This weekend we took a look at what James has to say on taming the tongue. James begins chapter 3 by addressing teachers and reminding readers that those who teach are judged with a greater strictness. James doesn’t say this to scare people away from...
1 These are the proverbs of Solomon, David’s son, king of Israel. 2 Their purpose is to teach people wisdom and discipline, to help them understand the insights of the wise. 3 Their purpose is to teach people to live disciplined and successful lives, to help them do what...
When you think of the word wisdom, what comes to mind first? Is there someone in your life that you consider to be wise and understanding? In this section of his letter, James distinguishes the wisdom that comes from God from the wisdom the world...
13 If you are wise and understand God’s ways, prove it by living an honorable life, doing good works with the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you are bitterly jealous and there is selfish ambition in your heart, don’t cover up the...
“A whole world of wickedness” — that’s how James describes the tongue in his infamous section on our trouble with words. But what does that mean practically? For the Bible here to claim the tongue to be a whole world of wickedness, certainly it would...
33 “A tree is identified by its fruit. If a tree is good, its fruit will be good. If a tree is bad, its fruit will be bad. 34 You brood of snakes! How could evil men like you speak what is good and right?...
1 And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice—the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship...
This past weekend we as a church celebrated Easter, a holiday that celebrates Jesus’ resurrection from the grave. Resurrection Sunday is the most significant day in our Christian faith. It’s a day that marks the destruction of both death and the curse of sin. But...
18 Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing. Proverbs 18:21 21 The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences. Proverbs 21:23 23 Watch your tongue and keep your mouth shut, and you will stay out of trouble....
"Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Ouch. Jesus' words from Matthew 12 apply just as much to us as they did to the Pharisees who first heard them- perhaps even more so. Our sinful hearts make it tricky to navigate communication...
1 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. 2 Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also...
This week Matt Williams led us through the second half of chapter two as we continued our series through the book of James. Following his treatise on partiality, James once again assumes the role of a lawyer to make his next argument. The basic idea here,...
Living in Kenya, I've experienced varying levels of homesickness. My feelings towards home have felt a bit like a roller coaster- with moments of exhilarating excitement in my new surroundings, times when my stomach drops suddenly and feelings of loneliness and longing rush me downward,...
Each year as spring comes into bloom, families & friends come together and the world takes a break from the busyness of life to celebrate the Easter season. As Christians, this time is especially sweet for us as we get to come together and celebrate...
13 “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way. 14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only...
21 But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. 22 We are made right with God by placing our...
This weekend we continued to look at the teachings of James. In the beginning of chapter 2, James is addressing the sin of partiality, which can also be described as “judging according to value.” This passage is a brief aside, wedged in between two sections...
25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?” 26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?” 27 The man answered, “‘You...
Integrity. It's the state of being whole or undivided, having a thorough consistency throughout. It's about more than just honesty- it's about conduct, direction, and action. You could define integrity quite simply as "doing what you say you will do." So what does it mean...
14 What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? 15 Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, 16 and...
21 Then Peter came to him and asked, “Lord, how often should I forgive someone who sins against me? Seven times?” 22 “No, not seven times,” Jesus replied, “but seventy times seven! 23 “Therefore, the Kingdom of Heaven can be compared to a king who decided to...
17 “Don’t misunderstand why I have come. I did not come to abolish the law of Moses or the writings of the prophets. No, I came to accomplish their purpose. 18 I tell you the truth, until heaven and earth disappear, not even the smallest...
Though we may claim to believe in the truth of Scripture, if it does not shape the way that we live on a daily basis, we are merely fooling ourselves. James warns Christians to be doers of the Word and not just listeners. He begins...
19 Why, then, was the law given? It was given alongside the promise to show people their sins. But the law was designed to last only until the coming of the child who was promised. God gave his law through angels to Moses, who was...
James 1:14-15 14 Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. 15 These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. If we put these 2 verses on a continuum it would...