Bring Them Back

I - My Individual faith - Living like an island

A bunch of our students just came back from CHIC this summer.

When I went to CHIC...

One of the main things I took away was the experience of worshiping God surounded by thousands of other christians my age, from all across the country....

Reminded me I wasnt as alone as I thought

Y - What does it mean to live out faith together. How do we support one another in faith, and care for one another? How are we “in it together”

TRANS: It was during that week that I realized it wasn’t enough to read my bible by myself and listen to sermons. I needed something more, other people. The chruch

But the world is full of people who have been wounded by the church.

I have, you have...

What does it mean to be in it together?

So what do we do, how do we practice that in-it-together thing that seems to be so important to authentic faith.

How do we come toegehter, and practice faith togehter, especially when we have been hurt before?

G

TRANS: As james concludes his letter he has some parting words for his community. Closing words to his sermon. He gives us an idea of what it means to live out real authentic faith together.

Text - 5.19-20 - walk through

We are called simply. To Bring them back.

BUt who is james talking about here? WHo is them?

Lets’s save “them” - Bring “them” Back - The telescope

Text - 5.19-20 - walk through

Quick intuitive connection to what we think this means. one of those passages we think we “get”

“We need to bring sinners back to the TRUTH and encourage them to TURN OR BURN.”

“Sinners are out there, they walked away from US, where the TRUTH is, we need to go get them!” ANd save them!

Slots us in to our comfort zone - finally get to bring the telescope out.

“whp is them

Oh! Those sinners, we have to help them. Finally I get to start calling people out.

Problems with this

Judgement

creates a community that keeps sins quiet and private

not a place for doubt

unsafe for questioning and sturgling.

The ASSUMPTION is everoen here is OK, but “they” are not.

If you are worried you might be “they” you keep it quiet to avoid the consequences

I have heard stories of this, my experience with this...

Context challenges this: Explain how

Look at the rest of James, it might as well be called 12 ways we SIN. Highlight and pick examples

I belive this is meant to be read in light of everything else in James. James is full of ways we fall short.

clearly James believes many of his readers, have, or are wandering, RIGHT INSIDE THE CHURCH also outside.

I belive this is meant to be read in light of everything else in James. James is full of ways we fall short.

if the question is who is the wanderer, who is the sinner. Who is “them” - WE ARE THEM

We are “THEM” - Rose colored glasses - Eclipse Glasses

We are all sinners, we all have doubt and struggle we all fall short

We are pretty comfortable with this option as well i Think. Yes there are a few sins that we draw hard lines on. But for the most part the church has become VERY comfortable with this idea.

We all fall short, we all miss the point, but we are all ok. Covered by grace, ect.

We throw the telescope away. And we pick up some rose colored glasses

The deal, “I wont bring up your sin, if you dont bring up mine. And we will all pretend we are basically fine.”

at least to your face.

Something is missing here too though. Problems.

We never get better.

We dont grow.

We dont experience healing.

When trouble comes this kind of rose-colored faith leaves us all on our own. People dont really know us, and dont know how to help us beyond platitudes.

Its weak and easy to walk away from.

No different than the world.

Our actions still have consequences (no matter how hard we work to ignore them)

We hurt ourselves and others

we try and cover over it with paper thin apologies and shallow (everythign is back to normal forgiveness)

Opens the door to abuse and all kinds of other evil.

Nothing ever gets better, we dont grow, we dont grow in loving others

GOD DOESN'T WANT TO LEAVE US THIS WAY.

has something to offer Explain how

James talks about that mirrior we have been talking about this whole time. Look into the law that gives freedom.

Jesus Creed

Combined with our passage today. Look into that mirrior togeteher

Back to BRING EACH OTHER BACK - Stand in front of the MIRRIOR togeher.

combines the two half truths.

We are BOTH wanderes and CALLED to bring back. We are them and thsoe who bring back.

This is what it means to be a true disciple, this is the core of what it means to be a part of a church.

This is what we want to see God do here. A community of disciples GROWING in loving God an OTHRS TOGEHER.

A living STAND IN FRONT OF TE MIRRIOR TOGETEHR faith

Not the distant concern/judgement of the telescope religion.

Or the disinterested self protection of the eclipse glasses religion.

But the Humble, Honest, Mutual brokeness, and mutual challenge of a STAND IN FRONT OF THE MIRRIOR TOGETHER FAITH. “SIFOTMTF”

bringing one another back to the table, carrying, seeking out, correcting in mutual humility and love.

Falling short, owning up, and offering forgiveness.

then getting up and trying again.

Not giving up on eachother, and not letting our brothers and sisters give up on themselfes.

Y- Moving in front of the mirrior together

Be honest with yourself/GOd

Who is someone who will stand beside you - Find your person

Challenge those who konw you love them

Accept challenge from those who love you.

always bring back from up close.

recognize we all need to be brought back in one way or another.

When you see something, say something, and expect others to do the same for you.

Sometimes I wander, sometimes you wander Our job is to bring each other back.

W- When we stand in front of the mirror together

God transforms lives.

we get the help we need.

We don't have to hide.

We can wrestle with doubts and struggles openly and honestly.