JAME PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR TODAY - Favoritism (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached on May 3, 2015, at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI)

Favoritism eats at the foundation of any organization.  Favoritism destroys the fabric that makes up the church.  Favoritism mocks the lavish grace of our God toward all humanity.

Favoritism is a real problem for the Church.

Favored status of members is often a turnoff for people who are not part of the organization.  The "club" mentality of any group has a negative impact upon outsiders.  Class distinction by way of favored status stifles the vitality of the Kingdom.

I often refer to our congregation as family.  For anyone who has grown up in families with the "favorite" dynamic, you know damaging that is to the entire family system.

Love should favor all, not just some.  Love prevails.

JAMES: PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR TODAY - Equality in the Church (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached on May 3, 2015, at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI)

New Living Translation

A Warning against Prejudice

1My dear brothers and sisters,^a how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?

2For example, suppose someone comes into your meeting^b dressed in fancy clothes and expensive jewelry, and another comes in who is poor and dressed in dirty clothes. 3If you give special attention and a good seat to the rich person, but you say to the poor one, “You can stand over there, or else sit on the floor”—well, 4doesn’t this discrimination show that your judgments are guided by evil motives?

5Listen to me, dear brothers and sisters. Hasn’t God chosen the poor in this world to be rich in faith? Aren’t they the ones who will inherit the Kingdom he promised to those who love him? 6But you dishonor the poor! Isn’t it the rich who oppress you and drag you into court? 7Aren’t they the ones who slander Jesus Christ, whose noble name^c you bear?

8Yes indeed, it is good when you obey the royal law as found in the Scriptures: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”^d 9But if you favor some people over others, you are committing a sin. You are guilty of breaking the law.

10For the person who keeps all of the laws except one is as guilty as a person who has broken all of God’s laws. 11For the same God who said, “You must not commit adultery,” also said, “You must not murder.”^e So if you murder someone but do not commit adultery, you have still broken the law.

12So whatever you say or whatever you do, remember that you will be judged by the law that sets you free. 13There will be no mercy for those who have not shown mercy to others. But if you have been merciful, God will be merciful when he judges you.  James 2:1-13

JAMES: PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR TODAY - Interpersonal Communication 101 (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on April 26, 2015)

"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this:  Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, . . ."  (James 1:19).

Enough said.

JAMES: PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR TODAY - Living Proof (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI, on April 26, 2015)

Good advice.   When is the last time you listened to a good piece of advice?  Did you heed the warnings, accept the challenge, understand the nuance?

James offers great advice to his readers about living our lives in this world.  He stretches between listening, anger, getting rid of moral filth, doing the Word, controlling our mouths, and true religion.

How well will you listen to this advice?  What is the most important part of receiving sound advice?

JAMES: PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR TODAY - Trials and Temptations (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached on April 19, 2015 at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI)

I have always been fascinated by why people write what they do.  Why does James link trials and temptations in almost the same thought?  Does he see temptation as part of the testing that helps us become "mature and complete, not lacking anything."  If so, should our outlook on temptation change?

Most of us (understandably so) would prefer to stay away from temptation.  Should we take a new approach to temptation by seeing the opportunity in the midst of the curse.  I am not advocating creating scenarios where we encounter temptation, but I am pressing the manner in which we understand the reality of temptation.

I want temptation no more than I want trials, but there is a benefit to both.  My maturity and growth are connected to these terrible t's.  I may not want them, but I may need them.  I may pray they would never come upon me, but I must see what God is doing in the midst of them.

I believe that God works through both, the blessing and the curse.  To miss this is to miss how we exist in this world.  We are not merely God's receptacle of good; we are God's overcomers of the curse.  We demonstrate His lordship when we are stewards of blessing and victors over the curse.  We do not get "either or"; we got "both and".  God receives the glory in both the blessing and curse.  God gets the praise at all times in every situation.  Our God rules over the perfected and the fallen.  God meets us in the trial and the temptation.

JAMES: PRACTICAL WISDOM FOR TODAY (a blogpost for a sermon to be preached on April 19, 2015, at Kenwood Church in Livonia, MI)

My next sermon series will stroll through the Book of James.  Practical Wisdom for Today is a series that takes seriously the intersection between the Word and our lives.  Read along in the Scriptures as we work our way toward Sunday.  The schedule below will help us to get from here to there.

4-19         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       Trials and Tribulations                         James1:1-18         

4-26         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       Living Proof                                            James 1:19-27

5-3            James: Practical Wisdom for Today       Equality in the Church                         James 2:1-13

5-10         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       How Faith Works                                    James 2:14-26

5-17         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       Taming the Tongue                                James 3:1-12

5-24         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       Sowing the Seeds of Peace                   James 3:13-18

5-31         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       Trusting God                                           James 4:1-12

6-7           James: Practical Wisdom for Today       The Dangers of Pride                              James 4:13-17

6-14         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       Warnings to the Rich                            James 5:1-6

6-21         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       The Rewards of Perseverance              James 5:7-12

6-28         James: Practical Wisdom for Today       Prayers of Faith                                       James 5:13-20