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...
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....
1 My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others? 2 For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in...
21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your...
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...
10 When you have eaten your fill, be sure to praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. 11 “But that is the time to be careful! Beware that in your plenty you do not forget the Lord your God and...
Trials and suffering are common topics throughout the Bible, and this weekend we continued to look at James and what he has to say about living through the trials and temptations. In James 1:12-18, we see the importance of enduring through the trials and acknowledging...
19 Too much talk leads to sin. Be sensible and keep your mouth shut. Proverbs 15:1-4 1 A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare. 2 The tongue of the wise makes knowledge appealing, but the mouth of a fool belches out foolishness. 3 The Lord is watching everywhere, keeping...
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...
19 Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. 20 Human anger does not produce the righteousness God desires. 21 So get rid of all the filth and evil in your...
Effective Prayer 7 “Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who...
24 Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win! 25 All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for...
Circumstance is volatile and unpredictable, giving people both poverty and prosperity in unequal measures. Can real satisfaction and security be found in something that is ever-changing? James calls Christians to consider instead their future hope in the Gospel and to lay hold of it by...
Another Warning about Immoral Women 1 Follow my advice, my son; always treasure my commands. 2 Obey my commands and live! Guard my instructions as you guard your own eyes. 3 Tie them on your fingers as a reminder. Write them deep within your heart. 4 Love wisdom like a sister; make insight...
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...
12 God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. 13 And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never...
Parable of the Rich Fool 13 Then someone called from the crowd, “Teacher, please tell my brother to divide our father’s estate with me.” 14 Jesus replied, “Friend, who made me a judge over you to decide such things as that?” 15 Then he said, “Beware! Guard...
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...
The Futility of Wealth 8 Don’t be surprised if you see a poor person being oppressed by the powerful and if justice is being miscarried throughout the land. For every official is under orders from higher up, and matters of justice get lost in red tape...
“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,...