Church of the Nazarene

http://bible.com/events/48857393 Church of the Nazarene James and the Wanderers Wanderers are all around you. What will you do about them? And as we prepare to dive into these final words from James' letter, let's pause for a moment to reflect on our journey. What have we learned? How are we different now? What steps are we taking? 1. We must trust God in the storm -"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds" James 1:2 -"Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him." James 1:12 -Almost every truth we read from James is through this perspective: not just that we can trust God no matter what, we must. 2. We must act on what we believe -You can't separate this from the first point because they are tied together: trusting God in the storm results in action. -"Don’t just listen to the word. Do what it says." James 1:22 -This action shows up in so many different ways: we measure and steward our words carefully (James 1:26, James 3:6), we care for those others ignore (James 1:27), we don't show favoritism (James 2:8-9). 3. We must walk in humility -Trusting God in the storms of our life is the birthplace of true humility. Acting on what we believe requires constant humility. -There is a battle with us, a divided loyalty (James 4:4, James 4:10). The call to humility ultimately asks the question "Who has your heart?" (James 5:5) -There is power available to us when we walk in this truth: God is the source. He is Lord. I don't have to be. But what about those for whom this isn't true? -What about those who struggle to trust? -What about the one who claims no faith in Christ? -Or whose faith has become so stagnant, so superficial, so lifeless and without any action? How should we respond? James' final exhortation is with this question in mind. ‭‭James‬ ‭5:19-20‬‬ My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. -James' heart is clear. The final thing on his mind is the return of those who were once followers but have turned away. His heart is for what Jesus called 'the one'. -“What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off?" (Matthew 18:12) -The word here for 'wanders' is the same root word that James uses in 5:19. -The message of Jesus and the final words of James is this: have such a heart for the wanderer, that you will pursue them. Not separate from them, but run after them. "My dear friends, if you know people who have wandered off from God’s truth, don’t write them off. Go after them." James 5:19 (The Message) Wanderers are all around you. What will you do about them? Verses for further study/reflection: 2 Corinthians 5:11-21 2 Timothy 4:5 1 Peter 4:8 Proverbs 10:12 James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

https://bible.com/events/48857744 James and Elijah: One Like Us When was the last time that you believed your prayer really mattered to God? ‭‭James‬ ‭5:17-18‬‬ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭17:1‬‬ Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:27-29‬‬ At noon Elijah began to taunt them. “Shout louder!” he said. “Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened.” So they shouted louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until their blood flowed. Midday passed, and they continued their frantic prophesying until the time for the evening sacrifice. But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention. ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:36-38‬‬ At the time of sacrifice, the prophet Elijah stepped forward and prayed: “Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Israel, let it be known today that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things at your command. Answer me, Lord, answer me, so these people will know that you, Lord, are God, and that you are turning their hearts back again.” Then the fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench. We know that prayer was essential to Elijah because: - He had to depend on God completely - The importance of prayer outweighed the risk of prayer - He knew God and trusted him Bottom line: not only should we commit our lives to prayer, we must. 1. Prayer draws us near to the heart of God 2. God responds when we pray James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and Elijah: One Like Us (ER) East Rock Campus James 5:17-18 Welcome back to our "white flag lap" of our journey through the book of James. Towards the end of Chapter 5, James catches a deep breath of sorts, and gives us a few parting thoughts before he closes out his letter. These were likely some of the last words of a man who would face death because of his faith in Christ. As we saw last week in our study, one of James’ primary concerns is that we would be people of prayer. One of the key points James makes in this teaching on prayer, is that it is for everyone. The promise of powerful and effective prayer is for every follower of Jesus who has experienced forgiveness and new life in Him. That begs the question of us today- Do you believe that? As we continue in our teaching text today, James highlights a well-known character in the Old Testament- The prophet Elijah ‭‭James‬ ‭5:17-18‬‬ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. Notice here in the text, before he says anything else on the matter, James emphasizes, that Elijah was not a super-being, but a human just like James’ readers. When James wants to illustrate for us that “The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” he brings the well-known prophet Elijah. A man just like us, who staked his life on prayer. ‭‭James‬ ‭5:17‬‬ Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. We find the story of Elijah that James is referencing in 1Kings 17-19:10 Ahab was the king of Israel during the time of Elijah and things were not going so well. 1 Kings 16:33 records “Ahab did more to provoke the LORD God of Israel to anger than all the kings of Israel who were before him” So literally, this was the worst king the nation of Israel had ever had. ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭17:1‬‬ Now Elijah the Tishbite, from Tishbe in Gilead, said to Ahab, “As the Lord, the God of Israel, lives, whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” In response to the nations sin and idolatry, God brought about a drought so severe that not even the morning or evening dew fell upon the ground. In the story, the Lord tells Elijah to head east and hide out for a while, because the kings wife is out to kill all of the prophets of the Lord. As the story goes on, three years pass before the Lord’s next command comes to Elijah. Sometimes, impossible prayers often involve impossible amounts of patience and waiting on the Lord. ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:1-2‬‬ After a long time, in the third year, the word of the Lord came to Elijah: “Go and present yourself to Ahab, and I will send rain on the land.” So Elijah went to present himself to Ahab. Now the famine was severe in Samaria, 3 years without rain has left the land desolate and the King was desperate, and more than a little angry with the Prophet Elijah. ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:17-21‬‬ When he saw Elijah, he said to him, “Is that you, you troubler of Israel?” “I have not made trouble for Israel,” Elijah replied. “But you and your father’s family have. You have abandoned the Lord’s commands and have followed the Baals. Now summon the people from all over Israel to meet me on Mount Carmel. And bring the four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal and the four hundred prophets of Asherah, who eat at Jezebel’s table.” So Ahab sent word throughout all Israel and assembled the prophets on Mount Carmel. Elijah went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” But the people said nothing. Through bold courageous faith, Elijah calls for a showdown between the prophets of Baal and the Lord What follows is story of victory that was etched into the minds of the people of God for generations to come. This was the amazing story that James is calling on to remind his readers that the power of prayer, the power of this story, is still available for believers today. ‭‭1 Kings‬ ‭18:22-24‬‬ Then Elijah said to them, “I am the only one of the Lord’s prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let Baal’s prophets choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God.” Then all the people said, “What you say is good.” The prophets of Baal called upon their gods all day, with no response. No fire came down, nothing happened. Elijah even begins to taunt them, saying their god must be asleep, or busy, or in the bathroom. So they cried out more fervently, but nothing happened. Finally, that evening, El

