From the archives. Originally preached in September 2020.

In this passage, James identifies the cause of conflict in the church and the resulting broken relationship with God and gives a clear solution – draw near to God through repentance.

In verses 13-18, James contrasts two kinds of wisdom. One is from the Lord and produces the qualities of God’s character. The other is demonic and produces brokenness. It would seem that the choice between the two would be simple and obvious. But James makes this contrast to implore the church to recognize and choose godly wisdom, knowing that worldly wisdom often seems more appealing and is a dangerous temptress.

Your speech is a reflection of and a testimony to the reality of your hearts. If your heart has been transformed, then so will your speech. Conversely, if your speech remains unrestrained by the gospel it indicates that your heart has not been transformed.

Salvation comes through faith. That is the most basic and important truth of scripture. But how do you know if you have saving faith?

Faith without works is dead and useless. Faith must produce works, and by those works, your faith is perfected.

When you have known and been transformed by the mercy of God the outward work response to this is showing mercy to others.

Money can buy many things but can not buy salvation or a right relationship with God. James 2:1-10 calls out the sin of partiality. In doing so, it calls Christians to live differently from the world in how you judge, in what you honor, and in how you obey.

I hope you and your family had a blessed Christmas celebration and a happy new year.

Podcast episodes post a week and a half after the date I preach the sermon. Usually, for podcast listeners, this makes little difference. However, during special occasions like Christmas, it is more obvious that the podcast episodes are behind.

I had the opportunity to hear a fellow pastor in our community preach, and I was out of the pulpit for a Sunday, so I do not have a current sermon for the podcast this week. So, I have pulled one from the archives for today's podcast. In 2020, I preached through the book of James. Originally preached on August 2, 2020, this is the third sermon I preached from James. The sermon is titled Be Doers of the Word, and it is from James 1:19-27.

This simple command – be doers of the word and not hears only – is a much more difficult command to obey and a much more costly truth than you may realize. Many believers have the desire to live out the word in their lives. However, desire is not a guarantee of doing. James teaches that constant, conscious, and conspicuous efforts must be made to demonstrate that your faith is more than a facade and is what is true of who you are.

Without a biblical worldview, there is no understanding of evil's real and present danger and the need to restrain it. When faced with evil, political leaders often prescribe legislative, regulatory, economic, or education remedies, believing that the undesired behavior can be overcome with better programs and laws. Or individuals speak of their own difficult situations and ascribe the blame or the responsibility to God when the cure is God, but the cause is not.

God has provided a way to be saved from this broken world. He desires your salvation and not your destruction. God has no part in sin.

From this passage, the Bible declares two fundamental truths that God does not tempt toward sin and that all that is good is from God.

During the summer months, there are several Sundays when I am out of the pulpit. I will return to preaching through 2 Corinthians when I return to the pulpit, but for these weeks where I have been away, I will be posting sermons from the book of James I preached in 2020. As an interesting historical note, considering that James begins the letter with the instruction to "consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance," while preaching this series, I was hospitalized with COVID-19. I began the series in August. Our church had returned to in-person services a few months before, in May, and we were trying to define a new normal while responding to the pandemic. When I began this series and preached this message, I had no idea that ten weeks later, I would be in a hospital bed, too weak to carry on a conversation longer than a few words.

It has been a difficult week. Due to a family tragedy, I did not preach this pastor Sunday, and we have been out of town this week for the funeral.

For the podcast this week, I have chosen a sermon I preached in 2020 from the book of James. In this passage, James takes on the cause of conflict in the church and the resulting broken relationship with God and gives a clear solution – draw near to God through repentance. I hope it will be a blessing to you.