Sermon Tone Analysis

Riding Line

In the 1800’s and early 1900’s men on ranches would spend a lot of time riding line.

What they did doing this was to go out every day and ride the boundary line of the ranch.

While doing this they were looking for cattle that either drifted onto their side and push them off, and look for their cattle that were drifting onto other ranchers properties.

This was done every day and all day long.

These men rode many miles and moved many cattle back and forth.

But even with their diligence many cattle still drifted.

So when the Spring and Fall works began each ranch would send a man from their outfit to other outfits works.

These men were called “reps.”

Their job was to be there and help work but also to watch for their bosses cattle.

They would help spot them and sort them and bring them back home to their home range.

These men played a vital role in the profit of the ranch they worked for.

If these men got lazy, cattle would drift.

If these men were not for the brand, many cattle would get missed in the sorting.

These men were always on point and watching out for their ranches interest above their own.

Many of them would have rather been doing other work other than riding line.

Many would have rather been at their home ranch getting to drag calves, and other aspects of being a good hand.

But each man was doing what the boss said to do.

They went to it because they were supposed to do that job.

They worked hard at it.

They committed to it.

They knew this was just as important as any other job for the ranch.

That is what this last section of James is telling us.

He is saying that we all have a job and that job is important.

He has spent many words telling us how to live a faithful life, how to have wisdom, how to get along with one another, how to be a joyous, faithful, committed Christian who glorifies God in all things and realizes that all situations are a chance to glorify God and impact others.

That has all culminated into these last two verses.

In this text we see that anyone can drift from the truth, anyone can gather that person back, and that we can all help save someone.

It is a privilege and honor to be a representative for the Lord.

Just like those men who were sent to Rep for their ranch we are here to Rep for the Lord.

Because...

Anyone Can Drift

No one is perfect.

No is above drifting.

We all sin and we all fail.

No one can stand the power and influence of the world alone.

We need each other.

That is the “My Brothers” aspect of this section.

James is saying “we are to help each other because we are one unit, we are the body, we are people of the Lord and as such we must be here for one another.”

Just like cows that drift and wander when they are not kept gathered.

Like the trail drives.

They had to set men at night all night long to make sure the cows did not drift.

These men were the night guard.

They circled the herd all night and did not stop until shift change or daylight.

They kept them together because if not, they would have drifted.

That is what we can do too.

We can drift.

We can falter and fail easily.

This world wants us to falter.

It wants us to fall.

It wants us to die.

Just like the cows that drifted during the great blizzard of 1886-87.

In this blizzard tens of thousands of cattle if not more died.

They all drifted and drifted during this storm and many drifted into what looked like safety.

These cows all piled up on one another and died.

They were trapped into what was a false sense of safety and died.

They felt secure in their drifting until it was too late.

That is what the world will do to us.

It will lure us in and we will feel comfortable and good and then BAM we are dead or dying.

It traps us and we need help.

David failed and committed adultery and murder with Bathsheba and Uriah.

He kept it covered until Nathan was sent to him to expose his sin.

He repented and turned back from his evil ways.

Moses faltered in many areas.

He doubted the Lord and argued with him.

This was after he murdered a man.

Peter denied Jesus.

He spent years with Him and said he would never leave his side.

Yet, Peter failed and not only abandoned Jesus but he denied Him not once but three times.

We can all fail and drift.

We need one another to help stop this.

We need each other to stay faithful.

We need one another to make it through this thing called life.

Because if we do not have one another, then we will drift like those cows did in that blizzard.

We will drift into sin ad it will look so good, but then that good turns to death and we are lost.

That is what will happen when we drift from the truth, we will pile up and die unless someone comes along and helps us.

That is what James says next...

Anyone Can Gather

The two phrases in verses 19 and 20 say, “and someone brings him back…whoever brings back a sinner,” demonstrate that we can all do this.

I am assuming that since you are a person you are someone.

I am also assuming that since you are a person you fit in the whoever category.

We all fit in there.

We all are capable of reaching a sinner who wandered.

I would venture to say that many of you would be better at reaching one than I am.

I say this because as a pastor there is a stigma that comes with that title.

People instantly get defensive and want to cover up and act better than they are around us.

You know them.

You have relationships with them.

Maybe you have commonalities.

Whatever it is you are a person who is a Christian but you are not a pastor.

They may feel more open to you than me.

I know this from experience.

It is difficult for me to go anywhere that there may be drinking.

It is not because of a temptation for me but that when I go and people know I am a pastor, it gets awkward and they tend to be a bit nervous drinking around me.

Some will be drinking along and talking like they normally do and then learn that I am a pastor, and immediately try to hide their drinks and start apologizing for their language.

It is uncomfortable and they are not really open to conversation.

But with you, “a normal person not a pastor,” you have an in with them.

Also, it is our duty to do this.

Just as i spoke of the Rep’s the ranches would send out, we are Christ’s representatives here.

In 2 Cor.

5:20 “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.