EHCA-From Trials to Maturity

Good Morning Mid-School/Elementary!

I’m Pastor Joe and excited to be with you all for the first All-School Chapel!

Read James 1:2-4 (read in Bible)

“2 Dear Brothers and Sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your Faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

Let’s pray together.

(Prayer)

I’m calling this, “From Trials to Maturity.”

This all begins with a Pickle…yes, a Pickle.

I have a basic Pickle here that I’m hoping to be a flashlight for me…however, the trial I am experiencing right now is that it’s just a pickle…more about the pickle later.

Right now though, We’re going to see from James what it means to have faith and trust God in our trials, our conflicts.

We have here this seemingly odd command from James; at least an odd command when we think naturally.

James gives us this statement that goes against the way we normally think.

Well, let’s break down what he’s saying.

We’re going to look at this way of thinking that James takes us through.

First, we hear from James that . . .

I. Christian Living Leads to Trials (v. 2) [on screen]

(repeat)

James says in the text for us to let it be an opportunity for joy, whenever we as Christians experience trials. Not if we experience trials, but whenever. Trials will always happen in our lives.

We will experience trials with our friends, frustration with our parents, with our siblings, we will experience trials with our health. We may experience trials with our grades or our teachers.

We will think that we are being bullied and really, it’s just because friendships change.

We are certainly not to seek out trials, but we are to expect them.

Now, some of you have experienced some real trials. I mean, some genuine trials. Parents divorcing, death of a friend or relative. Anger and fighting within your own family. Loss of a family pet. These are heavy trials too.

Not only should we expect it, but James says to let it be an opportunity for joy when we suffer these trials. Well, why? Why should we rejoice in our sufferings?

Let’s start to answer that.

The second thought in James’ progression is that . . .

II. Trials Lead to Endurance (v. 3) [on screen]

Look at verse 3 again, “For when your Faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

We learn from James that the difficult times that we experience as Christians are ultimately helpful to us.

Well, that doesn’t make any sense!

Let’s see what happens, here.

Notice first of all that James has switched from talking about trials to talking about the “testing of your faith”

The implication here is obvious: trials are equal to the testing of our faith. God can use trials to test us in our faith.

Then, James says that testing of our faith produces endurance.

Back to the pickle. If I’m wanting this to be a flashlight, I need to not get frustrated in the trials, but instead, endure, seek a solution, and trust what God has given me…my brain, my family, my Science Teacher Wife.

I need to endure…to continue in my knowledge and growth of finding a solution and having Faith that God will get me through this as well as all trials.

In the same way, when we suffer various trials in our lives, James says that we build up endurance in our Faith.

That leads us to our last step in James’ writing . . .

III. Endurance Leads to Maturity (v. 4) [on screen]

Look at verse 4 again, “So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

So, James says that we are to have joy in the face of trials. Why? Because first of all trials lead to endurance; and, second, because endurance leads to maturity.

The full effect of endurance, James says, is that it leads to maturity. Well, that’s good news!

But what does Maturity mean? Are we talking about physical maturity…nope, we’re talking about Spiritual Maturity.

Maturity is a place of growing perfection or understanding, weak becoming stronger, small becoming large…All takes time to mature.

Think of it this way:

(Misschool)

How many of you understand the Order of Operations in math?

How about how to solve for volume?

How you solve for variables in an algebraic equation?

How many of you are competent in Trigonometry?

See, each of these math concepts take time to learn. You each will mature to a higher learning of mathematics through your age.

(Elementary)

How many of you in here know addition?

How about subtraction?

How about your times tables to 12?

How about Order of Operation?

See, each of these math concepts take time to learn. You each will mature to a higher learning of mathematics through your age.

(Both Begins Here) better yet, you are growing closer to Christ because of the trials that you are enduring though time and learning who to trust…Jesus.

That’s Maturity that comes from Endurance that comes from the Trials you will encounter in your life.

Back to the Pickle…

My Trial, my obstacle is that I want this to become a flashlight, but at first, I didn’t know how to get that accomplished.

I endured and sought out those who could help me. I trusted them to assist me.

We worked together and came up with a plan. This trial led to endurance which then led to Maturity.

I believe that James wants us to seek the joy in trials, because they lead us into maturing into the type of Christians that God created us to be.

We should not go looking for trials; we certainly shouldn’t cause trials! But, we can embrace them knowing that they lead to endurance, which leads to maturity.

Let’s look at the whole passage again:

Read James 1:2-4 (read in Bible)

“2 Dear Brothers and Sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. 3 For when your Faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.”

Trials Endurance Maturity. [on screen]

Bringing it Home:

Why do we count trials as joy? Because it makes us more complete; it makes us more like Jesus!

Sometimes you won’t know what God is doing, but trust Him! Trust Him!

We’re not talking about happiness folks, we’re talking about joy!

Happiness is based on our circumstances; joy is based on Jesus Christ and what He has done for each of us!

Happiness is temporary; joy is forever!

Happiness can be taken from us; joy is secured by Jesus Christ Himself!

God has a plan; He is in control. Trust Him and turn to Him in the middle of your trials.

Memorize this and apply it into your life today!

“God is going to do something great in me: through trials, to endurance, to maturity.” [on screen]

You see, that almost rhymes ?

(repeat bottom line)

Gospel Presentation

For some of you right now, this whole Idea of trusting Jesus makes no sense. You have not turned your life over to Him. You have not made Him the Boss of your life and the Rescuer of your Sins.

So to find joy during your trials sounds crazy. However, it’s not.

This morning you can take the first step and surrender, turn over your life to Jesus Christ. Make Him your Savior today…the Boss of Your Life.

It begins with admitting you’re a sinner and that you need Jesus to save you. To repent, turn form your sins, your selfishness and turn to Christ alone. And then Commit to following Him, Jesus, for the rest of your life.

Your teachers are here today to pray with you as well as Mrs. Gergen, Mrs. Evans and myself.

Trials lead to Endurance which leads to Maturity….All in Jesus Christ.

Let’s Pray

Hey, do you have Faith I can make this Pickle into a Flashlight?

Let’s try…