http://bible.com/events/48855600 James and the Power of Prayer Prayer is not a last resort for the powerless. It is the first weapon we have from an all-powerful God. ‭‭James‬ ‭5:13-16‬‬ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. -In trouble? Pray -Happy? Sing songs of praise to God -Sick? Ask the elders to pray over you -Sinned? Go to God in prayer for forgiveness No matter what your situation – no matter what – go to the Lord immediately. -Prayer is ultimately about coming to Him -Prayer does something in me, as I pray -Prayer does something in us, as we pray together -Prayer is powerful "The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." James 5:16 (The Message) Prayer is not a last resort for the powerless. It is the first weapon we have from an all-powerful God. Verses for further study/reflection: Philippians 4:6-7 1 John 5:14 Mark 11:22-25 Matthew 18:19-20 Romans 8:26-27 ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:5-13‬‬ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ ‭‭James‬ ‭5:13-16‬‬ Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again. James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

http://bible.com/events/48855600 James and the Power of Prayer Prayer is not a last resort for the powerless. It is the first weapon we have from an all-powerful God. ‭‭James‬ ‭5:13-16‬‬ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. -In trouble? Pray -Happy? Sing songs of praise to God -Sick? Ask the elders to pray over you -Sinned? Go to God in prayer for forgiveness No matter what your situation – no matter what – go to the Lord immediately. -Prayer is ultimately about coming to Him -Prayer does something in me, as I pray -Prayer does something in us, as we pray together -Prayer is powerful "The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with." James 5:16 (The Message) Prayer is not a last resort for the powerless. It is the first weapon we have from an all-powerful God. Verses for further study/reflection: Philippians 4:6-7 1 John 5:14 Mark 11:22-25 Matthew 18:19-20 Romans 8:26-27 ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6:5-13‬‬ “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This, then, is how you should pray: “ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. ’ ‭‭James‬ ‭5:13-16‬‬ Are you hurting? Pray. Do you feel great? Sing. Are you sick? Call the church leaders together to pray and anoint you with oil in the name of the Master. Believing-prayer will heal you, and Jesus will put you on your feet. And if you’ve sinned, you’ll be forgiven—healed inside and out. Make this your common practice: Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. The prayer of a person living right with God is something powerful to be reckoned with. Elijah, for instance, human just like us, prayed hard that it wouldn’t rain, and it didn’t—not a drop for three and a half years. Then he prayed that it would rain, and it did. The showers came and everything started growing again. James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

http://bible.com/events/48849730 James and the Power of Patience "Be patient and stand firm because the Lord’s coming is near." James 5:8 ‭‭James‬ ‭5:7-11‬‬ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. -This is not just a call to patience in general, but rather a command to be patient in suffering. -Farmers don’t plant seeds and expect instant crops. They wait. That's the visual here. -In essence what James is saying is, "Don’t give up (be patient) and as you are enduring, encourage yourselves, strengthen your hearts (stand firm)." -The reality of Christ's return is a promise that we are not alone in our suffering. He is with us now through the power of His Spirit, and He is coming back! ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭24:10-13‬‬ At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. Applying these truths in our lives today: 1. STOP being surprised -we cannot be surprised when hard times come in our lives -"consider it joy when you face trials" (James 1:2) -Jesus said "in this world you will have trouble." (John 16:33) 2. START standing firm -Don't be surprised. Hard times will come. Challenges will come. This broken world will experience more brokenness. Be patient. Stand firm. -We can stand firm, because our eyes are fixed on Him. -We can stand firm, because His promises are true. -We can stand, because His Spirit is within us. And this is not the end. Verses for further study/reflection: Romans 12:12 Galatians 6:9 Romans 8:25 Ephesians 4:2 Psalm 37:7-9 ‭‭James‬ ‭5:7-11‬‬ Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. You see farmers do this all the time, waiting for their valuable crops to mature, patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. The Master could arrive at any time. Friends, don’t complain about each other. A far greater complaint could be lodged against you, you know. The Judge is standing just around the corner. Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end. That’s because God cares, cares right down to the last detail. James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and The Power of Patience (ER) East Rock Campus James 5:7-11 As we continue in our teaching series through James, he again is challenging us to see life through the lens of Gods kingdom, and to understand that patience is a required course for the follower of Jesus. ‭‭James‬ ‭5:7‬‬ Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. To be patient is to exhibit self-restraint in the face of opposition and even aggravation. - It is the opposite of being hot-headed, quick tempered, or short fused. - It is to be slow to anger, Just like the Lord in Psalm 86:15 - The apostle Paul lists patience as a fruit of the spirit in Galatians 5 ‭‭James‬ ‭5:8‬‬ You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. The literal Greek wording here would be something like “Strengthen your hearts” James understood that our hearts can grow weary under trials. That we can easily get tired of waiting on the Lord and give up our hope. It is within the seasons of hard times or suffering that James’ call to patience perhaps finds its deepest significance in our lives. ‭‭James‬ ‭5:9‬‬ Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door! James is talking about patience, about our need to endure, to stand firm in the Lord, and then he says “Hey, don’t take it out on your brothers and sisters”. “Don’t lash out at them” James knows and understands the human tendency when we are under pressure, under the strains of life, to lash out at other people. The harder things are going, the less patient we tend to be with others. ‭‭James‬ ‭5:10-11‬‬ Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James does not mention a specific prophet in this text, but it was well known that the prophets of the Old Testament were treated terribly by the pagan nations and even their own people because of the word they spoke. As William Barclay says “Job’s example is no groveling, passive, unquestioning submission; Job struggled and questioned and sometimes defied, but the flame of faith was never extinguished in his heart” James has not sugar coated the challenges and hardships that face believers in this life. He knows we are going to be weary- we are going to be tempted to grumble to the Lord, to one another, even about one another. We may even be tempted to think the Lord will not follow through. Yet, he says be patient! Stand firm! Have confidence in the Lord my friends. In response to the message today, what would it look like for you to take James at his word? In the middle of the trials, the burdens, and the brokenness, will you make the decision to stand firm in the Lord? Let's make that stand together! James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

