5.12.44 9.24.2017 James 2.18-26 My Faith is a Work in Progress-Making the Case
The Secret of functional faith • Sermon • Submitted
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What do your words and actions state about your faith?
What do your words and actions state about your faith?
• Entice: What do your words and actions state about your faith? How am I different because I believe?
How am I different because I believe?
How am I different because I believe?
• Engage: Deeds or works don't make you more faithful. They make your faith visible. Tangible. Comprehensible. Concrete.
Please don’t misunderstand-Deeds don't make you more faithful.
Please don’t misunderstand-Deeds don't make you more faithful.
Deeds make your faith visible.
Deeds make your faith visible.
Tangible.
Tangible.
Comprehensible.
Comprehensible.
Concrete.
Concrete.
• Expand: One of the greatest harms to faith is the notion that it is private. One of the dumbest, culturally insensitive short-sighted, myopic concepts ever. No human
One of the greatest harms to faith is the notion that it is private. One of the dumbest, culturally insensitive short-sighted, myopic concepts ever. No human religious expression has ever been private. None of the "great world religions" is private. Private faith is nothing but post-enlightenment developed-world silliness. In an age where our Christian faith is doubted it might at first seem safe and comfortable to "keep it inside." To say "it's very private." Jesus died on a cross, naked on a big hill overlooking Jerusalem. How can we even think in terms of privacy?
religious expression has ever been private. None of the "great world religions" is private. Private faith is nothing but post-enlightenment developed-world silliness. In
religious expression has ever been private. None of the "great world religions" is private. Private faith is nothing but post-enlightenment developed-world silliness. In an age where our Christian faith is doubted it might at first seem safe and comfortable to "keep it inside." To say "it's very private." Jesus died on a cross, naked on a big hill overlooking Jerusalem.
religious expression has ever been private. None of the "great world religions" is private. Private faith is nothing but post-enlightenment developed-world silliness. In an age where our Christian faith is doubted it might at first seem safe and comfortable to "keep it inside." To say "it's very private." Jesus died on a cross, naked on a big hill overlooking Jerusalem.
an age where our Christian faith is doubted it might at first seem safe and comfortable to "keep it inside." To say "it's very private." Jesus died on a cross, naked on a
an age where our Christian faith is doubted it might at first seem safe and comfortable to "keep it inside." To say "it's very private." Jesus died on a cross, naked on a
an age where our Christian faith is doubted it might at first seem safe and comfortable to "keep it inside." To say "it's very private." Jesus died on a cross, naked on a
You can be consecrated or comfortable.
You can be consecrated or comfortable.
big hill overlooking Jerusalem. You can be consecrated or comfortable. Consecration will take a little work.
big hill overlooking Jerusalem. You can be consecrated or comfortable. Consecration will take a little work.
big hill overlooking Jerusalem. You can be consecrated or comfortable. Consecration will take a little work.
Consecration will take a little work.
Consecration will take a little work.
• Excite:
Excite:
Excite:
• Explore: Real faith is demonstrated by our whole person.
Real faith is demonstrated by our whole person.
Real faith is demonstrated by our whole person.
• Explain: James provides 3 types of proof for our faith.
Explain: Today James provides 3 types of proof for our faith.
1 Logical
1 Logical
▾ 1 Logical 18
18 But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.
1.1 Logic is the science of "prove it."
1.1 Logic is the science of "prove it."
1.1 Logic is the science of "prove it."
1.1.1 Not big in the 21c. We are into "feeling it", being "into it".
• 1.1.1 Not big in the 21c. We are into "feeling it", being "into it".
1.1.1 Not big in the 21c. We are into "feeling it", being "into it".
1.1.2 Our age is post "common sense", post "prove it", post "give me a reason"
• 1.1.2 Our age is post "common sense", post "prove it", post "give me a reason"
1.2 Faith needs demonstration as well as definition.
1.2 Faith needs demonstration as well as definition.
▾ 1.2 Faith needs demonstration as well as definition.
1.2.1 Too often we confuse the two.
• 1.2.1 Too often we confuse the two.
1.2.2 Faith should logically lead to:
• 1.2.2 The logic of faith is application, actions, involvement, service.
application
application
actions
actions
involvement
involvement
service.
service.
1.2.3 Through those deeds we prove what seems un-provable and make the invisible visible.
• 1.2.3 Through those deeds we prove what seems un-provable and make the invisible visible.
2 Theological
2 Theological
▾ 2 Theological 19
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!
I believe in the role of pastor-teacher. I consider myself a preacher/theologian. But man we get this wrong all of the time. Theology is not instead of action, it informs and undergirds it. James wants us to know that the idea that good theology is somehow independent is actually an innovation of Satan!
▾ 2.1 The limit to theology
2.1 The Natural limit to theology
2.1 The Natural limit to theology
It is not supposed to be the whole package…
It is not supposed to be the whole package…
• 2.1.1 Concepts. (The use of performance categories to describe worship)
It is all theory and no practice
It is all theory and no practice
2.1.2 Language.
2.1.2 Language.
• 2.1.2 Language. (What exactly do you mean by "believe" and differentiate that belief?)
2.2 When anybody can believe anything; nobody really believes nothing.
2.2 When anybody can believe anything; nobody really believes nothing.
• 2.2 When anybody can believe anything nobody really believes nothing. there is no clarity.
3 Practical
3 Practical
▾ 3 Practical 20-26
20 Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless?
3.1 We need to be shown. We need practical examples because humans tend to be foolish and lazy. 20
3.1 We need to be shown. We need practical examples because humans tend to be foolish and lazy. 20
• 3.1 We need to be shown practical application because humans tend to be foolish and lazy. 20
3.2 So James gives us two prime examples:
3.2 So James gives us two prime examples:
▾ 3.2 Two prime examples:
3.2.1 Abraham
3.2.1 Abraham
• 3.2.1 Abraham
21 Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works;
23 and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God.
24 You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.
3.2.2 Rahab
3.2.2 Rahab
• 3.2.2 Rahab
25 And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way?
26 For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead.
Show & Tell
Show & Tell
• Shut Down:
Prove it!
Prove it!
Prove it!
Demonstration & Information
Demonstration & Information
Demonstration & Information
only take you so far
only take you so far
only take you so far
Abraham’s logic stopped working and his theology became significant when He backed it up with action.
Rahab’s understanding of how God worked did her little good until she backed it up with actions.
Rahab’s understanding of how God worked did her little good until she backed it up with actions.
Rahab’s understanding of how God worked did her little good until she backed it up with action.
Abraham’s logic stopped and theology became significant when He backed it up with actions.
Rahab’s understanding of how God worked did her little good until she backed it up with actions.
Maybe you have all the answers. Maybe you know the right reasons and can repeat the right words. Maybe all of your theology is biblically perfect and you can pass any exam God might give. James is basically saying “good start”-not show me.
Today I ask...
Today I ask...
What do you know about Jesus?
What do you know about Jesus?
What can you prove about Jesus?
What can you prove about Jesus?
Today I ask...
What can you prove about Jesus?
But most importantly....
But most importantly....
But most importantly....
What do
What will you do about Jesus?
What will you do about Jesus?
What will you do about Jesus?