Sermon Tone Analysis

Living It!

Context on the book of James

Context on the book of James

Context on the book of James

Was written by James the brother of Jesus, who was an unbeliever until the resurrection and later became an apostle and the leader of the church in Jerusalem after Peter.

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Message of James: Faith and Works

To be a disciple of Christ is not simply to know truth but be changed by it.

Right belief results in actions from that belief and relationship.

This message was not a new message but a sharing of the wisdom James learned from Proverbs and the teaching of his big brother, Jesus, reflecting the teaching from the sermon on the mount.

This is a consistent message also seen in the writing of Paul.

1 Corinthians 15:2-3

Also see Faith: You who believe are a chosen race, a royal priesthood.

11-17 Works: Action verb commands as a result of believing.

So from these two other examples we see that being a follower of Jesus means knowing and doing, and that is a consistent theme from scripture.

The overall theme of the book of James is living out our relationship with God in a holistic sense, involving every area of our life, from thoughts to actions.

Now knowing the overall theme of the book lets dive in to the opening of the letter.

The opening of this letter starts this wisdom book on living out our faith with a brief message on identity.

Before you can dig into what it means to both have faith and works, you first have to struggle with who you are, who God is, and where we belong.

So from this first verse let’s take a look at who James was, who Jesus is, and finally lets look at our identity.

Who was James?

He was the half brother of Jesus.

James had great spiritual authority, all of the other apostles listened to him.

Paul submitted to the authority of Peter and James.

James was at the same level of authority of the apostles and same level as Peter who Jesus had chosen to lead the church.

He started out as an unbeliever.

They accused Jesus of being crazy, but offered no evidence of him not being who he said he was.

They accused Jesus of being crazy Mark 3:21, but offered no evidence of him not being who he said he was.

His family started in disbelief

They started where everyone starts.

His family was not in on it, this is evidence of Jesus being who He said He was.

The only thing that brought His family to belief was witnessing His resurrection.

There are three answers as to who Jesus was other than being who He said He was, God.

The Pharisees accused Him of being from Satan, others including the disciples on the road to Emmaus thought He was a good prophet, and James along with the rest of Jesus family prior to His resurrection accused Him of being crazy.

Where did you start?

Also in becoming a follower of Christ where do you find people labeling you?

Do they think your a good person following a good example, crazy, or evil?

We all start rejecting Jesus then after becoming a follower we too are rejected similar to Him, because we are His servants.

James came to faith after Jesus appeared to him after the resurrection.

If there had been proof of his divinity prior to his baptism wouldn't his family have believed?

Wouldn't his neighbors have believed?

Conversely if there was evidence to the contrary they would have presented it when his ministry began.

They would have said more than he's crazy they would have proved it so they could bring him home and take care of him.

Evidence & experience

If Mary believed she would have brought food and a change of clothes Sunday morning instead of burial spices.

Evidence & experience

After having evidence and experience James and his family truly became part of Jesus family.

Who was/is Jesus?

He was either who He said He was, God, or there are three answers given in scripture as to who Jesus was other than being who He said He was.

The Pharisees accused Him of being from Satan, others including the disciples on the road to Emmaus thought He was a good prophet, and James along with the rest of Jesus family prior to His resurrection accused Him of being crazy.

Prophet - ;

Crazy -

Blasphemer - If he wasn't crazy he was blaspheming God and His power came from Satan to lead people astray, in which the right thing to do would have been to stone him/kill him like the Sanhedrin pursued.

Jesus even affirmed this kind of power was possible in “ On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you!

Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’”

On that day many will say to Me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in Your name, drive out demons in Your name, and do many miracles in Your name?’ 23 Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you!

Depart from Me, you lawbreakers!’”

Prophet - ;

Crazy -

Where did you start?

In becoming a follower of Christ where do you find people labeling you?

Do they think your a good person following a good example, crazy, or evil?

We all start rejecting Jesus then after becoming a follower we too are rejected similar to Him, because we are His servants.

Evidence & experience

If Mary believed she would have brought food and a change of clothes Sunday morning instead of burial spices.

Who am I?

Respond to the same rebuke Jesus gave to His family.

Join His family, join James as a sibling of Jesus.

Anyone who believes.

Paul submitted to the authority of Peter and James.

James was at the same level of authority of the apostles and same level as Peter who Jesus had chosen to lead the church.

- Respond to the same rebuke Jesus gave to His family.

Join His family, join James as a sibling of Jesus.

Anyone who believes.

After having evidence and experience James and his family truly became part of Jesus family, and that same opportunity is available for everyone.

Our path to our new identity like James’ involves a process, and involves every aspect of our life.

Being a disciple is not a hobby, but a lifestyle.

38 “Repent,” Peter said to them, “and be baptized, each of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

39 For the promise is for you and for your children, and for all who are far off, a as many as the Lord our God will call.”