Sermon Tone Analysis
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The Marks of the Mature Christian:
A. Trials on the outside—1:1–12
B. Temptations on the inside—1:13–27
Key Verse: Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(v.4)
4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
THEME: Maturity
* Mature = telos (gk), which means perfect.
* And since we will never reach perfection> James is telling us that we must make maturity the life-long and single-minded pursuit of our Christian life.
Not everybody who grows old, grows up.
* There is a vast difference between age and maturity.
* Ideally the older we are, the more mature we should be; but too often the ideal does not become the real.
If we do not mature, the result is problems.
Problems in our personal lives, problems in our homes, at our jobs and in our church.
* Problems in our personal lives, problems in our homes, at our jobs and in our church.
* James wrote at a time and to a people when maturity was at an all time premium.
* If ever maturity was needed it was to the situation his readers found themselves in.
* They were a scattered people, under threat of persecution.
manner of Paul’s writing to the Galatians, because it is not controversial in James’s context as it would be later for the Galatians.
“James has no need to argue about the law, but simply works from it” (Davids 1982:47).
That James understands and assumes the grace of God as
Key to Maturity: Enduring our Trials
* The experiences that come to the children of God are not by accident
“We have a loving Heavenly Father who controls the affairs of this world and who has a purpose behind each event.”
--Wiersbe
* We have a loving Heavenly Father who controls the affairs of this world and who has a purpose behind each event.
--Wiersbe
* Comfort!
* Dispersion--spread the word, church still growing today!
* But being a follower of Christ is difficult-we must mature!
“God intends that trials will drive believers to greater dependency on Him, by showing them their own inadequacy.”
-- John MacArthur, Jr.
Not enough to agree that we should be mature, we have to examine our lives and ask God's Spirit to come in and control us into maturity.
* I find, that because James is so practical and understandable-we like to read and quote this letter, but it is actually a very difficult letter to incorporate into our lives.
* One way is to concentrate on it's content-like Bo is doing in his small group-which is centered around the practical aspects of the book by being a tangible expression of help to others.
Suffering trials is part of the christian life but we all want the God of the "good days."
The German theologian Helmut Thielicke (theal-lick) was asked his opinion of Christians in the United States:
* “They have an inadequate view of suffering.”
We would be helped by a more adequate study of James.
His message is this:
“They have an inadequate view of suffering.”
--Helmut Thielicke
We would be helped by a more adequate study of James.
James’ message is this:
“Your trial is not the time to rejoice less.
Your sickness is not the time to pray less.
Your loss is not the time to love others less.”
—George M. Stulac
Rather, now is the very time to practice the joy, peace and love that we know theoretically to be the Christian life.
For the Christian life is not mere theory; it is the life of the servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
—George M. Stulac, IVP NT Commentary
manner of Paul’s writing to the Galatians, because it is not controversial in James’s context as it would be later for the Galatians.
“James has no need to argue about the law, but simply works from it” (Davids 1982:47).
That James understands and assumes the grace of God as
This is a justification through faith
Controversial Issue with the Book of James:
* Are we saved by works?
1. faith (as the starting point for being a Christian)
2. deeds (the life of wholehearted obedience to the law of Jesus precisely because one does have faith in Jesus, as illustrated in 2:1)
3. maturity (that goal of perfection and wholeness of Christian character)
* This is a justification through faith, with good works following as the natural and expected expression of faith.
Some would say Paul & James were arguing here.
james 2 1
james 2:20
Paul wrote years after James, no evidence that Paul was correcting James, as he had corrected Peter on a similar subject.
Paul used different meanings for the same words.
Faith vs. Works
Are we saved by works?
* Faith vs. Works
* Are we saved by works?
Faith is the starting point for being a Christian.
Works mark the life of wholehearted obedience to the law of Jesus precisely because one has faith in Jesus alone to save them.
Maturity is the goal of perfection and wholeness of Christian character.
3. maturity (that goal of perfection and wholeness of Christian character)
This is a justification through faith, with good works following as the natural and expected expression of faith.
Take this with you...
An adult child who refuses to grow up squanders the potential God supplies to them.
Immaturity brings a host of problems including bitterness, dissatisfaction and broken relationships.
Immaturity brings a host of problems including bitterness, dissatisfaction and broken relationships.
An immature Christian can cause problems in the church and render evangelism impossible.
An immature Christian can cause problems in the church and render evangelism impossible.
Aging gracefully means every passing year we become less like the person we were born as and more like Jesus, the person we were re-born as.
Aging gracefully means every passing year we become less like the person we were born as and more like Jesus, the person we were re-born as.
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