JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Sowing Seeds of Peace (James 3:13-18 NIV) 6-1-25

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Sowing Seeds of Peace (James 3:13-18 NIV) 6-1-25

INTRODUCTION

The joy of perseverance to maturity

True religion

Equality in the church

Faith and works

Taming the tongue

James 3:13-18 NIV

Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. 

James‬ ‭3‬:‭13-18‬ NIV‬‬‬‬

Works come from faith

A tamed tongue comes from a changed source

Peaceful people come from wisdom and understanding

"The proof is in the pudding."

I.  THE OUTCOME OF WISDOM AND UNDERSTANDING

Intelligence is not the same as wisdom.

A minister, a Boy Scout, and a computer expert were the only passengers on a small plane. The pilot came back to the cabin and said that the plane was going down but there were only three parachutes and four people. The pilot added, “I should have one of he parachutes because I have a wife and three small children.” So he took one and jumped.

The computer whiz said, “I should have one of the parachutes because I am the smartest man in the world and everyone needs me.” So he took one and jumped.

The minister turned to the Boy Scout and with a sad smile said, “You are young and I have lived a rich life, so you take the remaining parachute, and I’ll go down with the plane.”

The boy Scout said, “Relax, Reverend, the smartest man in the world just picked up my knapsack and jumped out!

Ted Sutherland, Sermon Central, February 19, 2001.

James 3:13 NIV

“Who is wise and understanding among you? Let them show it by their good life, by deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭3‬:‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  A good life

B.  Good deeds

1. Done in humility

2. Coming from wisdom

It requires wisdom to understand wisdom; the music is nothing if the audience is deaf.

Walter Lippmann

II.  THE OUTCOME OF “SUCH ‘WISDOM’"

"The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing." 

Socrates

You cannot learn Godly wisdom in a University and get a degree in it. It can only come to a heart in right relationship with God, and seeking it.

Lalachan Abraham, Sermon Central, August 17, 2013.

James 3:14-16 NIV

“But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such “wisdom” does not come down from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭3‬:‭14‬-‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

"Wisdom ceases to be wisdom when it becomes too proud to weep, too grave to laugh, and too selfful to seek other than itself."

Khalil Gibran

A.  Bitter envy

B.  Selfish ambition

C.  Boast about it

D.  Deny the truth

E.  Not from heaven

1.  Earthly

2.  Unspiritual 

3.  Demonic

F.  Effects

1.  Disorder

2.  Every evil practice

III.  A DESCRIPTION OF THE GOOD LIFE

“It is characteristic of wisdom not to do desperate things.”

Henry David Thoreau

James 3:17-18 NIV

“But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Pure

B.  Peace-loving

C.  Considerate

D.  Submissive

E.  Full of mercy

F.  Full of good fruit

G.  Impartial 

H.  Sincere 

Proverbs 4:7 NIV

“The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.”

‭‭ Proverbs‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

CONCLUSION

Peace makers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness!  Good deeds are the outcome of a good life.  Disorder and evil practices are the outcome of a life lived by earthly “wisdom.” Why would anyone choose that life over the good life.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

5-25-25 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Taming the Tongue (James 3:1-12 NIV) 5-25-25

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Taming the Tongue (James 3:1-12 NIV) 5-25-25

INTRODUCTION

The joy of perseverance to maturity

True religion

Equality in the church

Faith and works

James 3:1-12 NIV

“Not many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

There's an old story that the Jewish rabbis tell. As the story goes, one day a rabbi asked his servant to go and buy some good food for him in the market. When the servant returned home, he presented the rabbi with a tongue. The next day, the rabbi told the servant to go the market and buy some bad food. Again, the servant returned with a tongue.

The rabbi then asked the servant why he returned with a tongue on both occasions. The servant answered and said, "Good comes from it and bad comes from it. When the tongue is good there is nothing better, and when it is bad there is nothing worse."

T. Scott Womble, Careless Speech Sins, 7-27-2010.

Proverbs 21:23 NIV

Solomon was right. “Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.”

