Sermon Tone Analysis

Walking the Walk

James 1:19-27; 2:14-24

May 10, 1998

 

 

Introduction

I’ve shared with you already that I want to preach through a couple of books in the Bible each year.

And when I first began to pray about which book I would choose first, I felt drawn to the book of James because of it’s practical nature.

Some scholars have called it the “Proverbs of the New Testament” because it is so full of practical advise on living a godly life.

But I confess to you that I had no idea just how relevant this book would be for us as a church.

I was thinking more along the lines of how it would challenge and encourage us as individuals.

And certainly, I hope it has done that.

But it’s been uncanny to see just how appropriate this first chapter has been for us as a church.

*Let me explain what I mean*.

For the last two weeks, we have looked at the issue of trials and temptations.

*Two weeks ago*, we said that we can choose joy in the midst of trial because we can fully trust that God will use our trial for good and that He will give us the wisdom we need to deal with that trial (Read 1:2-5).

Then *last week*, we looked at the issue of temptation and sin, and we said that there is a crisis point of decision following every temptation where we must decide whether we will embrace or reject that temptation.

And if we embrace it, the result will be sin (Read 1:13-15).

*Now as we look back at the two weeks together*, remember that we said the words “trial” and “temptation” are very closely related.

*In a sense, every trial is a temptation and every temptation is a trial*.

In the Greek there isn’t a great distinction between the two.

I’m afraid we may tend to think of temptation only in the sense of the so-called “big sins” - especially since the word “lust” is thrown in there.

But the temptation may be simply to lose faith - to stop trusting in God - in the midst of some difficulty.

In a sense every sin is nothing more than a failure to trust God.

We aren’t certain God will give us what we need, so we give in to the temptation to meet that need in a way that is not ordained by God.

So, there is a very close relationship between the trials of verse 2 in which James exhorts us to choose joy and the temptations of verse 13 that lead to sin.

So what really strikes me about these two passages is that *James has just outlined the two possible responses to any kind of trial* - whether it is the temptation to commit a particular sin or the temptation to lose faith in the midst of difficulty.

And the two choices are this:

1.

We can put our trust in God because we know that He is always working for our good.

2.      We can refuse to put our trust in God and give in to temptation because we aren’t certain God will be faithful to provide for our needs.

If we choose the first the option, the result will be growth and maturity.

If we choose the latter, the result will be sin and death.

Now, why is this so relevant for our church right now?

Well, after two months of *negotiating with Carmike and Cross Country Plaza*, we found out this week that Carmike’s request to sublease the Plaza Theatre to us was rejected by the owners.

Now, obviously, we were disappointed and frustrated that all the time and energy we invested in our attempt to secure that particular location were all for naught.

We truly thought God was going to give us that location.

It wasn’t a perfect facility.

Quite frankly, it would have required a significant amount of work to make it functional for us.

But, we thought God was giving it to us primarily because of it’s central location in the community.

And we interpreted all of the difficulties in the negotiations as obstacles put in our way by the enemy.

And part of the reason for that interpretation is that every time we began to feel it was time to give up, a shred of hope was left dangling before us.

So, we didn’t want to give up just because it was tough.

But apparently, the last shred of hope is now gone.

Actually, we are still talking to Carmike about a couple of possibilities that could conceivably re-open negotiations, but for all practical purposes, we are prepared to accept their rejection as a closed door.

Now, obviously, this *creates some temporary difficulties* for our church.

It means, first of all, that we’re back to the drawing board as far as a more permanent facility is concerned.

And that means we’ve got to keep setting up and tearing down this equipment week after week.

It also means that we don’t have access to a facility throughout the week.

We’re going to have to continue to be very creative when it comes to meetings and classes and special events.

And it means that I’m going to have to keep praying real hard that you’ll stay awake during my sermons while you’re sitting in those extra-comfortable theatre seats.

But the bottom line questions are these:

1.      Do we believe God has a plan for our church or not?

2.      Do we trust that His plan is a good plan and that His timing is perfect or do we not?

3.

And will we continue to put our trust in Him regardless of the trials we have to face in the short run, or will we not?

4.      Will we choose faith and face our trials with joy or will we lose faith and give in to the sin of unbelief?

Folks, I don’t know about you, but I choose faith and I choose joy.

All week long, God has given me an incredible peace about this whole situation.

It has been frustrating and has been tough, but my whole life is rooted in the absolute convictions that God is good, that He’s in control, and that nothing can defeat His purposes.

*Anybody can be faithful when the road is smooth and the way is easy*.

But the real test of our faith is how we respond when the road is rocky and the way is hard.

Folks*, God’s plan for Christ Community Church has not changed*.

It is not affected in the least by the decision of an investment group in California to refuse to let us meet in a theatre.

The *only question* is whether we will choose to go forward with God in faith, or whether we will choose to shrink back and lose faith?

Now, *another reason I think I’ve had so much peace this week is that I already know the answer to that question because I know you*.

Or at least I know most of you.

And for those of you who are relatively new, I don’t believe you are here by accident.

*We are a people of faith*.

*And we are a people with a vision*.

And our vision has very little to do with buildings.

We’ve been saying boldly that *we are the church* - that ultimately, it doesn’t really matter where we meet.

Wherever we are is where the church is.

*Do we mean that or is it just a good line?*

I believe we mean it.

And that’s why this isn’t a crisis.

It’s just a temporary detour.

*God is going to give us a building*.

We know we can’t meet here forever.

I don’t want to meet here forever.

These chairs really are a little too comfortable.

Don’t think I don’t see your eye’s drooping out there.

But God will give us a *building when the right building is available*.

And *because we’ve been through what we’re going through right now, when we get there, we still won’t be focused on the building*.

We’ll be thankful for it, and we’ll be good stewards of it, but it will always be a temporary refuge.

A place of renewal and healing so we can get back into the world where the church belongs.

So, we choose joy.

We celebrate the fact that God is good, that He’s in control, and that His purposes cannot be defeated.

And so we move on.

And that *brings us to this morning’s scripture *(or scriptures, rather), and again, I am amazed at its relevancy for our church.

But I’m not going to focus on that relevancy yet because I don’t want us to miss the challenge of it in our own lives.

Without question there is a *challenge here for us both individually and corporately*.

So, let’s just begin to work through the two passages.

Hearing and Doing

First of all there is James 1:19-27.

Only a portion of this is printed in the front of the bulletin.

So, please follow along in your Bible.

19        My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,

20        for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires.

21        Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you.

22        Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves.

Do what it says.

23        Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror

24        and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.