Relating Wisely to Others
People are great, aren’t they? Some of them, yes. But some of them are irritating, intimidating and annoying to us - if we're honest. The fact is, a lot of the problems we have in life are because of personality conflicts. We don't get along with people. James gives us some practical advice on dealing with other people - even those we don't really like. James 3:18 is a key verse,"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."James teaches us that we need to be wise in the way we act toward people. Today we will learn how Christian wisdom differs from human wisdom.
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- Oct 16, 2016Relating Wisely to OthersRelating Wisely to OthersPeople are great, aren’t they? Some of them, yes. But some of them are irritating, intimidating and annoying to us - if we're honest. The fact is, a lot of the problems we have in life are because of personality conflicts. We don't get along with people. James gives us some practical advice on dealing with other people - even those we don't really like. James 3:18 is a key verse,"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."James teaches us that we need to be wise in the way we act toward people. Today we will learn how Christian wisdom differs from human wisdom.
- Oct 9, 2016Managing Your MouthManaging Your Mouth
Jesus said in Matthew 12:34"For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." Jesus reveals in this verse that what comes out of our mouths displays what is in our hearts. Our words have an effect on the people around us, but perhaps more importantly they affect us.Our words have the power to direct the course of our lives - toward good, or toward destruction. And our mouths have the ability to praise God or praise self - to give witness to God's goodness and mercy, or to shout curses. Such a little piece of anatomy; so much influence. - Oct 2, 2016The ONE Real FaithThe ONE Real Faith
Knowledge of God’s Word both its laws and it’s promises are of no value unless that knowledge results in behavior that strives to act according to it. James tells us that the devil himself knows the word of God and even “believes” it. He even twists the word of God itself to destroy everything that God has created especially his Kingdom, the Church. God wants everyone to hear His good news about His Son, believe and become good citizens of His eternal Kingdom the Church. We gather to grow and attract many more people to come into Christ’s Kingdom of grace to hear and believe THE GOSPEL.
- Sep 25, 2016Treating People Right
- Sep 18, 2016Being Blessed by the BibleBeing Blessed by the BibleYou see someone starting to fall, and you reach out to steady them. Someone sneezes and you say "God Bless You." These are just some of the natural responses to situations that occur around us. Something happens and we are compelled to act. The Apostle James tells us that this is what must happen when we read the Word of God. We cannot just hear it and not be moved to response. The Word of God changes us. We are different because of hearing it. We are convicted. We are corrected. And we are blessed. Each person responds differently, but each person responds. How do you respond to what you read in God's Word?
- Sep 11, 2016Standing Against TemptationStanding Against TemptationThe Bible talks about two different kinds of testing. One is called trials. The other is called temptation. They come from the same Greek word in the New Testament. However, sometimes translators choose "trials," and sometimes they choose "temptations" when translating to English. It doesn't much matter because often a situation can be both a trial and a temptation. But there is a way to distinguish them. Trials are situations designed by God in order to help us grow. Temptations are situations designed by the devil in order to cause us to sin. We will learn from James how to mature in the face of both trials and temptations.
- Sep 4, 2016Making Up Your MindMaking Up Your Mind
Immediately after speaking about problems (vs. 2-4), James deals with the matter of decision-making. In Greek, the word "double-minded" literally means "two-souled" -- pulled apart in different directions, divided loyalties, divided priorities. What the Apostle James references, we've all felt. Life is full of decisions and basically is a series of choices we make every day. Failing to make a choice is a kind of choice itself. How can the believer make wise decisions? We'll learn from the Book of James... - Aug 28, 2016Profiting From Your Problems
- Aug 21, 2016In Christ Alone
- Aug 14, 2016Jesus Sees Us All – Inside Out
- Aug 7, 2016The Marks of Spiritual MaturityThe Marks of Spiritual Maturity
God's will for every person is that they grow. In Hebrews 6:1 we read: "Let us go on to maturity." In other words, God wants us to grow up. In particular, He wants us to grow in the image and likeness of His Son Jesus. And so He has given us His Word to reveal Christ to us, and to instruct us as followers of Him. That's why one of the key areas of focus at of our church is “GROW." It is our desire to help those we encounter to grow spiritually. What does spiritual maturity look like? God shows us in His Word. - Jul 31, 2016How To Pray EffectivelyHow To Pray Effectively
Often people will say that they believe in "the power of prayer." That's good; the Bible speaks frequently to the importance and effectiveness of prayer. But when a person says that, do they really mean that they believe in the power of the pray-er ... meaning, the one who does the praying? Jesus taught His disciples how to pray. But when He did, He showed that the power is not in the one praying, but rather in the One being prayed to ... namely Our Father who art in heaven. Jesus also taught His disciples that when we pray, it isn't "one and done." We can't expect that just because we've prayed for something one time that the Lord will respond. Why not? Of course, only God knows, but the Bible suggests that the process of praying does something in us as well. - Jul 24, 2016What to do when Life’s UnfairWhat to do when Life’s UnfairWe often complain that "Life's not fair!" But who ever said it should be? Not God! In fact, we really don't want God to be fair with us, do we? If we got what we deserved, we would only receive God's wrath and punishment. For the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 6:23,"the wages of sin is death." If you want to know what your works have earned you, the Bible tells you that your sin has earned you everlasting condemnation ... that is, death. This is bad news. But, there is good news that follows. Because you don't get what you have earned. No! You get better! Romans 6:23 goes on to say, "but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."Life truly is unfair! You don't get what you deserve - Christ does, as He dies on the cross. Instead, you get what Christ deserves - eternal life! Now, how shall you live your life in response to God's gracious gift?
- Jul 17, 2016Can Faith Move Mountains?
- Jul 10, 2016Who Will Escape Judgment?Who Will Escape Judgment?
This week, Jesus has some sobering words about the Kingdom of Heaven. He teaches us in the "Parable of the Wheat and the Weeds" that there is not only good seed being sown in His harvest field, but there is also bad seed being sown by His enemy. What do we do about this? Do we fight fire with fire and harm those who appear to belong to the enemy? Jesus says, "No." In so doing we might judge incorrectly and end up harming His children as well. Abigail Van Buren (Dear Abby columnist) would agree. She once said, “People who fight fire with fire usually end up with ashes.” So what is to become of the wickedness that is being sown around us? Jesus answers this in today's parable.