Real Church
Real Life, Real Faith: Lessons from James • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Dwight L. Moody story-Moody was quite aggressive with inviting new people to the church he was attending in Chicago. When he sought membership in the conservative church, he was questioned about being friends with so many street people who were poor, addicted to alcohol, estranged from family, unwilling to work, and dirty. He was instructed to go home and consider whether he really sincerely desired to be a member.
The next time they sat down, Moody simply replied:
“Jesus told me not to feel bad about being questioned for membership in this church, since HE HIMSELF has been trying to get back in here for about 35 years.”
So many people today see our churches as this way: Closed, cold, exclusive and judgmental. That is not what the NT church is all about! In the closing verses of the letter— James outlines some great aspects of the church that we should aspire to be— perhaps we could call it the church we dream of being a part of. He is far too practical to leave us on the weary ideas of evil wealthy people or patience— No he ends this work of pastoral care with a powerful description of what a “real” church should really look like.
Much like A.W. Tozer, James knew that:
The church is still to be reckoned with.
A. W. Tozer
Even at its early stages, the church is a force in the world to be reckoned with...
Real church is a place for people who are participating in ministry.
Real church is a place for people who are participating in ministry.
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
Afflicted: “suffering trouble”- He uses this phrase just like back in James 1 .
2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,
Pressure, pain, problems of all kinds— physical, emotional, spiritual- What are we to do? James outlines here several ways that the church— the gathering of believers— functions to help each other, and to accomplish God’s will for our lives.
We should participate in ministry when we see another in need or afflicted, and we should admit when we are ourselves in the midst of suffering.
Real church is a place for praising. (v. 13)
Real church is a place for praising. (v. 13)
Second half of v. 13.
Church is a time and place to celebrate the goodness of God.
Church is a time and place to celebrate the goodness of God.
We are a people gathered who celebrate that our
past has been pardoned
present is peaceful
prospects are promised.
How can I keep from Singing? Hymn.
14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord.
Real church is a place praying. (v. 14-15)
Real church is a place praying. (v. 14-15)
This is a powerful verse— and it’s somewhat excited to read that the leaders of each individual or local church are involved in this process of praying:
Look what James is actually outlining here:
The leaders of the local church should be involved in praying for sicknesses, and anointing those who need a touch from God.
Anointing with oil in the name of Jesus.
This is normalized! The ministry is not reserved just for the pastor— it’s a team effort! Those that are called and chosen as elders here have that authority from God.
15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven.
Authentic conversations with God and each other happen through prayer.
Authentic conversations with God and each other happen through prayer.
We notice the trouble
We notify the church and elders
We plead with God on their behalf
We anoint them with oil
Three results : sick person well, Lord raises them, forgiveness.
We celebrate God’s provision.
Real church is a place for penitence. (v. 16)
Real church is a place for penitence. (v. 16)
16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
Church is a place of honesty and vulnerability.
Church is a place of honesty and vulnerability.
Penitence is the feeling of remorse and regret having committed wrongdoings. It is a sense of sorrow and repentance. It’s a key step in the process of reconciliation. Making things right again. King David wrote this confession after he had committed terrible sins:
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is always before me.
10 Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. 11 Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. 12 Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.
Back to verse 16 in James 5: Notice the last part of this verse— “the prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” I sense that has two meanings for us today:
Do you want your prayers to be effective and powerful? Then you need to work toward a growing righteousness— that comes from the inside out, and confession is that action.
Do you know a righteous person? Get them to pray for you! Don’t mess around— go get on your knees with the people you know are close to Jesus!
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
Are we really willing to share our “stuff” with trusted friends and fellow believers? We seek to build relationships close enough to bear the truth of our real situation.
This is a two-way street! You must be willing to listen, but also willing to open up and reveal your own struggles— knowing that you will not be judged.
If we are not willing to either of those, then what are we really doing here?
Watch this dynamic:
19 My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back,
20 remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
A vital part of this relationship— is to own it.
Real church is a place for partnerships. (v.17-20)
Real church is a place for partnerships. (v.17-20)
A partnership with Jesus— and with a few trusted and closely bound individuals.
A caddie is a trusted partner for a golfer. He loves the game and the process of executing the game just as much as the golfer.
Our partners in life warn us of dangers.
Our partners in life warn us of dangers.
Our partners in life help us with our duties.
Our partners in life help us with our duties.
There are an estimated 400,000 churches in the US today. One of my greatest feelings of sadness comes when I read or hear about the church failing— or struggling to make it. Groups like Barna and Lifeway estimate that up to 4,000 churches close their doors each year in the United States.
1446 The problem is not hostility to the church; it is indifference. For many the church is simply irrelevant; it is not even worth criticizing, it is simply to be ignored.
William Barclay (New Testament Scholar)
Communion time transition:
When Jesus makes his statements, he is saying that his death is a new sacrifice offered to God. No more sacrificial victims need be killed, only bread broken and shared, wine poured out and shared.
David E. Garland