Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Seminary in Guatemala - reminder of how most believers live around the world - in difficulty.
Most people live in poverty and many believers live persecuted.
Life is difficult.
Seems like life is better in the states - more wealth, more opportunities, etc.
But, we have difficulties.
Everyone has challenges.
Opening verses of James - wisdom for our difficulties/trials.
James = practical book by the half-brother of Jesus
James = practical book by half-brother of Jesus.
James thought Jesus was crazy.
() Wouldn’t you?
Your brother claims to be God and then goes and lives as a homeless man.
But, after resurrection, sees Jesus alive.
() That will change your mind about the identity fo your brother!
James’ brother became his Lord.
Surprisingly, James doesn’t mention his older brother much, but Jesus is present in each verse.
James sounds like Jesus - similar to Sermon on the Mount.
James is full of wisdom.
This letter has been called the Proverbs of the New Testament.
James = half-brother of Jesus.
James thought Jesus was crazy.
() Wouldn’t you?
Your brother claims to be God and then goes and lives as a homeless man.
But, after resurrection, sees Jesus alive.
() That will change your mind about the identity fo your brother!
Opening verses are full of wisdom - helps us to understand how to walk through difficulty by giving us three truths about God that we need to remember when we walk through trials.
James becomes a significant leader in the chur
God wastes nothing.
James cuts right to it: “Count it all joy when you face various trials...” Early believers were going through trials.
Twelve Tribes in dispersion - twelve tribes of Israel - written to Jewish Christians living outside of Jerusalem because of persecution ().
James mentions various trials they were experiencing in this letter: poverty, financial problems, sickness, conflict in church.
When you meet trials NOT IF you meet trials.
Trials are a normal part of life - none of us are exempt.
Various kinds:
James mentions various trials they were experiencing in this letter: poverty, financial problems, sickness, conflict in church.
Some trials because we are Christians.
Shunned by family and friends who think we’re judgmental, old-fashioned, etc.
Some trials because we are human.
Broken world - difficulties happen.
We get sick, we lose jobs, etc.
Some trials because of poor choices.
Some difficulties you bring on yourself.
Consequences of sin.
But - in trials - Count it all joy.
NOT pretend like it’s great!
Trials aren’t fun.
Reality: you’re going to count it something in trials.
Count it all bitterness.
Count it all envy - I wish my life was as good as his/hers.
Count it all self-pity.
“Woe is me.”
Count it all turn to something else - drugs, alcohol, porn, entertainment, etc. to numb the pain.
OR, you can count it all joy!
Not ENJOY but contentment with God even in your difficulties because you trust He is at work.
God is using your difficulties to produce steadfastness/perseverance.
Perseverance is the ability to face the difficulties of life head-on with the confidence that no trial you go through changes who you are in Christ or God’s love for you.
When you persevere - you are giving evidence that you TRUST GOD is at work even in your difficulties.
Let perseverance have its full effect - each trial, if you keep your eyes on God, you learn to trust more - each trial, when you walk by faith, you mature a bit more.
God wastes nothing.
He doesn’t waste your trials!
In difficulties remember:
Your trials are God’s investment plan into your spiritual maturity.
You simply cannot mature without trials.
Trials connect faith to life.
Trials are where what you learn about God in your time in the Word is put into practice.
Trials are not designed for you to prove yourself to God, but for God to prove Himself to you.
In trials - temptation to say, “I can do this.
I must prove that I’m strong enough.”
- His strength is made perfect in our weakness.
Trials are an opportunity for God to prove Himself faithful to you.
You might not be able to see it now - but God is at work in your trials.
In a trial?
Look back - you’ll see how God faithfully worked in the past.
He’s still at work.
Newell children - Counted it joy in most difficult situation imaginable.
God gives everything.
When we go through trials, we get foolish - make poor choices, take eyes off Jesus, complain, hurt people, and go into survival mode.
What we need in trials is wisdom - the ability to navigate trials in a way that honors the Lord and is consistent with Scripture.
Wisdom = the ability to connect faith to life - the ability to live out the Bible in every day situations.
Note - If you lack wisdom - not strength, grace, deliverance, etc.
In your trials, what you need most is wisdom so you might persevere well.
Ask God! Don’t think you can make it on your own.
Your trials are an opportunity for you to demonstrate how much you need God!
Notice how God gives wisdom:
He gives to anyone who asks - His wisdom is available to all of us - not just the most mature Christians - but to every one of us.
He gives generously - He’s not stingy with it.
He wants you to have an abundance of His wisdom - why He has given us Bible books like James, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes.
Why we have Sermon on the Mount, etc.
He gives without reproach - God doesn’t say, “You really messed up.
I’m not giving you wisdom.
Figure it out yourself.”
He doesn’t scold.
“I gave you wisdom last time, and you didn’t listen.”
Dog grooming - persistent to get what is rightly owed to me.
God - gives to me freely what is not owed to me.
James is reminding us of what we already know!
We’ve already experienced these truths about God in Jesus: He gives salvation to anyone who asks.
He generously gave His Son for us as a demonstration of love.
He gives us salvation without reproach.
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