‭‭ Proverbs‬ ‭21‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I.  THE TONGUE DIRECTS

James 3:3-5a NIV

“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭3‬:‭3‬-‭5‬a ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Bits and horses

Martin Spoelstra said in a sermon,

“A bridle is a small but powerful tool designed for communication and control. Whether with a bit or a bitless attachment, it allows a rider to guide a horse with subtle movements. A well-trained horse responds to the slightest cue, needing only gentle pressure to understand what the rider wants.

From the horse’s perspective, the bridle isn’t just about control—it’s about listening. Horses naturally communicate through body language and pressure. A bridle taps into this instinct, helping understand direction, pressure, and release. When a horse trusts its rider, the bridle becomes a tool of partnership, not restraint.

In the same way, learning to bridle our tongue isn’t just about restraint—it’s about stopping long enough to give it some thought and then communicate with God, learning when to speak and when to be silent.”

Martin Spoelstra, Sermon Central, February 6, 2025.

B.  Ships and rudders

Two warships with the largest full-load displacement in the world are the US Navy aircraft carriers.

The USS Nimitz and Dwight D. Eisenhower weigh about 91,400 tons. They are 1,092 feet in length overall and have a speed well in excess of 30 knots with their nuclear-powered 280,000 horsepower reactors. Their complement is 6,100 men and women.

The total cost of the Eisenhower commissioned on October 18, 1977, exceeded $2 billion excluding the more than 90 plus aircraft carried.

As immense as these two ships are they are both turned by one man at the helm controlling a rudder 1/1000th the size of the ship. A tiny rudder controls the course of these great ships.

Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, February 6, 2024. 

II.  THE TONGUE DESTROYS

“The second most deadly instrument is a loaded gun. The first is the human tongue. The gun merely kills bodies. The tongue kills reputations and oftentimes ruins character.”

William George Jordan, The Kingship of Self-Control, 1898.

James 3:5b-6 NIV

“Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭3‬:‭5b‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Tongue makes great boasts

B.  Tongue is a small spark

C.  Tongue is a fire

General Robert E. Lee was once asked what he thought of a fellow officer in the Confederate Army, an officer who had made some mean-spirited remarks about him. Lee thought for a moment, then rated him as being very satisfactory. The person who asked the questions seemed troubled. “But General, I guess you don’t know what he’s been saying about you.” “Oh yes”, answered Lee. “I know. But I was asked my opinion of him, not his of me.”

III.  THE TONGUE CANNOT BE TAMED

James 3:7-8 NIV

“All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  All sorts of animals can be tamed

B.  No human can tame the tongue

C.  It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

"Mistakes of the tongue have destroyed more people, ruined more marriages, and cost more businessmen their jobs and their futures than any other kind of mistake."

Anonymous

IV.  THE TONGUE IS DUPLICITOUS

There is danger when a man throws his tongue into high gear before he gets his brain a-going.

Anonymous

James 3:9-12 NIV

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.”

‭‭James‬ ‭3‬:‭9‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Praise and curse

B.  Fresh and salt water?

C.  Fig bear olives

D.  Grape bear figs

E.  Salt spring produce fresh water

WE MUST CHANGE THE SOURCE!

CONCLUSION

Taming the tongue may seem difficult, but it is an important goal for the believer 

Colossians 3:1-10 NIV

“Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality, impurity, lust, evil desires and greed, which is idolatry. Because of these, the wrath of God is coming. You used to walk in these ways, in the life you once lived. But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”

‭‭Colossians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

5-25-25 S.U.M. It Up!

    

5-18-25 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - How Faith Works (James 2:14-26 NIV) 5-18-25

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - How Faith Works (James 2:14-26 NIV) 5-18-25

INTRODUCTION

The joy of perseverance to maturity

True religion

Equality in the church

James 2:14-26 NIV

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them? Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I.  FAITH AND WORKS

James 2:14 NIV

“What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A. Illustration of faith

A small congregation in the foothills of the Great Smokies built a new sanctuary on a piece of land willed to them by a church member. Ten days before the new church was to open, the local building inspector informed the pastor that the parking lot was inadequate for the size of the building. Until the church doubled the size of the

parking lot, they would not be able to use the new sanctuary. Unfortunately, the church with its undersized parking lot had used every inch of their land except for the mountain against which it had been built. In order to build more parking spaces, they would have to move the mountain out of the back yard.