http://bible.com/events/48846138 James and Rich and Wrong Who has your heart? ‭‭James‬ ‭5:1-6‬‬ Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. The clarifying question here is this: "What is the problem?" -The root of the problem James is addressing is greed, our desires driving us to want more and more. -"You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence" James 5:5 -Next James provides a visual of what this looks like: "You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter." James 5:5 ‭‭Luke‬ ‭12:15‬‬ Then he said to them, “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” The Bible talks a lot about money. Jesus speaks a lot about money. And we have a lot of questions: -Why does the Bible talk about money so much? -Is it wrong to have money? -Should I feel guilty? -Why do I give to the church? -How much do I have to give? The best question we should be asking: Who has your heart? Verses for further study/reflection: Luke 12:13-21 Psalm 63:1-11 1 John 2:16 2 Corinthians 9:7 Ecclesiastes 5:10 Hebrews 13:5 Psalm 52:5-7 ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:16-26‬‬ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and Rich and Wrong (ER) Ecclesiastes 5:10: Whoever loves money never has enough; whoever loves wealth is never satisfied with their income. This too is meaningless ‭‭James‬ ‭5:1-6‬‬ Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming on you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter. You have condemned and murdered the innocent one, who was not opposing you. Biblical commentator John Ritenbaugh describes greed as a “ruthless self–seeking and an arrogant assumption that others and things exist for one’s own benefit (James would say for one’s own luxury and self-indulgence).” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:16-26‬‬ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:26‬‬ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” YOUR LIFE WILL ALWAYS REVEAL WHAT YOUR HEART TRULY TREASURES So what is the best question to ask yourself? ‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭8:8-9‬‬ I am not commanding you, but I want to test the sincerity of your love by comparing it with the earnestness of others. For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich. Scripture for further study/reflection: Luke 12:13-21 Psalm 63:1-11 1 John 2:16 2 Corinthians 9:7 Ecclesiastes 5:10 Hebrews 13:5 Psalm 52:5-7 ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭19:16-26‬‬ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?” “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.” “Which ones?” he inquired. Jesus replied, “ ‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, honor your father and mother,’ and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’” “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?” Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Truly I tell you, it is hard for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of heaven. Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for someone who is rich to enter the kingdom of God.” When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

http://bible.com/events/48841888 James and Tomorrow Tomorrow belongs to God and God alone. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:13-17‬‬ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. -The specific reason James points us here is not because of the 'what' but because of the 'why'. -James is not condemning the actions specifically of planning ahead, or running a successful business. He is pointing to the motivation behind the actions. 1. As we live our lives, we must have a proper view of our lives. -"What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (Verse 14) 2. As we live our lives, we must have a proper view of God. -"Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.' " (Verse 15) 3. Living in such a way without this perspective is not just unwise, it is boastful and evil. -"As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil." (Verse 16) ‭‭John‬ ‭6:38‬‬ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. Bottom Line: Tomorrow belongs to God and God alone. Verses for further study/reflection: ‭‭James‬ ‭4:13-17‬‬ And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil. ‭‭John‬ ‭6:35-38‬‬ Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY Proverbs 27:1 Job 14:5 Ecclesiastes 9:12 Psalm 103:15 1 Peter 1:24

