"Things that Are Certain in an Uncertain Life"
We continue in our study of the book of James with this week's message, "Things that Are Certain in an Uncertain Life." Our text will be from James 4:13-17.As a part of our worship time this Sunday, I also will be making a 2013 Missions & Ministry Presentation and I will share some thoughts on the upcoming election. This section of the service will conclude with a special prayer time for our nation. Join us this Sunday!
James 4:13-17, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
13 Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will travel to such and such a city and spend a year there and do business and make a profit.”
14 You don’t even know what tomorrow will bring—what your life will be! For you are like smoke that appears for a little while, then vanishes.
15 Instead, you should say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”
16 But as it is, you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
17 So it is a sin for the person who knows to do what is good and doesn’t do it.
Wednesday Night, October 31st
Although some of our ministries will not take place this Wednesday, there will still be a prayer time for the adults at 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary and our youth will be having a special evening of activities at 7:00 p.m.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Sunday, October 14, 2012
Sunday's Sermon Text, October 21, 2012
Join us this Sunday as we continue in our series from the book of James. This week's text is James 4:1-10. As you reflect on this passage, consider the following questions:
1. What is the source of strife in our relationships? In our world?
2. What is the key to contentment and receiving from the Lord?
3. How do we as believers live in the world without becoming just like the world?
4. What is the nature of biblical repentance, the kind of repentance that James seems to be calling for in this passage?
See You Sunday!
For His Glory
Pastor Joe
James 4:1-10, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you?
2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.
4 Adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.
5 Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously?
6 But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
7 Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
1. What is the source of strife in our relationships? In our world?
2. What is the key to contentment and receiving from the Lord?
3. How do we as believers live in the world without becoming just like the world?
4. What is the nature of biblical repentance, the kind of repentance that James seems to be calling for in this passage?
See You Sunday!
For His Glory
Pastor Joe
James 4:1-10, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 What is the source of wars and fights among you? Don’t they come from the cravings that are at war within you?
2 You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask.
3 You ask and don’t receive because you ask with wrong motives, so that you may spend it on your evil desires.
4 Adulteresses! Don’t you know that friendship with the world is hostility toward God? So whoever wants to be the world’s friend becomes God’s enemy.
5 Or do you think it’s without reason the Scripture says that the Spirit who lives in us yearns jealously?
6 But He gives greater grace. Therefore He says: God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
7 Therefore, submit to God. But resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
8 Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!
9 Be miserable and mourn and weep. Your laughter must change to mourning and your joy to sorrow.
10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will exalt you.
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Sermon Text for Sunday, October 14, 2012
The sermon text for this Sunday, October 14, 2012 will be James 3:1-12. James gave more attention to the dangers of the tongue than any other New Testament writer. Here in this passage is a vivid description of the problems and the power of the tongue. James warns us, "Don't let your tongue be your undoing!"
While the tongue can certainly be used for evil purposes, the tongue controlled by the Spirit of God is life-giving. Join us this Sunday as we discover how to unleash the power of the tongue for godly purposes.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
James 3:1-12, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment,
2 for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.
3 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal.
4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites.
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.
7 Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man,
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 We praise our Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it.
10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way.
11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
While the tongue can certainly be used for evil purposes, the tongue controlled by the Spirit of God is life-giving. Join us this Sunday as we discover how to unleash the power of the tongue for godly purposes.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
James 3:1-12, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
1 Not many should become teachers, my brothers, knowing that we will receive a stricter judgment,
2 for we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a mature man who is also able to control his whole body.
3 Now when we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we also guide the whole animal.
4 And consider ships: Though very large and driven by fierce winds, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.
5 So too, though the tongue is a small part of the body, it boasts great things. Consider how large a forest a small fire ignites.
6 And the tongue is a fire. The tongue, a world of unrighteousness, is placed among the parts of our bodies. It pollutes the whole body, sets the course of life on fire, and is set on fire by hell.
7 Every sea creature, reptile, bird, or animal is tamed and has been tamed by man,
8 but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
9 We praise our Lord and Father with it, and we curse men who are made in God’s likeness with it.
10 Praising and cursing come out of the same mouth. My brothers, these things should not be this way.
11 Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening?
12 Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine produce figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.
Monday, October 1, 2012
Sunday, October 1, 2012 Sermon Text (James 2:14-26)
We're still rejoicing over the many decisions that were made at the Seventh Day Slumber concert this past Saturday. What a blessing to see God move in the hearts and lives of so many people. The altar was full of people meeting with God!
This Sunday morning we will return to our study of the book of James. At the 10:30 a.m. service we will be conducting a baptism service and in both morning services we will be hearing about the good work of Kairos, a ministry to the woman at the Louisiana Correctional Institute.
James 2:14-26, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.
20 Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?
21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.
23 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 And in the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
This Sunday morning we will return to our study of the book of James. At the 10:30 a.m. service we will be conducting a baptism service and in both morning services we will be hearing about the good work of Kairos, a ministry to the woman at the Louisiana Correctional Institute.
James 2:14-26, Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)
14 What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can his faith save him?
15 If a brother or sister is without clothes and lacks daily food
16 and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you don’t give them what the body needs, what good is it?
17 In the same way faith, if it doesn’t have works, is dead by itself.
18 But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without works, and I will show you faith from my works.
19 You believe that God is one; you do well. The demons also believe—and they shudder.
20 Foolish man! Are you willing to learn that faith without works is useless?
21 Wasn’t Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar?
22 You see that faith was active together with his works, and by works, faith was perfected.
23 So the Scripture was fulfilled that says, Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him for righteousness, and he was called God’s friend.
24 You see that a man is justified by works and not by faith alone.
25 And in the same way, wasn’t Rahab the prostitute also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by a different route?
26 For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.
For His Glory!
Pastor Joe
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