Undaunted, the pastor announced the next Sunday morning that he would meet that evening with all members who had "mountain moving faith." They would hold a prayer session asking God to remove the mountain from the back yard and to somehow provide enough money to have it paved and painted before the scheduled opening dedication service the

following week. 

At the appointed time, 24 of the congregation's 300 members assembled for prayer. They prayed for nearly three hours. At ten o'clock the pastor said the final "Amen." "We'll open next Sunday as scheduled," he assured everyone. "God has never let us down before, and I believe He will be faithful this time too."

The next morning, as he was working in his study, there came a loud knock at the pastor's door. When he called, "Come in," a rough looking construction foreman appeared, removing his hard hat as he entered.

"Excuse me, Reverend. I'm from Acme Construction Company over

in the next county. We're building a huge new shopping mall over

there and we need some fill dirt. Would you be willing to sell us a

chunk of that mountain behind the church? We'll pay you for the

dirt we remove and pave all the exposed area free of charge, if we

can have it right away. We can't do anything else until we get the

dirt in and allow it to settle properly."

The little church was dedicated the next Sunday as originally planned and there were far more members with "mountain moving faith" on opening Sunday than there had been the previous week!

B.  Illustration of works

When Dave Thomas died in early 2002, he left behind more than just thousands of Wendy’s restaurants. He also left a legacy of being a practical, hard-working man who was respected for his down-to-earth values.

Among the pieces of good advice that have outlived the smiling entrepreneur is his view of what Christians should be doing with their lives. Thomas, who as a youngster was influenced for Christ by his grandmother, said that believers should be "roll-up-your-shirt sleeves" Christians.

In his book Well Done, Thomas said, "Roll-up-your-shirtsleeves Christians see Christianity as faith and action. They still make the time to talk with God through prayer, study Scripture with devotion, be super-active in their church and take their ministry to others to spread the Good Word." He went onto say they are "anonymous people who are doing good for Christ may be doing even more good than all the well-known Christians in the world."

That statement has more meat in it than a Wendy’s triple burger. Thomas knew about hard work in the restaurant business; and he knew it is vital in the spiritual world also.

WORKS DO NOT SECURE OUR SALVATION THEY TESTIFY TO IT!

II.  A LESSON FROM NEED

James 2:15-17 NIV

“Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Apostle Paul spoke of "faith working through love" (Gal. 5:6). 

The apostle John wrote 

1 John 3:17-18 NIV

“If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth.”

‭‭ 1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Samuel Bradburn, an associate of John Wesley, was highly respected by his friends and used by God as an effective preacher. On one occasion he was in desperate financial need. When Wesley learned of his circumstances, he sent him the following letter: "Dear Sammy: ‘trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed.’ Yours affectionately, John Wesley." Attached to the letter was a 5-pound note (then worth about $10).

Bradburn’s reply was prompt. "Rev. and Dear Sir: I have often been struck with the beauty of the passage of Scripture quoted in your letter, but I must confess that I never saw such a useful ‘expository note’ on it before."

Someone has said, "Pious talk can’t take the place of helpfulness." To profess faith in Christ as Savior and Lord but ignore the needs of fellow believers is inconsistent. James said that true faith translates into compassion in action. The best commentary on faith is actions.

Dennis Davidson, Authentic Faith Works, 10/26/2009.

A.  Faith by itself if it is not accompanied by action is dead.

B.  Illustration-a brother or sister in need

1.  "Go in peace; keep warm and well fed."

2.  What good is that faith if you do not help meet their need.

III.  A LESSON FROM DEMONS

C.S. Lewis says, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel an excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”

James 2:18-19 NIV

“But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭18‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

B.  Illustration-the demons

1.  You believe, right?

2.  Demons believe - and shudder.

IV.  A LESSON FROM ABRAHAM

James 2:20-24 NIV

“You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭20‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did.

B.  Illustration-Abraham offering Isaac (the child of promise)

Hebrews 11:17-19 NIV

“By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭17‬-‭19‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

V.  A LESSON FROM RAHAB

James 2:25-26 NIV

“In the same way, was not even Rahab the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in a different direction? As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭25‬-‭26‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  A person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone.

B.  Rahab acted

Hebrews 11:31 NIV

“By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭31‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

CONCLUSION

Listen to the testimony of the Word.