Church of the Nazarene East Rock James and Tomorrow Tomorrow belongs to God and God alone. As we continue through James, he is taking time out to remind his readers the importance of not only giving God today, but also seeing to it that we have given God our tomorrow too. As we dive into our teaching text today in verses 13-17 James is again calling for our surrender in humility. Except this time he does something unique- James calls for the surrender of something we don’t yet have and may not ever have for that matter:James calls you to surrender your Tomorrow… As hard as it can be for us to recon with, a proper and humble response to the Lord includes giving God our future. As we unpack our text today, James will help us to see our lives in the light of eternity and show that our only response must be one of humility and trust in God’s plans for our future. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:13-17‬‬ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. As we begin today, It may be helpful for us today to establish what this text is NOT saying, so we can more clearly unpack what James is really getting at. This is not saying we cant make plans for the future or that we shouldn’t save money for a rainy day. Its not saying that we cant have a business that produces a profit. In our text, James is looking beyond the actions of our plans, to our motives to our heart posture behind our planning. For James, part of living surrendered to God’s authority is that we would allow him to have full control over the future. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:13‬‬ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” In what James lays out here there is a pretty clear self-confidence (with self being the operative word here) and pride in the plans and the outcome of this person. There is even perhaps a since of pride in what they will accomplish because of their plans. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:14‬‬ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. James reminds us very directly here of a reality we often forget. Tomorrow belongs to God alone… Woody Allen once said “If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans” ‭‭James‬ ‭4:15‬‬ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” James offers a different way of thinking and planning for Christians to view the future. That we can make plans…we can plan on doing “this or that”… BUT that we would submit our plans to the Lord and place our confidence in Him rather than our ability to manage the future. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:16‬‬ As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. When we set our life course based off of our desires for a house, a career, a family, or whatever it is, no matter how good it is, we are actually guilty of arrogantly boasting before the Lord. The root issue that James is pointing out is that we have taken the future out of God’s hands and determined that we would hold onto it. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:17‬‬ If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them. I think James knew there is a big difference in knowing these things and actually living our lives like they are true. For us to know these truths and not to live them out- is SIN for us. In your life, who holds the future? James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

http://bible.com/events/48840300 Church of the Nazarene James and Being Lifted "Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." -James 4:10 ‭‭James‬ ‭4:7-12‬‬ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? Submit to God Resist the Devil ‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:2‬‬ in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. Come Near to God ‭‭James‬ ‭4:10‬‬ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. “Humility toward men will be the only sufficient proof that our humility before God is real.” Andrew Murray Other content for further study/reflection: The 10 Commandments of James 4:7-12 1. Submit yourselves to God 2. Resist the devil 3. Come near to God The rest of the actions are in support of the previous three commands. 4. Wash your hands 5. Purify your hearts 6. Grieve 7. Mourn 8. Wail 9. Humble yourselves before the Lord 10. Do not slander one another ‭‭James (Jacob)‬ ‭4:7-12‬‬ So then, surrender to God. Stand up to the devil and resist him and he will flee in agony. Move your heart closer and closer to God, and he will come even closer to you. But make sure you cleanse your life, you sinners, and keep your heart pure and stop doubting. Feel the pain of your sin, be sorrowful and weep! Let your joking around be turned into mourning and your joy into deep humiliation. Be willing to be made low before the Lord and he will exalt you! Dear friends, as part of God’s family, never speak against another family member, for when you slander a brother or sister you violate God’s law of love. And your duty is not to make yourself a judge of the law of love by saying that it doesn’t apply to you, but your duty is to obey it! There is only one true Lawgiver and Judge, the One who has the power to save and destroy—so who do you think you are to judge your neighbor? James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and Being Lifted James 4:7-12 Welcome back to our series through the book of James. We are in our 16th session through this intensely practical portion of scripture. James is writing to Christians outside of Jerusalem in an effort to coach and correct them in a few areas of their lives, calling them closer to God. His primary concern is that the lives of his readers would reflect their faith in Christ Jesus as their Lord. Don’t be hearers of the word only, but be doers of God word. In Chapter 4, James uses stark and vivid language to illustrate the truth that anyone who is choosing to be a friend of the world or to flirt with the world’s ways of doing things, is not being true to God. Today as we unpack our text, we will see a passionate plea from James that we would humble ourselves and once again come near to the Father. James shows us the pathway home-Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will life you up! ‭‭James‬ ‭4:7-12‬‬ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? What is your first thought when you read that God wants you to humble yourself? What comes to your mind in those moments? In one sweep James is calling his readers to turn away from anything and everything that would hinder their closeness with God. Are you hanging onto something in your life today that is keeping you at arms length from God? ‭‭James‬ ‭4:7‬‬ Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. James first instruction is that we would come under the authority of God, and take a stand against the devil and his schemes. To submit to God is to be attentive to what HE says, rather than running around and doing whatever we want. It’s a willing submission to accept what HE says about things, rather than our own opinion on the matter. If I asked you if you were submitted to God and you said, “yes,” what evidence would you show to prove that? ‭‭James‬ ‭4:8‬‬ Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. If we take James' words in verse 8 seriously, especially the order that he gives, God’s prevenient grace has put the ball in our court. “Come near to God, and he will come near to you” Friend, how close you are to God, is up to you. Verse 8b “Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” Again, we see the passion that James is pleading with here. You sinners, you double minded, - WAKE UP!! SNAP OUT OF IT!! In this two-fold plea for repentance and surrender, James calls us to let go of anything and everything in our lives that is opposed to God. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:9‬‬ Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. The first word of verse 9 here literally translated says “Be miserable” Think about that for a second- We should be so disgusted by even the smallest trace of sin in our lives that we are miserable over it. The voice we normally hear about those things doesn’t say that, rather it sounds something like “Oh its not a big deal” “The rest of your life is good, don’t worry about that” “Its just a small thing, nobody even knows” The reality that James helps us see here is that the devil is trying to convince believers into thinking sin is no big deal. James says NO! You cant do that… it matters to much We should be miserable over sin, unable to sleep because things aren’t right between me and God. That’s what humbling yourself looks like. We must take the posture of surrender and humility in regards to all things related to sin. Even those things we enjoy ,that taste good, or what don’t seem like a big deal. Humility submits it all. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:10‬‬ Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. Is there a greater promise? Fall on your face before the Lord and HE will raise you to your feet. And when He lifts you up. You are lifted indeed. James here circles all the way back to the beginning idea of verse 7 where he calls us to submit ourselves to the Lord. To humble yourself before the Lord is to acknowledge in your heart and through your actions that we need Him. YouTube Clip What might it look like to return to the father? Maybe, like this. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RXi_cZ57sg When Jesus was teaching about the heart of the father for those who had gone astray, those who had become friends of the world, he told his d

