James

James 1:1-2

So I have 3 brothers. Noah some of you know is my younger brother. But I also have 2 older brothers.

Now if you are a younger brother I’m sure you have been called by your last name or little last name. I was called little Graves from time to time when people knew my brothers.

I followed the footsteps of some successful brothers. They were smart. ap classes, one good at sports, one good at music. NHS, and all that stuff.

Have any of you been in the situation before?

We could do 1 of 2 things when this takes place. We either hyper relate. So we gain pride and always make it how we are related to so and so and how great you are because of that. Or the opposite and have people not even know we are related, or even mention that name.

What is incredible here in the first line of the letter of James, he writes James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.

What he didn’t mention was he was also his brother.

I see this as inspiring, he could have been prideful about that fact. Or he could have dissociated from Jesus completely. Instead, he says he is a servant of Him.

We see Humility as a larger theme here in the letter of James, and he shows us what that looks like. Spiritual wholeness being the central theme to the letter.

James 2:2-4

Guitar playing forms callouses.

Protective layer that forms to protect the underlying skin.

Trials are forming protective layers around me.

When a callous forms on my finger, I know I can go out and play my guitar again. Which helps me be more firm in playing, dedicated and constant. Knowing this is happening.

When a callous forms on me, I know I can go out and live again and not fear. If this takes place it produces steadfastness in me which means I’ll be unwavering and loyal.

We view trials as beating down when they can really be building up. We must allow for them to do its intended work.

What are those trials for you? That is really testing your faith.

Is it the peer pressure to party?

Is it the not fitting in?

Is sick and dying?

I want everyone to take a moment to consider what trials they are going through right now. And answer this question. How is this trial impacting my faith right now?

Remember this. We will come back to it.

James 1:5-8

The Lord is a generous God. The Lord is a gracious God.

If lacking wisdom, God here is inviting us to Him to ask for it.

Let’s take a second and see what wisdom is. Wisdom is different than being smart. Being smart means I have all this knowledge memorized and can answer all these questions.

Wisdom would be applying that knowledge into making sound decisions, practical ways.

So how often do we need wisdom? A lot!

If the Lord is inviting us in, let’s go often. Without reproach means without rebuke, the Lord wont’ rebuke us for asking, he welcomes it. As wisdom allows us to discern and carry out Gods’ will.

He does instruct us to ask sincerely and without corruption.

I want to make a note of doubt here. I believe there are 2 kinds of doubt we can discuss. A doubt that persists and a doubt that leaves.

The doubt that stays. And a doubt that goes.

There’s a doubt that discusses. There’s a doubt that’s definitive.

For example, I doubt this is the word of God. How did we comprise this book? How did we select the books in it? Who did this?

Or, I doubt this is the word of God. There is no way it could be.

See the difference.

Sports reference. Your team is losing 100 to 0. I doubt we are going to win. But you keep watching curious how they are going to play, what plays will they do differently, how are they going to swing better or play better defense.

Verses. Your team is losing 100-0. I doubt they are going to win. There is no way. So you turn the tv off.

See how there’s different kinds of doubt.

One philospher said, By doubting we come to inquiry, and by inquiry we perceive the truth.

So doubt can cause curiosity in us to seek the truth more deeply.

But the doubt here seems the alternative.

Imagine going to God asking God for wisdom but doubting he is going to. That is a double minded man. That is one who is driven and tossed by the wind.

James 1:9-11

Elon Musk - 433 billion

Jeff Bezos - 239 billion

Mark Zuckerberg - 211 billion

For you to understand how much this is. Elon Musk would have to spend $55,000 every single day if he lived to the average age of 75 to spend all of his $433 billion dollars.

And at the end he will go here, and bring nothing with him.

Is what you are chasing a flower in the wind withering away?

I am questioning all the time what i fill my time with. And is it worth it. Is it that significant? Is it that valuable to spend so much time on this or that?

Am i living for an audience of 1 or many?

James 1:12-15

Remember that trial I told you to think about before? Think about it again. Bring it back to your mind. And we’ll see how this impacts your faith.

Now. Let’s play out a scenario or two.

First, think about the trial, and envision what the future would look like if you remained steadfast in that trial, you stood the test and remained faithful to the Lord. What does that look like to you?

Second, think about that trial, and envision what the future would look like if you did not remain steadfast and stopped having faith in the Lord and walked away.

I think sometimes when we are in trials, we don’t think about the future. We get so caught up in how horrible it is we never think about what does the otherside look like if i get through this.

Let’s say it’s loss of a loved one. If you remain steadfast in your faith, what would happen? From people I’ve spoken too, they have a sense of peace and joy that is indescribable. Trust in the unknown increases, faith in God during all seasons of life improves.

If you don’t remain steadfast, often we find people bitter at God, angry at the world, unable to ever move on.

So think through that trial and play out what would happen. Stay true to the course the Lord has laid out and trust his plan for you.

Or being tempted by peer pressure or certain sin.

Play out what would happen if you remained faithful in saving sex until your married. What would happen?

Let’s say you didn’t, lots of possibilities unravel here.

See how helpful it is to think forward a bit?

As the end of this we are reminded that evil, temptations are not of the Lord. It is our desires that cause us to be tempted.

Trials are to be endured, tempations are to be avoided.

For example, putting weed in front of me may tempt me but not someone else.

Putting pornography may tempt me but not someone else.

People gossiping about my friend may not tempt me but would someone else.

My desire impacts my temptations. So what is forming my desires?

If i have a cookie every night before I go to bed for 1 week. You know what i am going to crave every night the next week? a cookie.

If i listen to current pop/rap music that talks about how men and woman treat each other. What kind of relationship would I desire?

The conversations I take part of during the day with friends, how might that impact my desire?

If you find yourself being tempted by something, locate the root of the desire and cut it off.

James 1:16-18

We close out this section with the grace and mercy of the Lord being revealed.

Instead of sending temptations to us, he sends us gifts.

God blesses us immensely. In so many ways we aren’t even aware of.

Consider when you have a stuffy nose or stomach ache.

There are so many gifts we have received we aren’t even aware of because we never experienced the opposite.

Most importantly here though, the fact that a holy God would allow us to considered firstfruits of his creatures. To be considered a child of God. To have Jesus’ righteousness put upon me. To have the ability to walk boldy to the throne of God the creator. Should cause us to pause.

And reflect on what is being said here. An all powerful, all knowing, all present God wants you to stand firm, wants you to stay faithful to receive the crown of life so that you may be in relationship with Him forever.

Let’s bow our heads and hearts and be in awe of God for amoment.

Lets pray.

Small groups

7 boys - Johnny

8 boys - Chris

7/8 girls - Kristie/Christina

9/10 boy - Cory

9/10 girls - Shannon

11/12 boys - Tim

11/12 girls - Juran