James DAY 1 - Does This Thing Work?
DAY 1
DOES THIS WORK?
James 1:1-4
The tech giant, Apple, recently announced their next iPhone. The headline grabber: they’re ditching their old charging system to the more widely used charging system. Apparently, consumers like you and me are tired of having incompatible ways of charging our devices. The old way just wasn’t working.
We want stuff that works! We want tech that works, we want government that works, we want relationships that work - we even want faith that works.
Faith that works makes a difference in our lives. It makes a difference to the world around us. It’s practical.
James the Apostle obsessed over faith that works. His short letter in the Bible is perfect for practical people like us. It’s like a New Testament Book of Proverbs.
Right away, we see that James isn’t fooling around. He goes right after an attitude - an idea - that poisons faith that works: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
James challenges the popular assumption that faith only works when life is easy.
Let’s mark a few things real quick. First, James is talking to Christians - “my brothers and sisters.” Everything he says assumes a commitment to Jesus Christ and participation in the Christian community called “Church.”
Second, James uses a combination of deeply connected words in chapter one: trial, testing, and temptation. In fact, “trial” and “tempt” are the exact same Greek word. You only know what they mean by their context. “Trial” means you’re being tested. “Temptation” is feeling the pull to sin. All temptations are trials because the quality of your character is being put to the test, but not all trials are temptations.
Under all these words - trial, test, temptation - is the idea of being under pressure. This is the starting point for a faith that works: we cannot escape the intense pressures of life. Stay with us this week and you’ll see why this is actually good news!
REFLECT
What is something that frustrated you because it didn’t work as planned?
PRAY
Lord Jesus Christ, I’m your servant. I’m committed to your Way. My mind and my heart are wide open to you as we start this journey through James. Help me to have a faith that works. Amen.
DOES THIS WORK?
James 1:1-4
The tech giant, Apple, recently announced their next iPhone. The headline grabber: they’re ditching their old charging system to the more widely used charging system. Apparently, consumers like you and me are tired of having incompatible ways of charging our devices. The old way just wasn’t working.
We want stuff that works! We want tech that works, we want government that works, we want relationships that work - we even want faith that works.
Faith that works makes a difference in our lives. It makes a difference to the world around us. It’s practical.
James the Apostle obsessed over faith that works. His short letter in the Bible is perfect for practical people like us. It’s like a New Testament Book of Proverbs.
Right away, we see that James isn’t fooling around. He goes right after an attitude - an idea - that poisons faith that works: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
James challenges the popular assumption that faith only works when life is easy.
Let’s mark a few things real quick. First, James is talking to Christians - “my brothers and sisters.” Everything he says assumes a commitment to Jesus Christ and participation in the Christian community called “Church.”
Second, James uses a combination of deeply connected words in chapter one: trial, testing, and temptation. In fact, “trial” and “tempt” are the exact same Greek word. You only know what they mean by their context. “Trial” means you’re being tested. “Temptation” is feeling the pull to sin. All temptations are trials because the quality of your character is being put to the test, but not all trials are temptations.
Under all these words - trial, test, temptation - is the idea of being under pressure. This is the starting point for a faith that works: we cannot escape the intense pressures of life. Stay with us this week and you’ll see why this is actually good news!
REFLECT
What is something that frustrated you because it didn’t work as planned?
PRAY
Lord Jesus Christ, I’m your servant. I’m committed to your Way. My mind and my heart are wide open to you as we start this journey through James. Help me to have a faith that works. Amen.
Posted in fall 2023
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Archive
2023
June
COMING SOON! RevelationRevelation Day 1 - TAKE IT TO HEARTRevelation Day 2 - IN THE SPIRITRevelation Day 3 - Learning to SeeRevelation Day 4 - The VoiceRevelation Day 5 - A Faithful WitnessRevelation DAY 6 - Past, Present, or Future?Revelation Day 7 - PRESS ONRevelation 8 - Comfort and ChallengeRevelation Day 9 - Compromised CommitmentRevelation Day 10 - I'm Fine, ThanksRevelation Day 11 - Holy, Holy, HolyRevelation Day 12 - Who is Worthy?Revelation Day 13 - Don't Give Up!Revelation Day 14 - No ContestRevelation Day 15 - Worship WellRevelation Day 16 - The Problem of EvilRevelation Day 17 - When You Don't Know WhyRevelation Day 18 - The Limits of SufferingRevelation Day 19 - Is God Angry?Revelation Day 20 - Saved Through Suffering
July
Revelation Day 21 - The Cry for JusticeRevelation Day 22 - The Judgments of GodRevelation 23 - They Still Did Not RepentRevelation Day 24 - Don't Curse CorrectionRevelation Day 25 - Search Me, O GodRevelation Day 26 - You Shall ProphesyRevelation Day 27 - Eat This BookRevelation Day 28 - Fight!Revelation 29 - Let the Truth TalkRevelation Day 30 - Worship and WitnessRevelation Day 31 - Our EnemiesRevelation Day 32 - The Enemy's WeaponRevelation Day 33 - The Enemy's FallRevelation Day 34 - Our ChampionRevelation Day 35 - Our BattleRevelation Day 36 - Where the Wild Things AreRevelation Day 37 - The Sea MonsterRevelation Day 38 - The Antichrist?Revelation Day 39 - Ordinary FaithRevelation Day 40 - The Heart of Ordinary FaithRevelation Day 41 - God's Guarantee
August
Revelation Day 42 - The Ugliness of EvilRevelation Day 43 - God's WrathRevelation Day 44 - God's DelightRevelation Day 45 - God's Just-nessRevelation Day 46 - The Wild Woman on a DragonRevelation Day 47 - Why a Wild Woman?Revelation Day 48 - Why is Babylon So Bad?Revelation Day 49 - Get OutRevelation Day 50 - Renew Your VowsRevelation Day 51 - He Shall Come AgainRevelation Day 52 - We Will Be JudgedRevelation Day 53 - Each of Us Will Give an AccountRevelation Day 54 - Afraid or Inspired?
September
Revelation Day 55 - Victory in JesusRevelation Day 56 - The Last ChapterRevelation Day 57 - The City of GodRevelation Day 58 - There Will Be No More DeathRevelation Day 59 - The Wedding of the LambRevelation Day 60 - Together ForeverNew Devo Starts SoonJames DAY 1 - Does This Thing Work?James DAY 2 - Two Kinds of TrialJames DAY 3 - Obstacles or Opportunities?James DAY 4 - How to Grow Through Hard Times (Pt 1)James DAY 5 - How to Grow Through Hard Times (Pt 2)
2022
October
November
Five Invitations - Day 12Five Invitations - Day 13Five Invitations - Day 14Five Invitations - Day 15Five Invitations - Day 16Five Invitations - Day 17Five Invitations - Day 18Five Invitations - Day 19Five Invitations - Day 20Five Invitations - Day 21Five Invitations - Day 22Five Invitations - Day 23Five Invitations - Day 24Five Invitations - Day 25COMING SOON - The Gifts of ChristmasAdvent 1 - Your Favorite GiftAdvent 2 - Where Are You From?Advent 3 - Unexpected Help