http://bible.com/events/48836948 James and Unfriending the World Choose your friends wisely. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:4-6‬‬ You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. Or do you think Scripture says without reason that he jealously longs for the spirit he has caused to dwell in us? But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.” -James says this: choosing friendship with the world is cheating. We commit adultery. -The closer we move toward “the world,” the further we move away from God. Two critical questions we must ask in response to this text: 1. What does it mean to be a friend of the world? 2. What do I do in response? What does it mean to be a friend of the world? -It means our loyalty is ultimately to the things of this world. They are the priority. They are the focus, They are the foundation upon which our life is built. -The root of sin is ultimately a desire for 'self' above all. Sin comes down to a desire for 'self' over God's best. -So a friend of the world is one who is loyal to the desires of 'self' above anything else. ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:32-33‬‬ “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. What do I do in response? What do I do if my loyalty is divided? -James provides good news in the midst of difficult words: "Be He gives more grace" (James 4:6). -Grace is available even when we have been disloyal and unfaithful. -And this grace from God is offered to those who are willing to humble themselves. This is why James references Proverbs 3:34. -If friendship with the world is a loyalty to 'self', then perhaps the closer we are to true humility, the further we are from the world. The bottom line: Choose your friends wisely. Other verses for further study/reflection: ‭‭James‬ ‭4:4-6‬‬ You’re cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn’t care? The proverb has it that “he’s a fiercely jealous lover.” And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you’ll find. It’s common knowledge that “God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭10:32-39‬‬ “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven. “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn “ ‘a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’ “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it. Other verses: Exodus 34:14 1 John 2:15-18 John 15:18 Romans 12:2 John 18:36 James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

http://bible.com/events/48832631 Church of the Nazarene James and the Art of the Ask God does not help those who help themselves. He helps those who ask Him (and trust Him). -"If you could say in one word what you want more of in life, what would that be?" -Response #1 - Happiness. Response #2 - Money. -There is nothing wrong with these desires. But what happens when these desires become the driving force for everything we do? ‭‭James‬ ‭4:1-3‬‬ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. -The word for 'desires' in the Greek is 'hēdonē', which means 'pleasures or lust'. This is where the word 'hedonism' comes from. -James is clarifying what the problem is: the pursuit of pleasure above all. -These desires are not just destructive, they are fueling evil. James challenges these believers in two ways: 1. You don't ask God for what you need. (verse 2) 2. When you do ask God, you ask with wrong motives. (verse 3) So what does it look like to come to God with right motives? ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7-11‬‬ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! What does it mean to come to God with right motives? -Jesus says to 'keep asking...keep seeking...keep knocking' (verse 7). In other words, don't just come to God once, but continue to bring your needs to Him. -Jesus says to trust that God is a good Father (verse 11). The bottom line: God does not help those who help themselves. He helps those who ask Him (and trust Him). Other verses for further study/reflection: Psalm 63:1-11 1 Timothy 6:10 Ephesians 5:3 Matthew 7:7 1 John 5:14-15 James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and The Art of The Ask James 4:1-3 Welcome back to our series through the book of James. Together we are going verse by verse through this very practical letter written by the half-brother of Jesus. Throughout our study of this letter James challenges us to confirm our love for Jesus by our actions. His famous line “faith without works is dead” is a central theme, sometimes in the background and sometimes in the forefront. Live like Jesus! Is the cry of James’ heart for his readers. At the end of chapter 3 James is unpacking for us the fruit of wisdom in our lives. Wisdom can be thought of how we view the world, how we make decisions, and yes, how we act. And for James there are only two sources of that Wisdom Heaven or Hell…Our wisdom is either sourced by God or sourced by the devil. If we live sourced by earthly or demonic wisdom, we will constantly be filled with envy and selfish desires. Where those things are present, we will only find evil and disorder of every kind. Contrast that to living sourced by God in heavenly wisdom. our lives are marked by graciousness, mercy, and ultimately leading to peace and righteousness. We are presented two distinctly different ways to live, and two distinctly different outcomes of our lives. As we come into our text in Chapter 4, James is inviting his readers to see the root source of the disagreements and fights they are dealing with. To see the source of that conflict, and most importantly, to see a different way forward. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:1-3‬‬ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. James is writing to believers outside of Jerusalem, not to long after Jesus ascended to heaven and sent the Holy Spirit. To be a Christian was a very controversial thing. The church was likely comprised of people from all walks of life as we know the gospel was spreading throughout the land. It was a cultural melting pot, that apparently boiled over in conflict on occasion. And it was serious enough that James felt compelled to address it. With a head on approach James is challenging his readers to consider what’s causing the fights that are happening among them. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:1‬‬ What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? The word for fights here was typically used of military campaigns, larger battles, or wars. Quarrels is literally armed combat or physical altercations. Within these two descriptors James paints an encompassing portrait of large battles and personal conflict among the church. “Don’t these fights come from your desires that battle within you?” Desires here translates a word that we get the English word hedonism from. Hedonism says the goal of life, the ultimate place of meaning and purpose for our existence is for to find pleasure, to fulfill our senses. Hedonism is essentially a religion of lust These desires are never stagnant in our lives, in fact, James says they wage war within us. ‭‭James‬ ‭4:2‬‬ You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. “You Desire” is present and active. This is not a passing thought, it’s what our hearts are set on. It’s a yearning to have something for yourself, to achieve something. “You do not have, so you kill” From a desire in your heart, to murder in your life, the impact of our lust for things is never a “no harm no foul” event. “You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight” Covet is that burning in your bones, that quiet seething anger, while you grit your teeth. James says it’s those places of envy and selfish desire in your heart, that is creating the wars around you. Warren Wiersbe says "The wars among us are caused by the wars within us. We want to please ourselves, even if it hurts somebody else." As we conclude this verse, can we just for a moment step back and see how much self is contained within this text? Honestly, if we took out self, and removed the priority of our desires of this verse- there would be nothing left! ‭‭James‬ ‭4:3‬‬ When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. Without taking up one single argument of his readers, James universally shows where the conflict and tension is coming from. He highlights two breakdowns that have led to all the frustration, all the fights, and all the fallout. We fail to Ask God. We ask with wrong Motives. We have not because we ask not, and when we do ask, we ask with wrong motives… So what's the alternative? ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:7-8‬‬ “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; k

