James 1:2-4

 

Our outreach pastor preached today instead of our lead pastor, who could use some prayers for healing. 

 

This week, we start a new series about living our faith out in real life (IRL). 

 

Background on James

Author: James, the half-brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem church

Audience: Jewish Christians scattered by persecution

Genre: Wisdom Letter (Proverbs of the New Testament)

Theme: Real Faith Shows Up in Real Life

 

This week, we'll see James give us an impossible command to follow: when you face trials, don't just survive them, celebrate them. Experiencing trials is a source of joy because they help us grow, Faith gets tested, not to destroy, but to develop. Mike Tyson once said, “Everybody has a plan until they get punched in the mouth.” We like to have our lives planned out and we often think we’re doing it right and trusting God. Then we get tested and learn some things about ourselves and our faith. 

 

Three things trials do: 

  1. Trials reveal who we trust. … We all experience different trials, but they all are meant to help us grow and develop and purify our faith. Sometimes, we think we are trusting in God, but then we go through a trial and learn that we were actually trusting in something else. 
  2. Testing produces what nothing else can. … James tells us that trials transform us, producing endurance. And that endurance helps us to mature. Having spiritual maturity isn't the same as having all the answers. We will never have that. However spiritual maturity is trusting in God regardless of the circumstances. 
  3. The goal is completeness, not comfort. … James addressed his letter to some refugees who had nothing. Here he tells them that the endurance gained through trials will help make them complete and lacking nothing. James isn't saying it will be easy, but that trusting God through the trials will transform into the people they were always meant to be. 

 

Three ways your faith can show up in real life this week: 

  1. Write down one area of our life you haven;t trusted God with
  2. Spend time asking God what He wants to grow in you through trials. 
  3. Send a simple message to someone hurting this week. 

 

Below, is what I believe were to be the notes before the pastor swap for this sermon. 

 

Four things to remember when life doesn’t go your way: 

  1. Hard times are a sure thing (v. 2). … 
  2. Joy is still possible (v. 2). … 
  3. God is strengthening your faith (v. 3). … 
  4. God is growing you into who you were meant to be (v. 4). … 

 

For Further Study/Resources Used to Prepare This Message

  • James by David Platt (Christ-Centered Exposition)
  • The Letter of James by Douglas J. Moo (Pillar)
  • James by Craig Blomberg & Mariam Kamell (Zondervan)
  • James: Faith That Works by R. Kent Hughes (Crossway)
  • Don’t Waste Your Sorrows by Paul David Tripp
  • Trusting God by Jerry Bridges
  • BibleProject — “James Overview” video