Hebrews 11:1-40. NIV

“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬-‭40‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Faith and works testify to our redemption!

Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV

“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”

‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬-‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

There was once a Scotsman who rowed people across a river. On one oar he had carved the word 'faith' and on the other oar he had carved the word 'works'. One day as he was rowing, one of the passengers noticed the carvings and asked him about them. The Scotsman did not reply but pulled in the oar marked 'works' and started to row with only one oar. The boat went round in circles. He then pulled in the oar marked 'faith' and started to row only with the 'works' oar. The boat again went round in circles, but this time in the opposite direction. He then rowed with both oars and reached the other bank safely.

Before his passenger got off the boat he said, 'A Christian must row his life using both oars, faith and works. Only then will he reach heaven's shore.'

True faith influences the heart and life so that we obey God and serve others. 

Shenton, T. (2006). Opening up 1 Thessalonians (15--16). Leominster: Day One Publications.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

05-11-25 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Equality in the Church (James 2:1-13) 5-11-25

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Equality in the Church (James 2:1-13) 5-11-25

INTRODUCTION

Persevere to maturity

True religion

James 2:1-13 NIV

My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism. Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong? If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment. (

James‬ ‭2‬:‭1-13‬ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬

I.  NO FAVORITISM

Rick Warren said that there are at least five areas where we as believers can be tempted to discriminate:

We can discriminate on the basis of appearance.

We can discriminate on the basis of ancestry.

We can discriminate on the basis of age.

We can discriminate on the basis of achievement.

We can discriminate on the basis of affluence. 

David Jeremiah, Turning Toward Integrity, 2013.

James 2:1 NIV

“My brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ must not show favoritism.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭2‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Rich v. Poor

B.  Our response

James 2:2-4 NIV

“Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man in filthy old clothes also comes in. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts?”

‭‭ James‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1.  Preference

2.  Discrimination

3.   Judgment

C.  The blessing of the poor

James 2:5-6a

“Listen, my dear brothers and sisters: Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised those who love him? But you have dishonored the poor.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭2‬:‭5‬-‭6a‭ NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1.  God has chosen them.

2.  Poor in the eyes of the world but rich in faith

3.  Inherit the Kingdom he promised those who love him

D.  The curse of the rich

James 2:6b-7 NIV

“Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you into court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭6b‬-‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1.  They exploit others.

2.  They drag others into court.

3.  Blaspheming the noble name of him to who you belong.

II.  THE ROYAL LAW

"The law of love will keep us from doing a great many things which mere impulse would often do, and will make us very careful of every word and action."

Anonymous

James 2:8 NIV

“If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  "Love your neighbor as yourself."

1.  Love your neighbor

2.  Love yourself

B.  Favoritism shows you are a law breaker.

James 2:9 NIV

“But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as lawbreakers.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭2‬:‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Erma Bombeck

She writes: "Every mother has a favorite child. She cannot help it. She is only human. I have mine--the child for whom I feel a special closeness, with whom I share a love that no one else could possibly understand. My favorite child is the one who was too sick to eat ice cream at his birthday party -- who had measles at Christmas -- who wore leg braces to bed because he toed in -- who had a fever in the middle of the night, the asthma attack, the child in my arms at the emergency ward.

My favorite child spent Christmas alone away from the family, was stranded after the game with a gas tank on E, lost the money for his class ring.

My favorite child is the one who messed up the piano recital, misspelled committee in a spelling bee, ran the wrong way with the football, and had his bike stolen because he was careless.

My favorite child is the one I punished for lying, grounded for insensitivity to other people’s feelings, and informed he was a royal pain to the entire family.

My favorite child slammed doors in frustration, cried when she didn’t think I saw her, withdrew and said she could not talk to me.

My favorite child always needed a haircut, had hair that wouldn’t curl, had no date for Saturday night, and a car that cost $600 to fix. My favorite child was selfish, immature, bad-tempered and self-centered. He was vulnerable, lonely, unsure of what he was doing in this world--and quite wonderful.

All mothers have their favorite child. It is always the same one: the one who needs you at the moment. Who needs you for whatever reason--to cling to, to shout at, to hurt, to hug, to flatter, to reverse charges to, to unload on--but mostly just to be there."