Rooted What does it mean to be rooted in God and who God is? And what does it mean to be rooted in who God has called us to be? Exudes 3:1-6, 13-15 NIV “Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.” When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!” And Moses said, “Here I am.” “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God. Moses said to God, “Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?” God said to Moses, “I am who I am. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’ ” God also said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.’ “This is my name forever, the name you shall call me from generation to generation.” ‭ Who is God? In light of who God is, who am I? Who are we? Compassion always results in action God says I am who I am! When you feel like your faith isn’t enough let the faith of those along side you and those who have gone before you and those who are coming right behind you, after you, let their faith sustain you.

James: A Life Transformed A look at the Faith Journey of James This week in our James series we are going to pause our progression through the letter itself, to take a look at the heart transformation of the Man behind the letter. As we have walked through the book of James, it's easy to see he takes Faith in Jesus and how we act seriously. They are inseparable for James. But where did this passion come from in James’s heart? James has experienced life in Christ and he knows it's so transformative, so magnificent, so revolutionary that if it doesn’t change everything for us, we haven’t really experienced Jesus. ‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:20-21‬‬ Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” The crowd of people trying to see Jesus is so big, is so excited, desiring to be in his presence, that Jesus and his disciples cannot even have a meal. Verse 21 records a different response from his family however. When Jesus’ family heard about him and all that was happening, they didn’t come to join the crowd, they came to take him back home because they reckoned he was out of his mind. ‭‭Mark‬ ‭3:31-35‬‬ Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Within the crowd that is pressing in, those on the inside, there are some noticeably absent from this inner circle of followers. His own family... In only a few words Jesus radically redefines what it means to be a part of HIS family. He says “Look It's not just who knows about me, it's not even those who are related to me. My family is those who do the will of God, those who have responded by faith in Me as their Lord” In one moment, Jesus embraced every seeker, every person who has the guts to bring their brokenness, their needs, and even their mess, before him. He stands with open arms to those who seek him, longing to transform and restore. Where are you in this story? Are you hungry for him, longing to be restored in his loving embrace? To know what it is to belong, to be forgiven and restored, to celebrate new life Or are you outside with James and the rest, thinking this Jesus thing is crazy? Maybe it’s skepticism, maybe its fear that keeps you outside. Fear of what Jesus might say, that you’ve said no to Jesus too long or too many times. Friends the beauty we find in the life of James is that it doesn’t end here in this moment of doubt. James will go on to live a completely different life than what we see here. And so can you… So what about James? We know that James’ journey began in familiarity but ultimately gave way to living faith, that changed the trajectory of his life forever. From a doubting onlooker to a dedicated disciple, it was a magnificent transformation... ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:3-8‬‬ For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. Did you catch verse 7? Then he (the resurrected Lord) appeared to James, then to all the apostles, In words so simple they are easy to miss, I think we get a glimpse of what happened in heart and life of James that lead him to be the compassionate and zealous man we have come to know in his letter. James encountered the Resurrected Lord. I believe that transformation is the source of passion, the reason James is so thorough and to the point in his letter. He doesn’t want a single one of his readers to miss out on the life that is available in Christ. The grace offered to James in transformation is the same grace that God extends to you today. No matter where you are in your Jesus story today- it doesn’t have to end there. Your life can be different because of Christ. James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

