The struggle is real

James / Week 1

James 1:2-4

Intro

I know I haven’t had a chance to meet many of you, so here’s a snapshot of me

My name is Ty and i’m one of the Pastors here

My primary role is to oversee the Student Ministry

Me and my wife Rachel are very thankful God has brought us here to be a part of this church

We moved over here last February from Seattle with our beautiful pup Grey

(Show pic of family)

High D on the disc test

Published my first book last month

My dream job as a kid was to be a professional surfer living in a van

Go ahead and turn your in your bibles to James 1

Story 1

Some background information before we jump in

James was Jesus brother

This tells us a few things

There when no one else was there

Before critics and disciples

James writes a letter to Christians and goes straight from introducing himself to saying sometimes life is hard

I think he wrote it like that from the get go of add kids like me

Sometimes life is hard

Even if you don't believe in God you agree with that

We as christians often do a terrible job of explaining this to unbelievers

That though the christian life is the best it's not always the easiest

We shouldn't be surprised by hard days, in fact we should expect them

Jesus warned us in advanced

Corvallis student's story

They're days we are going to feel like we need God like never before

We need to ask ourselves does Christianity work when we need it most?

What happens on those days?

Where is God on those days?

Alright feel encouraged?

Let’s jump in!

Scripture

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, 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.

Prayer

God, thank You for who You are.

Help us to have open hearts and open ears.

Let it not be about me, but about You and what You have revealed through Your word.

Application

What the passage isn't saying

This can be just as important as what it is saying

How many of you are going through a trial right now?

When trials come we have a tendency to feel more than we think

It's okay to feel what we are feeling, but we need to remember and know what God is saying

God is punishing you

Karma

Makes you harsh and non compassionate

No one, but God is good

Jesus already took our punishment

God is failing you

Not failing others, but fails me

Awkward pride

Always powerful, always has a plan

God has abandoned you

Feel God is near when times are good, not so much when bad

God doesn't abandon us

He’s not like some of our fathers

He’s a Good father

God is acting evil toward you

God is sovereign, evil happens, therefore God is evil

Batman v Superman

God is only good, God is always good

God will make it all better

Greeting card Christianity

How many of you have been waiting a while?

There’s no guarantee in this life that things will get better in fact often they may get worse

Goal isn’t happiness, it’s holiness

God will answer every question

Faith not by sight, see in part

Look to God not the answers

You're not going to get every answer in this life

Trials

They're going to happen

When not if

Lottery analogy

100% they're coming

Armor analogy

Conor Mcgregor

Christianity is still working

They're a test

For us not God

Feels like an attack

How many of you have been in a fight?

6th grade fight

Hypersensitive, stance, we perceive things differently

They're of various kinds

Emotional, relational, financial, etc

They will continue

Don't compare yourself to others

If we want compassion, we have to give it

They produce

Steadfastness

Football analogy

300

Maturity

Immaturity comes from a lack of steadfastness

We quit

We run

How many of us want to be more like Jesus?

How many of us want more trials?

Same question

Buff without working out

Smart without reading

Hapkido analogy

Therefore Godliness isn't in spite of our problems, but what God will do in and through our problems

If we understand this we begin to see trials not simply as tests, but opportunities

Count it all joy

Religious people

Cheerleaders

Quote scriptures in ways that frustrate us

Bus analogy

Happiness/Joy

Happiness

Rad

Roger story

Caused by our circumstances

Wife analogy

Both christians and non can be happy

Joy

What happens when life sucks?

Happens in spite of our circumstances

Belongs exclusively to christians

It doesn't make sense

James learned this by watching Jesus

Conclusion

Hebrews 12:2

2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Jesus had joy despite circumstances

Death

Betrayal

Blood sweat

Back to the original question

For the joy

James saw this

We all experience trials

Trials - test - opportunity - steadfastness - maturity - joy

What happens to us may not be good, but God always is

Story of Conor and my recent trial

Prayer

God help us to trust You despite our circumstances.

Help us to look at every trial as an opportunity.

Let us not grow weary of doing good, but take joy in the holiness you produce.

Next Steps

I accept Jesus in my life for the first time.

I have believed a lie and need prayer.

I want to be more steadfast and need prayer.

I will begin to see my trials as an opportunity to become more like Jesus.

Invite prayer team