Erma Bombeck

III.  THE LAWS

A.  The Law

There is a story about a student at Cambridge University in England who entered the classroom on exam day and asked the proctor to bring him cakes and ale. The proctor refused, expressing astonishment at the young student’s audacity. At this point the student read from the four-hundred-year-old Laws of Cambridge, which were written in Latin and still somewhat in effect.

The passage read by the student said, "Gentlemen sitting for examinations may request and require Cakes and Ale." The proctor was forced to comply. Pepsi and hamburgers were judged the modern equivalent, so the necessary accommodations were made for the student. After all, the law was on his side.

Three weeks later the student was summoned to the office of Academic Affairs to face disciplinary action and was assessed a fine of five pounds (about $7.50, the cost of the meal). He was not fined for demanding cakes and ale, but for blatantly disregarding another obscure Cambridge law: he had failed to wear a sword to the examination.

Larry Turner, Sermon Central, June 5, 2016.

James 2:10-11 NIV

“For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it. For he who said, “You shall not commit adultery,” also said, “You shall not murder.” If you do not commit adultery but do commit murder, you have become a lawbreaker.”

‭‭James‬ ‭2‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1.  Stumbling at any one point is guilty of breaking all of it.

2.  Lawbreaker regardless of the law broken

B.  The Law that gives freedom

James 2:12-13 NIV

“Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭2‬:‭12‬-‭13‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

1.  Mercy triumphs over judgment.

2.  Judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful.

CONCLUSION

Equality in the Church begins by following the Royal Law.  The Law demonstrates imperfection.  The Royal Law brings freedom.

Dave Stone wrote in "If Jesus Lived in My Neighborhood" about his uncle Greg, who is a quadriplegic. A few years ago, Uncle Greg was able to attend a special-needs camp at Country Lake Christian Retreat in southern Indiana. A man named John was assigned to be with Uncle Greg for four solid days. For four days, twenty-four hours a day, John did everything for Uncle Greg. He fed him every bite. He gave him every drink. He bathed him and helped him with all his personal needs. He slept on a mattress on a concrete floor beside Uncle Greg’s bed. He took Uncle Greg out on the lake in a floatation device, and Uncle Greg swam for the first time in his life.

At the end of the week the campers all gathered before returning to their homes. Each was asked, "What was your favorite part of the week?" Almost unanimously they said "Swimming." When it was Uncle Greg’s turn to talk about his favorite part of the week, he simply pointed to John and said, "You!"

Paul Decker, "Our Time, Our Turn, Our All", 1/11/2009.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.

S.U.M. It Up! 5-7-25

    

5-4-25 Kenwood Church of Christ Live Stream

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Living Proof (James 1:19-27) - 5-4-25

JAMES: PRACTICAL FAITH - Living Proof (James 1:19-27) - 5-4-25

INTRODUCTION

Persevere to maturity

James 1:19-27 NIV

My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. 

James‬ ‭1‬:‭19-27‬ NIV‬‬‬‬

I.  HUMAN ANGER

James 1:19-20 NIV

“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭1‬:‭19‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

The Indian political and spiritual leader, Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (1869 - 1948), once said, "Man should forget his anger before he lies down to sleep."

The Roman emperor, soldier, and stoic philosopher, Marcus Aurelius

Antoninus Augustus (121 - 180), once said, "How much more grievous are the consequences of anger than the causes of it."

The American journalist, Ambrose Gwinnett Bierce (1842 - 1914), once said, "Speak when you are angry and you will make the best speech you will ever regret."

The Chinese thinker and philosopher, Confucius (551 B.C - 479 B.C.), once said, "When anger rises, think of the consequences."

The American poet, Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803 - 1882), once said, "For every minute you remain angry, you give up sixty seconds of peace of mind."

A.  Anger does not get us where we want to go

B.  Another way

1.  Quick to listen 

2.  Slow to speak

3.  Slow to become angry

Babe Pinelli (umpire who was behind the plate for Don Larsen's perfect World Series game) wrote an article for The Second Fireside Book of Baseball, titled "Kill the Umpire? Don't Make Me Laugh!" in which he told about his rookie year of 1935, when he was told that he should not call a strike on Babe Ruth, who was winding up his career with the Boston Braves. Pinelli didn't see it that way. When he was behind the plate and Ruth came to bat, and a close pitch went by that Ruth didn't swing at, Pinelli deemed it a strike and so called it. Ruth turned to the umpire and bellowed, "There's forty thousand people in this park that know that was a ball, tomato-head!" Pinelli didn't lose his cool. He replied calmly, "Perhaps--but mine is the only opinion that counts." Ruth had no answer for that.