http://bible.com/events/48825642 James and True Wisdom The wisdom of God is just as much about who we are to be than what we are to do. A review of last week's focus on false wisdom: 1. God is the only source of true wisdom. 2. If you hold on to your wisdom, God can't give you His. 3. Worldy wisdom is always hostile to God. ‭‭James‬ ‭3:13-18‬‬ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. There is a kind of scorecard implied in the text. How are you doing? Pure? Peace-loving? Considerate? Submissive? Full of mercy? Impartial? Sincere? How do we grow in this True Wisdom? -"Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness." (James 3:18) -Living wisely (in true wisdom), produces fruit in us! -And ultimately, this fruit that is being produced is a pathway to something remarkable. ‭‭James‬ ‭3:17-18‬‬ Real wisdom, God’s wisdom, begins with a holy life and is characterized by getting along with others. It is gentle and reasonable, overflowing with mercy and blessings, not hot one day and cold the next, not two-faced. You can develop a healthy, robust community that lives right with God and enjoy its results only if you do the hard work of getting along with each other, treating each other with dignity and honor. The bottom line: The wisdom of God is just as much about who we are to be than what we are to do. Other verses for further study/reflection: Matthew 5:3-9 Psalm 111:10 Proverbs 3:13-18 Proverbs 1:7 Ephesians 5:15-17 Proverbs 12:15 Proverbs 10:23 Proverbs 2:6 James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James and True Wisdom James 3:17-18 As a Church we are taking a verse-by-verse journey through the Book of James. We know that James, the half-brother of Jesus, is writing this letter to believers who are outside of Jerusalem, and they are facing the ongoing challenge of persecution and rejection. James is very blunt in his practicality of the faith. (There’s a famous movie line: “You can’t handle the truth.” Well, if you can’t, the book of James isn’t for you.) One of the key themes of the entire letter is that “Faith without works is dead” For James, if the faith we have in Christ, doesn’t change our everyday lives, it's useless, it's as good as dead. As we are coming into the conclusion of Chapter 3 in our study, we find James once again challenging us, this time not just in our faith, but in our wisdom. ‭‭James‬ ‭3:17-18‬‬ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James is calling his readers, you and me, to something different, a different way of life, a God given, Jesus oriented, spirit lead way of living. In verses 17 and 18 James goes to great lengths to help us see what this Heavenly wisdom alternative looks like in our lives. ‭‭James‬ ‭3:17‬‬ But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Wisdom from heaven is first of all pure -Wisdom that is from God is un polluted by sin or selfish ambition. Wisdom from heaven is then peace loving. -William Barclay says here “peace, used in a human context, its basic meaning is right relationships between individuals, and between individuals and God” Wisdom from heaven is Considerate or Gentle -The idea is that heavenly wisdom is gracious and patient. Not vengeful and harsh. It is sensitive to the needs of others. It’s yielding to others, not demanding to have things a certain way. Heavenly wisdom is submissive -Basically, heavenly wisdom isn’t stubborn. Heavenly wisdom is full of mercy and good fruit. - It is stuffed full, packed tight, with Mercy and good fruit. Quite a contrast to the produce of earthly wisdom: disorder and evil desire… Heavenly wisdom is impartial -Impartial carries the idea of not making distinctions between people. Treating everyone fairly and equally, especially those with whom we may disagree Finally, heavenly wisdom is sincere or without hypocrisy. -Heavenly wisdom is genuine and authentic. Real and true. Someone with heavenly wisdom is someone you can count on, you can go to them for advice, you know they are rock solid and dependable. If we are honest, whether we have been a Christian 30 years, 30 days, or still on the fence about this Jesus thing, these 7 things mark a completely different life than what we are inclined to live on our own. And I think that’s a big part of what James is saying. ‭‭James‬ ‭3:18‬‬ Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. James has already told us in Chapter 1 “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” God is longing, desiring to give us his wisdom. God is yearning that our lives would produce the fruit of Righteousness rather than a trail of destruction, disorder, and pain. Today, there is a way. There is a way to live a new life… God’s wisdom is a precious gift. Ask Him for it, and continue asking. James in 8 Minutes This overview video on the book of James breaks down the literary design of the book and its flow of thought. In this book, James combines the wisdom of his brother Jesus with the book of Proverbs in his own challenging call to live a life wholly devoted to God. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qn-hLHWwRYY

James 3:13-18 Two Kinds of Wisdom 13Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.17But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. 18Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. There are two types of Wisdom Earthly Wisdom and Godly Wisdom If you hold on to your own wisdom you cannot receive God's wisdom If you hold on to your earthly wisdom you cannot receive God's wisdom God is the only source of True Wisdom Worldly wisdom is always hostile to God 1 Corinthians 3:18-19 18Do not deceive yourselves. If any of you think you are wise by the standards of this age, you should become “fools” so that you may become wise. 19For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God’s sight. As it is written: “He catches the wise in their craftiness”3:19 Job 5:13

James was chosen because it is a practical book about living the effective Christian life. Key points touched on to date about the book of James: · James tells us to face trials with joy, courage and perseverance. · James was Jesus’ half-brother. · James had heard the words of Jesus and he remembered them. · James encourages justice. · James tells us that we must be more than a hearer of the word. Faith takes action! · James tells us to watch your mouth. We have the power to speak life and hope into someone’s life through our words. · James is known as the Proverbs of the New Testament. James was a Jew. He was familiar with the Old Testament. It only makes sense that James is concerned with wisdom since the original Proverbs centers on wisdom. James 3:13-16 (New International Version) 13 Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. 15 Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. Message title: James and False Wisdom. James is writing to early Christians and to us. He talks about a living faith. A living wisdom. Sometimes the words “wisdom”, “knowledge” and “understanding” are used synonymously. However, there is a difference in the meaning of each word. 1. Wisdom refers to the right apprehension of God, and of God’s truth. 2. Knowledge speaks of the accumulation of the large number of facts about the universe. Many people have smart phones and we have knowledge at our finger tips. 3. Understanding has to do with the correct use of knowledge. A person may have a PhD from one of the finest universities, and yet be lacking in basic understanding about human nature, about the events that transpire around us and can’t relate to people. True wisdom can be a measure of a person’s character. Just as you can identify a tree by the fruit it produces. True wisdom originates from the fear of the Lord. The Bible says “Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom. All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.” Psalm 111:10 The English word “fear” in this verse is translated from the Hebrew word “yirah” which means “awe” or “reverence” in the context of this verse. The fear of the Lord that leads to wisdom encompasses the concept of experiencing wonder because of encountering God’s glory. It refers to an awe-inspiring awareness of God’s holiness. James doesn’t care about your diplomas or licenses. He wants to see your wisdom on display. You may be an expert engineer, advanced mechanic, or a housewife who is an excellent at cooking and baking, or a gifted teacher. James says that a truly wise Christian can be an expert in their field of achievement, but his or her life will be characterized by meekness instead of arrogance. We are to show people by the way we live our lives, not talk about it. We are to show others by our actions and our attitude. The all-pervading characteristic of the good life (according to verse 13) is meekness—the quality of humility, patience and submissiveness. We are to be people of humility. Do not get swayed over the idea of ‘humility’. There is great strength in humility. A person has self under complete control similar to a wild horse that was tamed enough to be ridden. The evidences of false wisdom are “bitter envy and selfish ambition.” “Bitter envy” denotes a fierce desire to promote one’s own opinion, and a harsh and resentful attitude toward others whom God may be using in a greater manner than He is using us. “Selfish ambition” describes one who constantly struggles to forward his own selfish interests. James does not just mention ‘envy’ he uses the adjective to say ‘bitter envy’. We know Bible stories that reference this type of bitter envy: · Cain and Abel. Cain killed his brother. · The brothers of Joseph sold him into slavery. · The Pharisees missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah and they had Him crucified. Think about ‘bitter envy’ or ‘selfish ambition’: · Do you have discontent when others receive something good instead of you? · Has there ever been a time when you had more experience and you’re your peer received the promotion and you got upset? · Do you have strain in your relationships with others? The devil is determined to pit us against each other in our families, marriages, friendships and other relationships. Our inclination to think only of ourselves and pursue our interest above the interests of others fits into his plan. Ambition is not a bad thing. It’s when your desires are selfish. It’s when your needs must be met and ‘you don’t care who you step on to meet your needs.’ Bernie Madoff masterminded the biggest investment fraud in U.S. history. He was jockeying for greatness. He was driven by selfish ambition. He died in prison.

