Ask the average man or woman on the street what the prerequisite for a person to go to heaven is, and the response you are likely to receive is that he or she must "be a good…

A 2017 study, conducted by Gallup, reported disengaged workers — those employees who are not really at work though they may be physically present — make up nearly 51% of the workforce, costing organizations between $450 and $550 billion annually in lost productivity. Effectively, this 51% of the workforce…

When Audrey Martin arrived at a Tennessee church she did not expect to be called onstage, nor did she expect to receive a large tip. When Martin delivered the ten pizzas the church had ordered, the pastor Tony McAfee asked to come on stage and paid her for the pizzas. He then explained that many churches…

In his book, Life Coaching Skills: How to Develop Skilled Clients, Richard Nelson-Jones writes, “The Chinese proverb says l hear, I forget. I see, I remember. I do, I understand. Learning by doing is essential to successful coaching. Knowledge gained by exploring oneself, hearing and observing gets clarified…

In The New Republic Leon Wieseltier takes aim at Texas Gov. Rick Perry’s comments regarding the need to face the future on our knees. “This country was not built by people on their knees. It was built by people on their feet, with their hands as they were guided by their minds,” says Wieseltier. --The…

A new Gallup poll suggests more than 9 in 10 Americans say they believe in God, even though unbelief has risen slightly over the past sixty years. The survey found the percentage of Americans who affirm their belief in God decreased from 96 to 92 percent since 1944. The results indicate younger people…

A new survey by the Pew Research Center suggests more Americans are more confused about the religious convictions of President Barak Obama. Overall, the study found the proportion of the American public who believe the President is a Christian has declined, while overall, most of those surveyed say they…

In his book, Dedication and Leadership, Douglas Hyde writes, "Too often, in my experience, Christians give the impression that they talk, that maybe they have all the right answers too, but then often do not follow through by putting these into action. --Dedication and Leadership 126-127. Illustration…

FAITH/WORKS Many bosses tell their employees how valuable they are, but Leonard Abess Jr. put his money where his mouth is. In November 2008, Abess sold a majority stake in Miami based National Bancshares. Rather than putting the money in his account, Abe3ss took $60 million of his own money form the…

The action of repentance is always inward. The consequences of repentance are always outward.

The Lifesaving Rope For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10 Show…

There’s a familiar old story that’s told about a tightrope walker who did incredible stunts. All over Paris, he would do tightrope acts at tremendously scary heights. Then, he would do it blindfolded, then he would go across the tightrope, blindfolded, pushing a wheelbarrow. As the story goes, there…

There's a story about a farmer who was visited by a couple of young, energetic evangelists. They knocked on his door and asked if he 'was saved.' The farmer left the two at the door and went into his farmhouse for a pencil and a pad of paper. Coming back to the two evangelists, he gave them a list of…

HUNGER When Erwin McManus was working among the urban poor in the Dallas Metroplex, a homeless man approached him to ask him for something to eat. His wife Kim handed the man Erwin's lunch, a brown paper bag filled with chips and a sandwich. Instead of saying "thank you" for the food, the man pointed…

FAITH AND WORKS In a recent BC comic strip, daddy ant comes into the room where son ant is attached by wire to the Television Set. “Son, did you really blow your entire allowance on that video game?” “Yes.” The son admitted. Dad then gives the dreaded lecture. “You need to learn how to manage your money!”…

GIVING Officials at the Louisiana Baptist Convention are used to receiving donations, but a recent gift was unexpected and extraordinary. A group of twenty men from the Island of Sumatra sent a gift of $854 to help those hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. The men experienced the tragedy of natural disaster…

What follows is a brief overview of traditional matters of introduction to James–Jude. I have also provided brief bibliographies listing mostly commentaries. I assume the presence of articles in the IVP dictionaries and in NT introductions. One additional word of preface. James through 2 Peter and Jude…

James 1:2-4 2 My family once lived next door to a woman in her eighties who was admittedly crusty and made a life out of being just a touch out-of-sorts about most things. It was her "gig," and we loved her for it. She claimed that her daily gin and cigarettes kept her fresh! Her sister, on the other…

Lechem - Bread by Josa Bivin1 "For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world." John 6:33 When Richard and Lucinda (our volunteer workers) first came to Israel, they noticed plastic sacks containing pieces of bread hanging from the sides of the trash containers…

A Christian Guide to Passover (PESCH) Below is a compilation of several contemporary Seder services that are used today. Because of the passage of time and that Passover was intended to be a family tradition, it is not possible to reconstruct with certainty the type of Passover meal or celebration that…

Social Is Ihe Gospel? by Elmer L. Towns | F | undamentalists are taking stands along the spectrum of a heated debate as to which has priority—preaching the gospel or in­volvement in social service programs. Some maintain that preaching is the sole aim of the church, and any type of social action is outside…