Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction|

Attention:

Let me ask you a question this morning: how many of you consider yourself to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ?

As we think about this question, it is easy to raise our hands.

However, it is another thing to model the attributes of a submissive servant.

If you examine the lives of men and women who have accomplished big things for God, you will discover several critical attributes in every one of these disciples.

When you study the life of Paul, you will find these characteristics.

If you were to explore the life of Peter, you would notice these key attributes were present in his life.

If you were to study the lives of Charles Spurgeon, D. L. Moody, Jim Elliot, Amy Carmichael, and Billy Graham, you would also discover that these men and women displayed these attributes.

Background:

The Book of James is one of the earliest letters of Christianity.

Most likely, it was penned around A.D. 44-50.

The name James (Greek Ἰάκωβος and Hebrew Jacob) is the name of several people in the New Testament.

First, you have James the son of Zebedee (, , , and ).

He was one of Christ’s closest disciples—Peter, James, and John.

While this close relationship to Jesus Christ gives James authority and credibility, he is an unlikely candidate because of his execution by Herod Agrippa in A.D. 44 ().

You also have James the Son of Alphaeus ( and ).

He was also a member of the twelve disciples and an apostle.

While He was a very influential individual as an apostle, he would have needed more identification as an author.

Finally, you have James the Half-Brother of Jesus Christ (, , , , and and ).

We can gather three things about this ) he was the Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem; 2) he was the leader of the Jerusalem Council and; 3) he was the half brother of Jesus.

Church Tradition suggests James the Brother of Christ to be the author the epistle of James.

Three facts help support this fact.

First, the style of James matches the style of the letter sent out by the Jerusalem Council ().

Secondly, the influence of James after his conversion makes him a great influence on Jewish Christians.

From the New Testament, we understand that James did not believe that Christ was the Messiah until after the resurrection.

Finally, James was influential upon early Christianity.

In this letter, he addresses a group of Jewish Christians who are living outside of Palestine.

However, this books is also applicable to us as members of the Christian community.

Need Element:

James is helpful for us because it addresses practical living.

As James develops his letters, he explains the practical aspects of living for Christ.

To fulfill this purpose, James develops several applicable aspects: Trails, Temptation, Racism, Faith and Works, Wisdom, Endurance, and Speech.

Through the Book of James, James opens up our private life.

Thus, “James is like a Spiritual Physical.”

Just like a yearly physical, James checks our spiritual conditions by confronting real-life situations with scriptural solutions.

If you are a follower of Jesus Christ, you made Him your Lord and Master.

When you made the decision to follow Jesus in faith and repentance, you surrendered the rights to your life by making Jesus Christ your Lord and Master.

Sometimes, we struggle with surrendering our will to his will, our work to his work,, and our word to his word.

In our time together this morning, I want to show us three critical characteristics of a godly servant.

Textual Idea:

James, a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, greets His readers who are living for God in a godless culture.

Big Idea:

God uses submissive servants!

Interrogative:

What does a submissive servant look like?

Transition:

Outline|

I.

A submissive servant exhibits humility before others.

Explanation:

As we consider the way James begins his letter, we notice that he displays a great deal of humility in greeting his readers.

In most introductions, we find a list of accolades and accomplishments.

When James introduces himself, he does not list his accolades or accomplishments.

However, he had quite the list of accolades and accomplishments: 1) he was the half-brother of Jesus Christ; 2) he was the pastor of the largest Christian community in the world—the church at Jerusalem; and 3) he was the chairman of the Jerusalem council—the council that determined that gentiles could join the Church.

If we are not careful, we find our identity in our accolades and accomplishments instead of finding our identity in Christ.

He could have said: “James—the half-brother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem, and Leader of the Jerusalem Counsel—to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

Instead, James describes himself as “a servant of God and and the Lord Jesus Christ” ().

By using the term servant, we find an indication that James possessed and demonstrated humility before others.

From this description, we discover that James considered his position to be one of “humble service.”

If we are going to accomplish big things for God individually or corporately, we are going to have to show humility before others.

He could have said: “James—the half-brother of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Pastor of the Church at Jerusalem, and Leader of the Jerusalem Counsel—to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.”

By using the term servant, we find an indication that James possessed and demonstrated humility before others.

From this description, we discover that James considered his position to be one of “humble service.”

If we are going to accomplish big things for God individually or corporately, we are going to have to show humility before others.

D. L. Moody aptly observed, “We may easily be too big for God to use, but never too small.”

Illustration:

The story is told of two brothers who grew up on a farm.

One went away to college, earned a law degree, and became a partner in a prominent law firm in the state capital.

The other brother stayed on the family farm.

One day the lawyer came and visited his brother, the farmer.

He asked, “Why don’t you go out and make a name for yourself and hold your head up high in the world like me?”

The brother pointed and said, “See that field of wheat over there?

Look closely.

Only the empty heads stand up.

Those that are well filled always bow low.”

Said differently, “The branch that bears the most fruit is bent the lowest to the ground.”

Argumentation:

Why does God use humble servants to accomplish His will?

God uses humble servants because, in weakness, God’s strength is made strong.

As we study Scripture, we notice a theme that carries throughout the Old and New Testaments.

God uses individuals who had nothing to be proud of.

Moses had a speech impediment, yet God enabled him to become one of the greatest prophets in the Old Testament.

Abraham had a faith problem, yet God helped him to become one of the greatest examples of faith in the Old Testament.

David was a man of small stature, yet God made him be the greatest Kings in the history of God’s people.

John the Baptist was a cultural outcast, yet Jesus said that He was greatest of his day.

Peter couldn’t control his tongue, yet God used his boldness to preach repentance in the New Testament.

Paul was a murder of the church, yet God enabled Him to become one of the greatest missionary in the history of the world.

James was a skeptic, yet God transformed his life after the resurrection.

God cannot use a proud person.

However, God can use a person who submits to him in humility.

Application:

Let me ask you a simple question: Do you possess humility and do you model humility before others?

If you believe that you are better than someone else, you have a pride problem which is a sin problem.

Until you deal with your pride, God will never be able to use you for His glory.

If you continue down this road, God will humble you.

I have found that God often times use humiliation to provide humility.

says: “Pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall” (ESV).

Transition:

You may have spiritual pride.