II.  GET RID OF . . . 

James 1:22-25 NIV

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A person must put off every dirty thing and lay it off to the side away from himself. If he enjoys the dirt and filth, then his mind is going to be on it. His mind will not be clear, not enough to hear the Word of God.

William Barclay makes the point that the Greek word for "filthiness" is taken from the Greek word rupos. The word is sometimes used to refer to wax in the ear (The Letters of James and Peter, p.66).

The picture is descriptive: a person with wax in the ear cannot hear the Word of God, not clearly. Therefore, he must take the wax out of his ear and put it away or else he will be deaf to the Word of God. He must put aside all that remains of naughtiness, wickedness, and evil. 

Dr. Larry Petton, Sermon Central, January 28, 2024.

A.  Moral filth and evil

1.  Moral filth

2.  Evil

3.  So prevalent

B.  Accept the Word

1.  Humbly

2.  Do not merely listen to the Word

3.  Do what it says.

James 1:23-25 NIV

Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.   

James 1:23-25

III.  WORTHY RELIGION

The 19th-century Danish theologian Soren Kierkegaard identified two kinds of religion--Religion A and Religion B. The first is "faith" in name only (2 Tim. 3:5). It's the practice of attending church without genuine faith in the living Lord.

Religion B, on the other hand, is a life-transforming, destiny-changing experience. It's a definite commitment to the crucified and risen Savior, which establishes an ongoing personal relationship between a forgiven sinner and a gracious God.

This difference explains why for many years British author C. S. Lewis had such great difficulty in becoming a Christian. Religion A had blinded him to Religion B. According to his brother Warren, his conversion was "no sudden plunge into a new life, but rather a slow, steady convalescence from a deep-seated spiritual illness--an illness that had its origins in our childhood, in the dry husks of religion offered by the semi-political churchgoing of Ulster, and the similar dull emptiness of compulsory church during our school days."

Our Daily Bread, “10,000 Sermon Illustrations”, March 15, 1994.

James 1:26-27 NIV

“Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.”

‭‭ James‬ ‭1‬:‭26‬-‭27‬ ‭NIV‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

A.  Tight rein on tongue

Bit controls the horse by controlling the mouth

B.  Look after others

1.  Widows

2.  Orphans

C.  Keep oneself from being polluted by the world

"The religion of Jesus is the religion of a little child. There is no affectation about a disciple of Jesus, he is as a little child, amazingly simple but unfathomably deep. Many of us are not childlike enough, we are childish."

Oswald Chambers

CONCLUSION

Anger does not get us where we want to go. We need to get rid of moral filth and accept the Word.  We need to live a true, worthy religion.

"A religion true to its nature must also be concerned about man’s social conditions. Religion deals with both earth and heaven, both time and eternity. Religion operates not only on the vertical plane but also on the horizontal.

It seeks not only to integrate men with God but to integrate men with men and each man with himself. This means, at bottom, that the Christian gospel is a two-way road. On the one hand, it seeks to change the souls of men and thereby unite them with God; on the other hand, it seeks to change the environmental conditions of men so that the soul will have a chance after it is changed. Any religion that professes to be concerned with the souls of men and is not concerned with the slums that damn them, the economic conditions that strangle them, and the social conditions that cripple them is a dry-as-dust religion. Such a religion is the kind the Marxists like to see - an opiate of the people."  

Martin Luther King, Jr.

INVITATION

It is our custom to offer an "invitation" following the preaching of the Word.  You may want to follow Jesus.  You may want to proclaim your faith.  You may want to repent (stop doing ungodly things and start doing Godly things).  Perhaps you want to be baptized for the forgiveness of your sins     and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Possibly, if you have already responded to God’s call in these ways, you would like to become a member of Kenwood Church.  If you have been moved by the Holy Spirit to make a decision in your life, you can come forward now.  If you would like, I would be honored to speak with you following the service about what God is doing in your life.