WHY THE CHURCH MATTERS

 

James: Real Life

WHY THE CHURCH MATTERS

James 5:13-20

 

 

GOD’S PLACE IN THE WORLD

 

             Matthew 16:18                Acts 2:42-47          I Peter 4:17-18

 

 

– If it smells rotten, it probably is!

 

WE ALL NEED….

Ephesians 5:8-21 Galatians 6:2-5 Proverbs 28:13

1 John 1:5-9

 

 

–  A place where we are genuinely known, lovingly supported, and honestly challenged.

 

THE PRAYER OFFERED IN FAITH

James: Real Life

THE PRAYER OFFERED IN FAITH

James 5:13-18

 

Just like Elijah?

 

             James 5:13-18                1 Kings 16:18

 

             –  Faith matters, feelings don’t!

 

  

Three tips for understanding prayer:

 

Prayers is:

 

–  Defined by the whole book, not just a few verses.

 

 

–  More about connecting with God, than getting from God.

  

 

–  An act of obedience, more than desperation!

 

WHEN LIFE’S NOT FAIR

James: Real Life

WHEN LIFE’S NOT FAIR

James 5:1-12

 

 

A WORD TO THE RICH

             James 5:1-6

  

             It’s not a problem in being wealthy, it’s a problem when we use our wealth to oppress the poor.

 

  

A WORD TO THE POOR

James 5:7-12          Romans 15:4           Genesis 50:20

 

  –  We need to skip to the end of the story.

 

–  We need to flip through the rest of the story.

 

PLANNING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

James: Real Life

PLANNING THE REST OF YOUR LIFE

James 4:13-17

 

 

WHAT IS YOUR LIFE?

             James 4:13-17             Luke 12:13-34            Philippians 3:18-21          1 Peter 2:11-12            1 John 2:15-17

 

 

  1. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, today is.

 

  1. Plan with God in the equation.

 

  1. God doesn’t want to be just an appointment in you schedule, but the agenda for your day.

 

 

 

HOW TO PLAN “HIS” LIFE

Luke 12:28-34

 

  1. It’s an issue of faith and ownership.

 

 

  1. Plan with God’s kingdom in mind, not ours.

 

LIVING WISELY

James: Real Life

LIVING WISELY

James 3:13-4:12

 

 

LIVING IN THE “SHOW-ME” STATE

             James 3:13

 

 

             –  Wisdom is shown by a good life and deeds done in humility. 

 

COME NEAR TO GOD

James 4:7-12 

 

–  Draw close to the shepherd and the wolf will leave.

 

WHY THE GOLDEN RULE STILL MATTERS

James: Real Life

WHY THE GOLDEN RULE STILL MATTERS

James 2:1-9

THE PASSAGE

 

HOW GOD SEES US

 

1.  We are equal in sin.

 

2.  We are equal in salvation.

 

3.  We are equal in worth.

 

 

TAKE IT HOME

RESPONDING TO THE MIRROR

 

James: Real Life

RESPONDING TO THE MIRROR

James 1:21-27

 

A QUICK LOOK: How to be blessed in all you do.

             James 1:21-27

 

  1. Clean out the crud.

 

  1. Humbly receive God’s Word.

 

  1. Do what it says.

 

DON’T BE DECEIVED BY…

James 1:22      1 Corinthians 4:4      Romans 10:2-3           Matthew 3:8-10

 

  1. A clear conscience.

 

  1. Enthusiasm and zeal

 

  1. Spiritual Heritage

 

  1. Ritual and ceremony

 

A RIGHT RESPONSE

James 1:27

 

–  Helping the needy and keeping yourself unstained by the world.

 

TEMPER, TEMPER

James: Real Life

TEMPER, TEMPER!

James 1:19-21

 

LISTEN MORE

 James 1:19-21

 

             –  Listen to understand, not to be understood.

 

  

TALK LESS

 Proverbs 29:20           Proverbs 10:19

 

           –  Our flesh responds quicker than the Spirit.

 

 

 CALM DOWN

 

Proverbs 12:16           Proverbs 19:11          Proverbs 20:3         Romans 12:17-21

 

           –  Sure, you were born “that way”, but nowyou are born again.

 

HOW TO TACKLE TEMPTATION

James: Real Life

HOW TO TACKLE TEMPTATION

James 1:12-18

 

THE TRUTH ABOUT TEMPTATION

             James 1:12-18                Matthew 4:1-11

 

             – It is inevitable.

 

– It is not a sin to be tempted. It is a sin to give in to temptation.

 

 

DEALING WITH A TEMPTATION

 

James 1:13-16           1 John 2:16        1 Corinthians 10:13          2 Timothy 2:22

 

–  Stop playing the blame game.

 

–  Run!

 

REMEMBER

James 1:15           Genesis 2: 16-17, 3:1-3           1 John 8-10

 

–  It can lead to spiritual death.

 

–  Our failure need not be final.

 

 

THE SELF WORTH STRUGGLE

James: Real Life

THE SELF-WORTH STRUGGLE

James 1:9-12

 

FINDING OUR WORTH

              

             James 1:9-11

 

  1. Remember you are a child of the King.

  

  1. Remember you are a wildflower.

 

  

THREE PRINCIPLES

 

  1. Our wealth can distort our self-perception.

 

Luke 6:20 Matthew 19:23         James 2:5

 

 

  1. Our wealth should never determine our worth.

James 1:9-10

 

 

  1. Our worth comes from the next world.

 

Luke 16:19-31 1 Timothy 6:17-19