Introduction

 

For the next couple of months, we are going to read through the book of James. This service is an introduction to the topics found in James, and the entire first chapter is threaded throughout this worship service. James is full of pithy proverbs, one-liners, and stark comparisons between faithfulness and worldliness. I look forward to worshiping with you as we explore the scripture together.

 

Scripture Reading James 1:2-4 (CEB)

 

 

Call to Worship

 

O God from whom every gift derives,
we gather to worship You this day.
You are an awesome God,
greater than our comprehension or our imagination.
You are beyond any word we could ever use to describe You.
And yet, through Jesus, we know the intimacy of Your vast love.

 

We have come to You in thanksgiving and praise,
to know that You are God
and to place our lives anew into Your perspective.
Enlarge our vision this hour with Your Word.
Instill in us, again,
Your hope in place of our despair,
Your peace where our hatred threatens,
Your joy amidst our depression,
Your love overwhelming our apathy.

 

May Your Holy Spirit surround
and indwell this congregation now,
and forevermore.
In Jesus we pray. Amen.

 

Scripture Reading James 1:5-8 (CEB)

 

 

Song – Hymn – Be Thou My vision, Audrey Assad

 

Scripture Reading James 1:9-11 (CEB)

 

 

Prayer of Intercession by Rick Morley

 

Father of Light, from whom comes every perfect gift,
hear our prayers which we offer fervently to you,
and in the name of our glorious Lord Jesus Christ.

 

We pray for the church,
that we might show forth our faith in action,
regard all with impartiality,
and be quick to listen and slow to anger.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

 

We pray for all nations,
that whenever trials may befalll,
that God may grant all endurance and wisdom.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

 

We pray for the world,
that the lowly may be raised up,
and that mercy may fall on us all.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

 

We pray for the sick, the injured, the vulnerable,
and those undergoing all forms of adversity,
that they might all be raised up; especially ______.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

 

We pray for those celebrating this week, especially ____.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

 

We pray for those who have died, especially ____,
that they would draw near to God, and that God would draw near to them.
Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.

 

Gracious God,
let our prayers be offered to you
with the gentleness that is born from your wisdom from above,
that is pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, and full of mercy. Amen.

 

Scripture Reading James 1:12-18 (CEB)

12  Those who stand firm during testing are blessed. They are tried and true. They will receive the life God has promised to those who love him as their reward. 13  No one who is tested should say, “God is tempting me!” This is because God is not tempted by any form of evil, nor does he tempt anyone.  14  Everyone is tempted by their own cravings; they are lured away and enticed by them.  15  Once those cravings conceive, they give birth to sin; and when sin grows up, it gives birth to death. 16  Don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters.  17  Every good gift, every perfect gift, comes from above. These gifts come down from the Father, the creator of the heavenly lights, in whose character there is no change at all.  18  He chose to give us birth by his true word, and here is the result: we are like the first crop from the harvest of everything he created.

 

Song – Hymn – For the Beauty of the Earth

 

Scripture Reading James 1:19-27 (CEB)

19  Know this, my dear brothers and sisters: everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to grow angry.  20  This is because an angry person doesn’t produce God’s righteousness.  21  Therefore, with humility, set aside all moral filth and the growth of wickedness, and welcome the word planted deep inside you—the very word that is able to save you. 22  You must be doers of the word and not only hearers who mislead themselves. 23  Those who hear but don’t do the word are like those who look at their faces in a mirror.  24  They look at themselves, walk away, and immediately forget what they were like.  25  But there are those who study the perfect law, the law of freedom, and continue to do it. They don’t listen and then forget, but they put it into practice in their lives. They will be blessed in whatever they do. 26  If those who claim devotion to God don’t control what they say, they mislead themselves. Their devotion is worthless.  27  True devotion, the kind that is pure and faultless before God the Father, is this: to care for orphans and widows in their difficulties and to keep the world from contaminating us.

 

Sermon Video

 

Questions for Reflection

vv2-4 Life’s trials produce endurance

Are the trials of life God ordained or the product of evil? Does James really mean for our kneejerk response to trials to be joy? How do we accomplish that? Are people who suffer, or experience a more trying life, more likely to have a better understanding of Christian discipleship?

 

vv5-8 God gives wisdom to those who ask in faith

If wisdom is freely given by God to all who ask, why isn’t there more consensus in the Christian faith? Shouldn’t we all share the same beliefs if God is doling wisdom out to us whenever we ask?

Is doubt really all that bad? What is the connection between faith and doubt? Can a person be faithful even f they doubt?

 

vv9-11 Poverty can force us to trust God – wealth will pass away

If being poor is a high status, should Christians become intentionally poor? If wealth fades and withers like a flower, should we pursue it? How much is enough? Is there a salary threshold that Christians should aim for?

 

vv12-18 God is generous and gives us new birth through Jesus

Is our reward for standing firm eternal or for this world? Both?

If God doesn’t tempt, are all our trials self-induced?

Should I purposely put myself into tempting situations in order to stand firm and receive more reward?

Do I recognize that every single good thing in my life is from God? How would my life be different if I never lost awareness of all of God’s good gifts to me?

 

vv19-27 Don’t just listen, but do God’s word. Jesus freed us to love God and neighbor

We live in a time where people are constantly angry. Protestors, police officers, politicians, professors, pastors and the general public are consistently angry. When we are angry, are we able to witness to Christ? If an angry person cannot produce God’s righteousness, who can? Who are the most righteous people in your life right now? Are they often angry?

What is one of your current practices of Christianity? When you think of Christianity, do you think of a belief system or a behavior system? Which is more important? Why?

Currently, how do you show your devotion to God? Does it align with James’ summary of true devotion to God?

 

Benediction by Nathan Nettleton

Go out, and be doers of the Word.
Cleanse your hearts of all pollution,
be quick to listen and learn,
welcome the Word that God implants in you,
and bring it to birth in acts of righteousness and compassion.

 

And may God pour grace upon you and bless you forever;
May Christ Jesus reveal to you the truth of God’s ways;
and may the Holy Spirit fill your life with passion and love.
We go in peace to love and serve the Lord,
    In the name of Christ. Amen.