Pressing On "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14 The day after Christmas can feel like one big letdown. ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:10-14‬‬ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. What we need most is a 'divine reset'. As our outlook shifts, so does our goal. Our ultimate direction is directly impacted by our day-to-day perspective. We must acknowledge the 'not yet' reality of life here on earth (verse 13). -No matter how much we long for good things, exciting things, fulfillment, wholeness, and completeness, we are living in a reality where it will always be "not yet". -We shouldn't be totally shocked by the disappointment we feel. It's actually to be expected. -We also see the hope in these words. Paul didn't say "I will not", but rather "not yet". -It will happen, it will come pass, it will be completed. It's "not yet" but it is coming. "I press on to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (verse 14) -Paul says this is the one thing. As we shift our perspective, we become focused on this one thing: pressing on. -And what is the goal? To win the prize. And what is the prize? Heaven. -I am pressing on in spite of opposition, in spite of difficulty, in spite of disappointment. Why? Because this kingdom is not my home. ‭‭John‬ ‭14:1-4‬‬ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” -Jesus doesn’t just tell us not to let our heart be troubled, He gives us a very specific reason why not. -Why not? Because He is preparing a place. A place to experience His fullness & His peace. -If Paul speaks of the "not yet" reality of life on earth, then Jesus is speaking of the final fulfillment of that longing. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬‬ “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Other verses for study/reflection: -2 Corinthians 5:17 -Luke 9:62 -1 Corinthians 9:24 -Genesis 19:26 -Hebrews 12:1-2

Pressing On "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14 The day after Christmas can feel like one big letdown. ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:10-14‬‬ I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. What we need most is a 'divine reset'. As our outlook shifts, so does our goal. Our ultimate direction is directly impacted by our day-to-day perspective. We must acknowledge the 'not yet' reality of life here on earth (verse 13). -No matter how much we long for good things, exciting things, fulfillment, wholeness, and completeness, we are living in a reality where it will always be "not yet". -We shouldn't be totally shocked by the disappointment we feel. It's actually to be expected. -We also see the hope in these words. Paul didn't say "I will not", but rather "not yet". -It will happen, it will come pass, it will be completed. It's "not yet" but it is coming. "I press on to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." (verse 14) -Paul says this is the one thing. As we shift our perspective, we become focused on this one thing: pressing on. -And what is the goal? To win the prize. And what is the prize? Heaven. -I am pressing on in spite of opposition, in spite of difficulty, in spite of disappointment. Why? Because this kingdom is not my home. ‭‭John‬ ‭14:1-4‬‬ “Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God ; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.” -Jesus doesn’t just tell us not to let our heart be troubled, He gives us a very specific reason why not. -Why not? Because He is preparing a place. A place to experience His fullness & His peace. -If Paul speaks of the "not yet" reality of life on earth, then Jesus is speaking of the final fulfillment of that longing. ‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭43:18-19‬‬ “Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland. Other verses for study/reflection: -2 Corinthians 5:17 -Luke 9:62 -1 Corinthians 9:24 -Genesis 19:26 -Hebrews 12:1-2

Newborn King: No Room Two thousand years ago there was no room for the Savior. Can the same be said of us today? When it comes to your heart, where is Jesus this Christmas Eve? Safe at home? Or out back in a shed somewhere? ‭‭Luke‬ ‭2:1-6‬‬ In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, With everything else God arranged for the birth of the Savior of the world – -generations of prophecies promising His arrival -the angels carrying out missions -the magi searching the sky -Mary’s pregnancy -Joseph’s dream Why couldn’t/didn’t God arrange for a place for Jesus to be born? The fact is, God did arrange a place…a manger. God did arrange the first rejection of the Savior just before His birth. And a visible reminder of the rejection that would happen again and again, even today. Do you have room today for Jesus? "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Christina Rossetti What can I give Him, poor as I am? If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb; If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part; Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.