Measures: Outreach
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Vision sermon. Measures = Outreach. We aim for everyone to grow in outreach. The early church was birthed and called to do outreach. Even Jewish Law included how to care for the poor and needy.
Need: We’re so busy that we don’t have time for it. Culture has focused the binoculars back onto ourselves and we have become the main focus of our lives. We rationalize that being a Christian is simply reading your Bible or hearing sermons on Sunday. Outreach, works, good deeds are evidence of your faith.
Main Idea: Faith without works is dead
James, the brother of Jesus is writing to dispersed Jews. He is intentionally writing concerning their actions among each other.
James 2:14-26
You can hear this passage and wonder if he is negating Paul’s argument. Or if the Reformation is nullified by this passage. No. Paul and the Reformers = faith alone for salvation. Works do not equal salvation. But neither argue works are unimportant. James will argue faith and works go together. Two ways.
Truth #1: Faith produces works (14-17)
Exp. He begins with two rhetorical questions and then answers with a clause. Verse 14. Works does not mean works of the law necessarily. Just good deeds. What if someone says they have faith but their life doesn’t reflect it? Then he gives an example. Verse 15-16. “Go in peace” is a blessing. “Be warmed and filled” is a nice saying. It doesn’t solve the problem. He explains why this is wrong. Verse 17. Faith without works is dead.
Ill. Growing up, we had a pear tree in our front yard. I can still smell the pears from that tree. How did I know it was a pear tree? It grew pears. It didn’t tell me. Didn’t have a “pear” t-shirt on or a cross necklace. Wasn’t a member of a pear church. It grew pears. A pear tree, by its nature produces fruit. So does a believer.
Arg. James argues that faith produces works. Paul would echo this sentiment. His letters are filled with practical wisdom for how to live as one with faith. How does faith produce works? Because God gives us a new heart.
24 I will take you from the nations and gather you from all the countries and bring you into your own land. 25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. 26 And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. 27 And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Christ - True faith trusts in Christ and he gives us a new heart which produces works. He sends the Holy Spirit within us to begin working in us. When that truly occurs, our old self dies with Christ and our new self rises with him. The HS produces fruit within us.
App. What do we do? Assess your life.
Is your faith producing works? We must be willing to look close. Are your works for God’s glory or yours?
Do you desire outreach? Lakewood seeks to be outreach oriented. Great Commission. Do you desire that as well.
Is your desire grounded in the gospel? Desire can be self serving. Is it focused on the gospel?
Truth #2: Faith is displayed through works (18-26)
Exp. This truth isn’t too far removed from the last one, but the text points to this. Verse 18. People try to separate the two, James helps us see their relationship. Verse 19. God is one comes from Deut. 6:4. The Shema. Basic Jewish belief. Demons believe that. Their response? Shudder. More than intellectual assent. Then he will give two examples of faith on display:
Abraham. Verse 21-23. Abraham was told to take his son, Isaac, and sacrifice him to the Lord. Abraham was willing, but God stopped him and provided another sacrifice. His works completes his faith. Verse 24. He doesn’t say “not by faith” but “not by faith alone.”
Rahab. Verse 25. She protected God’s people and sent them another way. She displayed her faith in God.
Arg. Why these two? To show no partiality in who can display their faith through works.
Abraham - Patriarch, friend of God, great leader, top of social order
Rahab - Prostitute, living with enemies of God, common citizen, bottom of social order
Exp. Faith and works go together. Not separate. Verse 26. There is a faith without works and there are works without faith. Both are dead.
Christ - True faith has legs. Christ actionably displayed is trust in the father by going to the cross for us. He trusted in the plan of the father and was obedient on our behalf, so that we can be obedient in him.
App. What do we do?
If you have true faith…
Engage in good deeds. Outreach opportunities at the church. Outreach opportunities in your neighborhood.
Raise your sails for God to grow you. You can’t grow yourself. You can raise the sails. Get in the Word. Prayer and listen. Obey.
If you don’t have true faith…
Give your life to Jesus. It’s not too late right now, but it might be too late later.
Conclusion
Faith without works is dead. This is not harsh, but a good reminder. Better to know now than later. Let us be a people who trusts in the Lord and displays our faith through our works.
