James 1:1-8 New

Intro: Welcome my Friends

BIBLE TEXT: James 1:1-8 “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

Sermon Title: Get Comfortable With The Uncomfortable

Joke:

Title Points: Change From The Inside Out

4 Points Tonight

Outline 1

Bible Text :James 1:1 “James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

Bondservant - Willing slave, one to serve because he wanted to

James didn’t mention that he was his brother of Jesus

I would of put Brother of james on the end

TWELVE TRIBES - This is a figure of speech referring to the jewish people

Paul referred to our twelve tribes in his speech before King Agrippa (Acts 26:7).

This book is written to Christian believers

Cross Reference: Acts 26:7 “To this promise our twelve tribes, earnestly serving God night and day, hope to attain. For this hope’s sake, King Agrippa, I am accused by the Jews.”

One Application:

This book is written to Christian believers. Are we sold out for Jesus! Would we call ourselves Bondservants

Personal Story: Story : Could you imagine being the younger brother of Jesus growing up?

Outline 2

Bible Text : James:1:2 “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

He said when, not if you fall into various trials.

At the same time trials are occasions for joy, not to be discouraged by them.

The joy is based on confidence in the outcome of the trial. It is the startling realization that trials represent the possibility of growth.

In contrast, most people are happy when they escape trials

Rejoicing goes beyond happiness. Happiness centers on earthly circumstances and how well things are going here. Joy centers on God and his presence in our experience.

Cross Reference: Romans 5:3-5 “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”

1st Point: We need Trials To Grow

One Application:

We have a phrase that we live by in the Gym that says….Get Comfortable with the Uncomfortable.

Anyone can have joy when they are comfortable, but do you find joy in the discomfort?

I love seeing Pastors come into our gym that find a little discomfort in the physical, this allows us to practice in the spiritual.

Personal Story: God gave me a vision when our home was foreclosed on

Outline 3

Bible Text : James 1:3“knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

the troubles strengthen believers by adding endurance to the faith that is already present

Endurance is faith stretched out; it involves trusting God for a long duration.

James is not questioning the faith of his readers—he assumes that they trust in Christ.

He is not convincing people to believe; he is encouraging believers to remain faithful to the end.

James knows that their faith is real, but it lacks maturity.

We cannot really know our own depth until we see how we react under pressure.

Cross Reference:

One Application: Precious diamonds begin as coal, subjected to intense pressure over a period of time. Without pressure, coal remains coal. The testing of your faith is the combined pressure that life brings to bear on you

Personal Story: I remember in college practice I would loose to most of the people on the team. But when we played against top ranked team I would perform well and win!

Bible Text :James 1:4 “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

It is not our nature to endure. When it comes to trials, we would rather escape, explain, or exit the difficulty. In fact, we will tend to do almost anything to avoid enduring a trial.

Faithful endurance, however, generates whole people, recognized as strong in character, or mature.

God cares about our character

Cross Reference:

One Application:

The word character (dokime) includes the idea of “approved as a result of testing.” A person with this kind of character is known for his or her inward qualities rather than any outward appearances

Personal Story: We have had 9 years of Ministry and it has been faithful endurance.

We started by everyone saying you will never stay open.

2nd Point: Time Under Tension produces Beauty

Outline 3

Bible Text : James 1:5-6 “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

The wisdom that we need has three distinct characteristics:

(1) It is practical—The wisdom from God relates to life even during the most trying times. It is not a wisdom isolated from suffering and trials. This wisdom is the tool by which trials are overcome. An intelligent person may have profound ideas, but a wise person puts profound ideas into action.

(2) It is divine—God’s wisdom goes beyond common sense. Common sense does not lead us to choose joy in the middle of trials. This wisdom begins with respect for God, leads to living by God’s direction, and results in the ability to tell right from wrong.

(3) It is Christlike—Asking for wisdom is ultimately asking to be like Christ. The Bible identifies Christ as the “wisdom of God” (1 Corinthians 1:24; 2:1–7).

Cross Reference: 1 Corinthians 1:24 “but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

One Application:

This verse is not permitting us to ask God for wisdom to bring about our will.

Instead, we should humbly ask him for wisdom to remain in his will.

Personal Story:

I remember growing up raised Catholic, I would pray to God in my Tennis matches. There where selfish prayers to just win the match

Bible Text : James 1:6 “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

This is the reason why James adds the idea of the wave, because it really means to be driven and tossed between self and God.

The behavior of sea waves is unsettled, going back and forth, driven by the wind, like the doubter’s mind.

Such a person wavers between choices and may, in the end, make no decision at all

Cross Reference: 1 John 5:15 “And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.”

3rd Point: Godly Wisdom is in your hands

One Application:

If we are all in and living for the Lord we should have no problem in asking God for help

Personal Story:

Outline 3

Bible Text : James 1:7-8 “For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

One Teaching Idea: (1 Sentence or Less)

The person who asks trustingly does not determine how God will answer, but he or she can be confident in knowing that God will answer.

The person who asks doubtfully should not expect to receive anything from the Lord because the request was not genuine.

Waver back and forth is to be doubleminded.

These people may “trust” God and claim to be believers, and yet be filled with doubt, keeping other options open in case God does not prove to be dependable

Cross Reference: Hebrews 12:2 “looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

4th Point: Keep Your Eyes On Jesus

One Application:

Wavering people are walking contradictions. Such instability is revealed not only in their prayers. They don’t know if they live for God or live for the world.

Personal Story: Living for the world and going to church to just check the box