The second in a five week message series on the book of James, this is our lead pastor, Bart Wilkins speaking about James, Chapter 2 in his message entitled, “Faith That Works In Our Material World”.

Direct link to podcast.

Read

James 1:22-27

²²And remember, it is a message to obey, not just to listen to. If you don’t obey, you are only fooling yourself. ²³For if you just listen and don’t obey, it is like looking at your face in a mirror but doing nothing to improve your appearance. ²⁴You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like. ²⁵But if you keep looking steadily into God’s perfect law–the law that sets you free–and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

²⁶If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are just fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless. ²⁷Pure and lasting religion in the sight of God our Father means that we must care for orphans and widows in their troubles, and refuse to let the world corrupt us.

Reflect

I know of people who don’t go to church anymore because they don’t get anything from it - yet - never really participated in the community of believers they professed to be members of. It’s no wonder they didn’t get anything out of it.

This must have been what James was warning us about. If we just listen but not obey, then we are just fooling ourselves. We practice a vain religion. “Look at me - I go to church.” We go expecting others to serve us. We want an experience without putting Christian principles into action. We listen to sermons about serving but always have an excuse not to help out.

A REAL relationship with God is one where we are responsive to His message. We hear and obey. We participate in fellowship with others in the community. We care for those who are forgotten. We touch the untouchables.

Respond

Have you ever caught yourself listening but not obeying God?

There are a lot of people who think going to church on Sunday mornings is good enough. Why is it important to be active in service to others?

What can you do to respond to God? Make a point today to get involved, instead of watching.

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If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

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James 1:19-21

¹⁹My dear brothers and sisters, be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰Your anger can never make things right in God’s sight.

²¹So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the message God has planted in your hearts, for it is strong enough to save your souls.

Reflect

How many times have we experienced someone speaking too soon? Maybe we’ve even done that ourselves. A common saying is that “we have two ears and one mouth for a reason”. That’s a quick way to say what James was trying to tell us. When James says that we should be quick to listen, it carries with it the understanding that we should not only listen but understand. True communication never takes place unless the person who hears, understands. Understanding is important because if we have to respond verbally, it is important that we know what we are speaking of. As it relates to our relationship with God, we should be humble and teachable. If we are busy speaking instead of listening, we may be unable to receive the full wisdom of God.

Respond

Have you ever felt like a fool because you spoke too soon? How would have listening more helped that situation?

What benefits do we receive by getting rid of all filth and evil?

What is the message God planted in your heart?

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If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

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James 1:9-18

⁹Christians who are poor should be glad, for God has honored them. ¹⁰And those who are rich should be glad, for God has humbled them. They will fade away like a flower in the field. ¹¹The hot sun rises and dries up the grass; the flower withers, and its beauty fades away. So also, wealthy people will fade away with all of their achievements.

¹²God blesses the people who patiently endure testing. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. ¹³And remember, no one who wants to do wrong should ever say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else either. ¹⁴Temptation comes from the lure of our own evil desires. ¹⁵These evil desires lead to evil actions, and evil actions lead to death. ¹⁶So don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.

¹⁷Whatever is good and perfect comes to us from God above, who created all heaven’s lights. Unlike them, he never changes or casts shifting shadows. ¹⁸In his goodness he chose to make us his own children by giving us his true word. And we, out of all creation, became his choice possession.

Reflect

Think about this question: Is it easier for a poor man or rich man to give up everything for Christ? Both require that we give up control. It’s because of salvation through Christ that we can feel honored to be poor or humbled to be rich. Social class does not mean anything to God. If you put your faith in your material things, they will fade away. Jesus is our solid foundation. It is because of Jesus that we can and should patiently endure testing here on earth because our reward is in heaven.

Respond

When troubles come, do you endure them with patience? If not, how can we develop an attitude of patient endurance?

Have you ever blamed God when you gave into temptation? How can be we assured that God does not tempt us?

What does our reading today tell us about putting our faith in material things?

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If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

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James 1:2-8

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

⁵If you need wisdom–if you want to know what God wants you to do–ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. ⁶But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

Reflect

The normal human condition when we are faced with troubles is to do whatever we can to escape the troubles. We find it rewarding when we escape trouble. James says that we should adopt the exact opposite attitude toward trials. We should count it a joy when we face trials. James is telling us that we need to take a God view of life. It doesn’t make sense - which is also why he instructs us to ask for wisdom. An old Greek axiom says, “The knowledge of ignorance is the beginning of knowledge.” When we reach a place in our life where we realize that we don’t have all the answers and that we need to ask God for wisdom, we are beginning to understand the God view of life. Along with this new understanding, we also need to develop a confident understanding that when we ask God for wisdom, he will answer our request.

Respond

Doubt has been defined as the hesitation that sits between faith and unbelief, leaning toward unbelief. How can we move more toward faith and away from unbelief?

If the world says that we should try to avoid troubles, how can we find joy through the troubles?

Have you developed an attitude of joy through troubles?

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If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

This is the first message in a new series on the book of James. Our lead pastor, Bart Wilkins begins with Chapter 1 in his message entitled, “Faith That Works In Our Confusing World”.

Direct link to podcast.

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James 1:1

¹This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ.
It is written to Jewish Christians scattered among the nations.
Greetings!

Reflect

Have you ever been confused, scared, sad, cheated, lonely, sick, poor or alone? Perhaps you are experiencing some of those feelings right now. Wouldn’t it be nice to have someone come alongside you to encourage you in your situation?

That’s what James is doing in writing this letter. These young Christians of Jewish upbringing were now being persecuted by the same people who had been their leaders in Judaism. They were scared. One of their leaders, Stephen, was just stoned to death and Saul (who later became Paul) was determined to destroy the church. These believers had scattered to many nations and James, identifying himself as one of them (“a slave of Christ”) was writing from Jerusalem to these young Christians. He knew that they were being persecuted. He knew that they were feeling alone, scared, confused. They were poor. They needed some encouragement. James’ messages to those early Christians is just as applicable to us today.

As we will see, his message is: “Don’t put off your life of faith until times get better. Right now, in the midst of your suffering, is the very time to be putting your servanthood toward Christ into practice.”

Respond

James identified himself as a “slave of Christ”. How can we develop an attitude of servanthood?

During the times when you experience trouble in your life, do you feel your servant-Lord relationship with Jesus waning?

Think of a friend who came alongside you during a tough time? Call them or email them today to tell them how much you appreciate them.

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If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.

This week, our lead pastor Bart Wilkins asks the question from Luke 24, “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” in our Easter message entitled, “Looking For Jesus”.

Direct link to the podcast here.

Key Verse: Luke 24:1-8
¹But very early on Sunday morning the women came to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. ²They found that the stone covering the entrance had been rolled aside. ³So they went in, but they couldn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. ⁴They were puzzled, trying to think what could have happened to it. Suddenly, two men appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes. ⁵The women were terrified and bowed low before them. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking in a tomb for someone who is alive? ⁶He isn’t here! He has risen from the dead! Don’t you remember what he told you back in Galilee, ⁷that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again the third day?” ⁸Then they remembered that he had said this.