Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction - How did we end up here?

I travel a good bit for Walk Thru the Bible Now that we all have GPSs at our disposal it’s easier to find the churches than it used to be.

Some years back I had a Walk Thru event in Michigan with Dr. Bill Marty from Moody Bible Institute.

We flew into Detroit and rented a car.

The church had sent us directions on how to get to the hotel.

It was late at night and snowing.

We followed the directions looking for an exit.

After driving a long time we saw a sign that said, “Flint Michigan” ahead.

The church was in a suburb of Detroit.

We missed the exit.

It’s a common experience.

Sometimes directions aren’t clear.

Sometimes we misread them.

Sometimes we’re distracted and miss a turn.

When that happens it can cost you time.

Or, if you are in a city like Chicago or New York you can end up in a very bad place.

Today we’re going to be talking about a path that leads to a bad place.

It’s a path all of us have been on that we wish we had not taken.

It’s the path to sin.

We’re going to see there are various factors involved, choices we make, and steps we take along the pathway to sin.

Our goal today is to understand the steps that lead to sin so we don’t take them.

We are in a series entitled “Understanding Adversity.”

People are often confused and sidetracked in their faith by adversity.

God allows and at times brings adversity to our lives for our benefit.

There is a kind of adversity that is not from God.

It is the adversity we face from our spiritual enemies that has as its goal of leading us away from God, leading us to sin, and even destruction.

It is adversity of spiritual attacks.

The bottom line for today’s message is:

Bottom Line: When we understand the steps that leads to sin and death, we can choose instead the path that leads to godliness and life.

Our main passage today is James 1:12-16.

First notice that these verses refer to trials, tests and temptations.

Let’s consider first

1.

The difference between trials, tests, and temptations.

In many languages the word for “trial” and “temptation” is the same word.

That’s true in Greek, the language James used to write this passage.

The way you can tell the difference in meaning is from the context.

James uses the words “trial” and “test” in verse 12 and “tempt” in verse 13.

A trial is a random, unfocused negative event.

Luke 22:28

In Luke 22:28 Jesus commended his disciples of staying with him in his trials, opposition, no home, frequent travels, all the difficulties he faced during his 3 1/2 years of ministry.

INTERACTION: What’s an example of a trial in your life?

Who can tell me?

A test is specific opportunity to trust God.

Genesis 22:1, 2 Chronicles 32:31

Genesis 22:1-2 and 2 Chronicles 32:31 describe specific tests of faith God gave Abraham and Hezekiah as opportunities to grow in endurance and faith.

A temptation is when a desire becomes an enticement to do evil.

James 1:14-15

Temptation is to get us to do a sinful act, not like trials and tests that try to get us to grow in our faith.

James says

Let’s look closely at what James says about how it is we sin.

The first thing James say is

2. God doesn’t tempt us to sin.

God is sovereign, in full control of everything.

Some might say that temptation is God’s fault.

It isn’t.

God never tempts us to sin nor can He be tempted by sin.

In fact, rather than tempt us,

A. God provides a way for deliverance from sin.

He did this did this when He sent His Son Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sin.

God gave His Son to die on a cross

What’s amazing about this is that God did this even though we didn’t want Him to do it.

Here’s what the scripture says.

The good news is Christ died for you and me even though we were weak, ungodly, sinners and God’s enemies.

Out of pure love the Father sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay for our sins.

He did everything for us and He wants us to believe in Jesus’s death on our behalf.

Romans 3:23 says:

Because we have fallen short of God’s glory we’re all condemned to spend an eternity separated from Him.

But we don’t have to if we believe Jesus paid for our sins.

Have you trusted in Him?

If not you can do so right now by speaking to God.

You can do it this very moment.

You only have to turn from your sin.

You may have heard the word repent.

It means to turn away from.

If you say, “Father, I know I’m a sinner.

I know that you hate sin and sent Jesus to die on the cross to pay for my sins.

I believe He died, was buried and rose again for my sins.”

If you will believe that, tell God you believe that and He will save you from an eternity of punishment and welcome you into His family.

James says God can’t be tempted with evil and won’t tempt anyone to sin because sin separates us from Him. God wants us to be with Him, not separated from Him. God is never going to tempt you or me to do something that He sent His Son Jesus to give His life to pay for our deliverance.

As great as our salvation is, that isn’t the only good that God does for us.

B. God gives us good things all the time.

The good He gives is the opposite of the evil that leads people to sin.

He gave His Spirit to fill us with the good gift of godly desires.

Eternal life Romans 6:23

Eternal life is good.

James says there is even more good that God gives us.

James says,

Every good thing that happens to us is from God. James 1:16-18

INTERACTION: What is one good thing that happened to you this week?

Would you share it with us? (Listen for responses).

I have an example of something good God does for us.

He gives us good desires when we walk with Him.

These good desires are listed in Galatians 5.

Did you experience the peace of God this past week?

That was good!

How about joy in your heart?

That is good, too!

The good, godly desires from the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22-23

God doesn’t force these good desires upon us.