Fellowshipmtz

Peace, Patience, and Grumbling

James 5:7-12

Today we bring together what James now says about "grumbling" (5:9) with what he has already said about the tongue (3:8-11), peaceable wisdom (3:17-18) and conflict (4:1-2).

Patient Waiting (Is So Hard!)

James 5:7-11

“Consider the hour-glass; there is nothing to be accomplished by rattling or shaking; you have to wait patiently until the sand, grain by grain, has run from one funnel into the other.”
— John Christian Morgenstern  (? — ?)

 

Social Justice and the Gospel (Part 3 of 3)

James 5:1-11

The first 21 minutes (or so) are devoted to INTERPRETATION (the original context); the remainder of the message is devoted to APPLICATION (if the sins of HOARDING, UNJUST TREATMENT, SELF-INDULGENCE are wrong for unbelievers, how much more should BELIEVERS avoid these same behavioral sins and attitudes?)

Social Justice and the Gospel (Part 2)

James 5:1-6

Today's teaching delves in to the nuts & bolts of the subject at hand.  Admittedly, not everyone will agree with every point -- that's (probably) okay.  Consider this quote from The Interpreter's Bible (1957 - slightly altered) :

How did it happen that the religion of the Bible, which is so [intensely] concerned with the establishment of just and compassionate human relationships, became in the course of its European development [almost exclusively] interested in what happens on the other side of the grave?

 

Social Justice and the Gospel (Part 1)

James 5:1-6

Today's message lays the groundwork for next Sunday's exegesis (study) of the James text.

E.S. Woods, in 1927, wrote: "Those who, faced by the sin and sorrow of the world, can only say, 'Wait for heaven,' have no gospel for our generation, nor are they true to the mind of Christ.  Equally unhelpful are those at the other end who look only to cleaner drains, higher wages, and better houses.  Change of environment and change of heart are two parts of one great process, and to work for either change in isolation from the other is bad sociology, bad psychology, and bad religion."

Excuses and Sins of Omission

Luke 14:1-24 and James 4:17

In Luke 14 Jesus tells a parable demonstrating the pitiful excuses that are sometimes (often?) given for NOT rightfully centering our lives upon the things we SAY we prize, value.  In James 4:17, James adds that failure to do what is known to be right are no less sins than the more recognizable sins of commission.

Presumptuous Planning & Arrogant Boasting

James 4:13-16

Especially important is understanding what James advises we OUGHT to say, "If the Lord wills" -- I think that phrase means much more than is usually realized.

Futility of Life, GOD, and Salvation

Psalm 39!

From our normal series in James (chapter 4:13-17), we are departing to consider David's take on the subjects of humility, the vanity of life, God, and salvation.  A TERRIFIC insight on the last verse of the psalm was taken from Erling C. Olsen's (1896-1966) "Meditations in the Book of Psalms".

Humility of the Mouth

James 4:10-12

James applies the emphasized principle of humility in verses 6-10 to what we SAY about others (though modern day social media did not exist in the first century, I am confident James would want us to examine our posts and tweets in light of his warning).  To "speak evil against" is to "judge".  To "judge" is to cease being a doer of the law by making oneself equal with GOD (at least in respect to judgment).

A Church Glad & Rejoicing!

James 4:9 with Nehemiah 8

Stop! To get the most from this message, go back and listen to the previous week's message, "A Church Mourning & Weeping".  After gaining an appreciation for why and when the church ought to mourn, today's message turns a "180" as we consider Ezra's admonition, "This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep."