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...
When reading through the Scriptures, one of the things that becomes clear is that there is a great gap between the world's values and God's values. One area where this is particularly notable is in the way we view and treat those who are poor....
Our gut instinct has always been to pin the blame of our sin on forces outside of us, things outside of our control. But the reality is that our greatest challenges are internal, not external-caused by the enemy of indwelling sin within us. Temptation appeals...
What does it mean to be not only defined by Scripture, but truly have our lives directed by Scripture as well? That's the question James has in mind in these verses as he connects the importance of not only listening to God's Word but living...
Living in expectation of God's reward is vital for every believer who hopes to endure to the finish line of their life's race. But this critical piece of the Christian life goes hand-in-hand with looking to God for his goodness, wisdom, and help in times...
At Grace Church, we strive to be believers who are defined and directed by Scripture. As a result, one of the things that distinguishes our church is our commitment to teaching through books of the Bible verse-by-verse, exposing the truth God has for us in...
“This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ…” — James 1:1 In these few words, James, the author of the book which bears his name, introduces himself in a simple and nondescript fashion. Unlike some other New Testament letters,...
Through the writing of James, the Holy Spirit seeks to challenge the preconceived notions that fill our mind. As we study James 1:9-11, this passage is just one example of Scripture's power to challenge and reverse our thinking and values in favor of God's thinking...
As a church, we've learned a lot about death over these last 6 weeks- how we should look at death as gain, embrace aging and suffering, the importance of grieving, and how to live our lives in light of our future death. It's been a...
This past weekend as we wrapped up our winter series, "A Theology of Death," Matt briefly talked about what happens after we die and the intermediate state as well as Jesus' return and the new heaven and new earth. We showed this graphic during the service...
This past weekend, we wrapped up our winter series, A Theology of Death. Along the way, there was a great deal of content to take in from the various teachings. We learned that rather than being a great unmentionable, death provides us opportunity to glean...
Hope is a glorious grace to which blessed effects are ascribed in the Scriptures, and is effective in the support and consolation of believers. By it, are we purified, sanctified, saved; to sum up the whole of its excellency and efficacy, it is a principal...
In today’s society, it seems increasingly difficult to find people with true integrity — people who actually do what they say they will do. And that doesn’t just go for the culture at large, but even reflects in some measure the condition of the church...
Losing someone you love can be difficult. You may feel like there aren't many people who can understand the deep hurt you currently feel. This can be a confusing time when you feel isolated and have many questions about things you've never faced before. If you've...
"A good reputation is more valuable than costly perfume; and the day you die is better than the day you are born" (Eccles. 7:1). The day of a godly man's death is better than the day of his birth. This is as contrary as possible...
In the course of the last one hundred years, perhaps no one has had a more profound impact on our culture’s understanding and treatment of grief than researcher and psychiatrist Elisabeth Kübler-Ross. Having researched the grieving process through the experience of family members and patients...
Bereavement is a universal experience. Grieving is not a fault or a problem; it is a healthy process. Cultures accept it as normal, creating mourning rituals to help people deal with death. Christians, like others, should expect to grieve, just as godly people in biblical...
Comfort is not desirable only as it pleases us, but also as it strengthens us, and helps us in our greatest duties. And when is it more needful than in sickness, and the approach of death? I shall therefore add such directions as are necessary...
You who are in Christ, who are true Christians, have hope in your end. And such a great hope that it may comfort you against all those fears which arise from the consideration of your dying hour. Case 1: Some believers say, “The idea of death...
Death is ours — and for our good. It does us more good than all the friends we have in the world. It determines and ends all our misery and sin; and it is the suburbs of heaven. It lets us into those joys above. But...
Since every one of us must one day depart this world, we must turn our eyes to God — for it is towards God that the path of death ultimately leads and directs us. Here we find the beginning of the narrow gate and of...
A homeless man stops you on the sidewalk and asks you for money. He says he has three kids that are going to go hungry tonight if he doesn’t get enough money to feed them. The reality is he looks terrible and smells like alcohol....