Month: July 2009

Horizontal Chart of James   Key Section: 2-14-20, “Faith…if it is not accompanied by action, is dead…”   1:1 1:2-18 1:19-4:12 4:13-17 5:1-6 5:7-12 5:13-20 Salutation How faith is developed/matured How faith is to be expressed in words and in action How faith impacts our present and future How wealth impacts our present and future...

Imagine you grew up in the same house as Jesus. He was your older brother. You played games with Him—like kick the dirt clod, and hide and seek. What a frustration it would be to play hide and seek with Him—He would always win, because He always knew where you were!

Remember when you were little, how you used to get hurt? How many of you have permanent scars on your body from childhood injuries? I got in a lot of scrapes, and have the scars to prove it; I wasn't very careful and was a little too adventuresome for my own good.

It is difficult to say no to temptation, but long-term effects follow if we yield to a lot of little temptations. When we are tempted to sin, we don't always see the short- and long-term consequences. We slowly but surely spend the good resources in our life on things that will ultimately leave us depleted emotionally, physically and spiritually. Some of you today may have even totally spent your resources and all you have left are some worthless items.

I read once of a teacher who quizzed a group of college-bound juniors and seniors in preparation for a "Bible as Literature" course. He planned to teach in one of the better high schools in our nation. The results revealed what we all know: our nation is biblically illiterate.

James 2:1-13

• How important is it that we treat new people in our services with respect, honor, love and mercy?
• How important is it that we look beyond their outward appearance?
• What would happen if everyone who came felt love and were shown mercy, not judgment?
• How does my greeting others affect my own standing with God?

James 2:14-26

"One Sunday morning all the ducks came into the church, waddled down the aisle and into their pews, and squatted. Then the duck minister took his place behind the pulpit, opened the duck Bible and read, 'Ducks! You have wings, and with wings you can fly like eagles. You can soar into the sky! Use your wings!' All the ducks yelled 'Amen!' and they all waddled home."