James: Brother / Servant (1)
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Alternate Title: Why are we in James its almost Christmas?
Introduction to James / Time of Transition
We took our time in Romans, quickly covered Ruth… slowing down again
James is similar to Ruth - Short book (Ruth 4 and James 5) (15-20 minute read)
Different than Ruth in form and complexity
Ruth - Historical narrative - story (descriptive text)
James - A letter
Has been compared to Psalms/Proverbs
Words of wisdom and instruction (prescriptive text)
Where Ruth was a map, James is a brochure
Ruth - Gave direction to where the story was going… redemption is coming
James - Gives advice on what to do when you get there
Not a Christmas sermon but rather...
Bring our attention to this shift in speed, slow, methodical, mediating
Mainly to introduce some ides, concerns we might run into
A Reminder that this “Christmas Child” was significant, he wasn’t ordinary
So not really a Christmas sermon, but, yeah a Christmas sermon in James.
Source Material
I want to share this because it might be useful to you
13 sermons…lining up with most of the headings in your Bible
13 sermons… coinciding with the study by Lifeway (Matt Chandler)
You can buy this guide and use it for personal, family, or small group study… ball in your court.
My job as a pastor is not to impress you, but to equip you. My desire is not that you think I am a great speaker, Matt Chandler greatly surpasses me, but I do pray that you will have a desire to know God deeper and be equipped in your pursuit of him.
I hope to post things on Facebook, to blog, to create opportunities for thinking through Scripture
I hope you will use this to be and make disciples, for fellowship, for growth… for the glory of God.
James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
That’s it for today,just camping out here. As we celebrate the birth of the Messiah this month and dive into James, think about this: At first, the guy who wrote this letter did not believe that Jesus was the Savior of the world!
James was written around 50 AD by the brother of Jesus.
James was written around 50 AD by the brother of Jesus.
Historical Background of the letter
Early Church history attributes the letter to James, the half-brother of Jesus.
Some argue against “that James” writing this letter
He never identifies himself as “that James”, the brother of Jesus
There were other men named James mentioned in NT
But, most agree that it was “that James”
He became a pillar in the Church (Gal 2)
He was on the council of the Church (Acts 15)
His speech in Acts 15 uses similar language as this letter
Even though it isn’t expressly stated, most likely it was “that James”
Background on James
At first he didn’t believe Jesus was the Messiah
Mark 3 - After choosing the apostles, James says Jesus is “out of his mind”
John 7 - John mentions, “his brothers did not believe him”
So How Do You Get Your Brother to Believe You are God? —> You die and rise from the dead!
Acts 1 - We find James waiting with the disciples for the Holy Spirit
We already mentioned, James becomes a leader in the Jerusalem Church
James is martyred for Jesus
He doesn’t recant, so they throw him from the top of the temple.
He doesn’t die, so they stone him and beat him with a club until he dies.
How many kids will are going to get thrown off a building and beaten to death because they confess their brother is God?
I can’t even get mine to share the backseat of the car!
So James is not only written by Jesus’s brother, but by someone who has had their life radically changed by Jesus the Messiah, someone who now confesses him as Savior and Lord.
James is writing to the church, those who are already believers.
James is writing to the church, those who are already believers.
James’ Focus
Not trying to convince or convert - this is important as we study this letter… it’s to those already saved.
Martin Luther (Early Church Reformer)
This James does nothing more than drive to the law and to its works. Besides, he throws things together so chaotically that it seems to me he must have been some good, pious man, who took a few sayings from the disciples of the apostles and tossed them off on paper.
Luther called James “the epistle of straw”
If we aren’t careful we might over-emphasize “action”
James never says, “good works lead to salvation,” b/c he is writing to those already saved
Two things James uses to remind us of that…
Continually uses “brother,” to mark off new sections/ideas/instruction
Uses “conditional clauses”, IF/THEN statements
If it is raining, then the grass is wet.
If you are a Christian, then do not murder
James is not a letter on salvation, but a discussion on the believer’s progressive sanctification leading to a life of joy.
James is not a letter on salvation, but a discussion on the believer’s progressive sanctification leading to a life of joy.
That’s a mouthful, let’s simplify that some… two texts illustrate his purpose.
John 10:10
The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.
Jesus is speaking about being the Good Shepherd
The thief comes into the flock - to steal, kill, and destroy.
Jesus (the Shepherd) is in the field to bring life
Jesus is overseeing the sheep - watching, caring, tending, leading (green pastures, clear waters)
Psalm 139:23-24
Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!
A Psalm to worship a God who is immanent and transcendent
Transcendent - Creator, All Knowing, All Powerful, Sovereign
Immanent - Close, Involved, Relationship (knows the hairs on your head)
Search me —> Know me —> Lead me (correct/guide) to what is lasting
Being lead, being directed by God is sanctification, we are changing, but it’s a progression
James is not a “fix this” and move on, it is reminder of ongoing struggles.
Sanctification is like pulling weeds, they creep back, it’s ongoing
As a believer is drawn to obedience by God, they are lead into the fullest life possible.
As a believer is drawn to obedience by God, they are lead into the fullest life possible.
God leads through the “thou shalt nots”
We tend to think those keep us from or limit our joy
Bible will argue that they lead us away from emptiness and into joy
There are ideas, goals, desires that I have that I think are best, that would be pleasing to me
God - “you’ve lived 37 year, I have been around forever”
Some of your ideas about what is good, are garbage.
Some of your goals, are shallow
Some of your desires, will not satisfy you
Think of your diet after Thanksgiving/Christmas…probably put on a few pounds
Maybe use an app or get a diet coach/nutritionist
Listen you need to eat better foods - complex carbs, vegetables, proteins
No wonder your always hungry, always snacking, craving something else
Donuts, Little Debbie, and Mountain Dew are full of sugar… empty calories
James is like a spiritual nutritionist
Your money, pride, jealousy will not satisfy you… unhealthy
This is what you need to be full, this is what you should strive for
A continual dependence on God
A second glance at who he is
The problem is most of the time we tend to think God is more concerned with our obedience than he is our joy, but that’s wrong…
The journey leads to joy
Does anyone like long car rides with a car full of energetic children?
Last year we went to the Bahamas
rode in the van for 7-8 hours..
we rode on a boat for a day and a half
people getting sick all around us, Amanda was sick for a day
Once we got there on the beach… ah, beautiful beaches, clear water, snorkeling
The joy of the experience was worth it...
My kids didn’t say dad I hate this, you just wanted us to be bored in the van
Amanda didn’t say I hate this, you just wanted me to be sick
Everyone said, this is awesome, thanks for bringing us, when can we come back?
The journey may have caused some frustration, but in the end there was joy…something better
James’ instructions for joy will echo many of the teachings of Jesus.
James’ instructions for joy will echo many of the teachings of Jesus.
Specifically, the sermon on the Mount Matthew 5-7
Trails and suffering will happen, but there is hope
When you need wisdom, ask
Don’t just be hearers, be doers
This is how to give and receive mercy
Be separate from the world
How does Jesus end his sermon? Matt 7:24-27
“Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
The trials come, the storms comes, the house may be shaken but it stands
Whatever we build on apart from Jesus will shift, it will fade, it will collapse under the weight.
This is the point of James
Take root here
Find Joy here
James is not asking us
To go to church and be good and do good to get into Heaven
To follow what Dad/Grandpa said
Look to a political party for hope or moral guidance
James is saying, consider who Jesus is, and become his servant
Luke 9:23
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
James is a call to obedience that echoes Jesus
It is an ongoing struggle, but in the end there is joy