Trails Church

This Sunday, we step into one of the most intense chapters in the book of Acts.James is executed.Peter is imprisoned.Herod exalts himself like a god.And yet — Jesus is not threatened. He is reigning.Acts 12 smells like the battlefield. But what we discover is this: when you stand against Jesus, you lose — and when you belong to Jesus, you triumph, even through suffering.This chapter reminds us of two massive truths:• Nothing can stop Jesus' kingdom from advancing.• Gospel advancement doesn't come without significant cost.We will see both warning and hope. Judgment and rescue. Execution and deliverance. And above it all — a triumphant King.If you are exploring Christianity, or know those who are, this text lovingly but clearly presses a question onto your heart: What will you do with King Jesus?And for those who belong to Christ, this passage steadies us in a world that is increasingly uncomfortable with bold faith.⸻

That name started in Antioch.Not in a cathedral.Not in comfort.Not in cultural power.But in the middle of persecution, scattering, bold preaching, deep discipleship, and radical generosity.This Sunday we're in Acts 11:19–30.The gospel keeps moving.The church keeps growing.And for the first time, disciples are called Christians — people who belong to Christ.So here's the question:If someone watched your life for a year…would they know who you belong to?⸻

Acts 10:1–11:18This week's text isn't a side story.It's a history-shifting moment.Like… one of the most important turns in the whole Bible.The question behind it all:What did it actually take for us to be accepted by God?Because we all have an answer to that —even if we've never said it out loud.Acts 10 blows it up.God doesn't just save a few “religious types.”He throws the door wide open.Full acceptance.No second-class status.Even the apostles are like,“Wait… God did WHAT?!”That's how massive this is.As you read Acts today before coming to our gathering, sit with that question:

This week we're in Acts 9 and yes — it includes a woman named Dorcas

Acts 9:19b-31Last week, we saw how Saul met Jesus and heard from Jesus how Saul would be His chosen instrument to:1) preach about Jesus to his fellow Jews, to Kings, and to the Gentiles.2) to suffer on account of the name of Jesus.This week we'll see how Saul's life begins to demonstrate these words from Jesus as he begins preaching about Jesus in the same places where he once plotted the death of Christians.And, as he does, his old friends and colleagues begin scheming how they will kill him so that they can silence him. Throughout the rest of Acts, we will see this pattern continue in Saul's life: how he preaches the name of Jesus and suffers on account of His Name. Through it all, we will see how Jesus builds His Church.

This Sunday, we are in Acts 9:1–19, one of the most gripping passages in the book of Acts—the story of how Jesus stops Saul in his tracks and turns a persecutor into a disciple.But as we'll see, this isn't a story about a man finding his way to God through effort, morality, or religious sincerity. As we see, Saul wasn't searching for Jesus at all.Rather, it's a story about Jesus—about His sovereign and gracious pursuit of His enemies, His power to interrupt rebellion, and the kind of grace He loves to show as He turns opponents into His people and sends them out on His mission.We can't wait to dive into this text together!Two things to THINK about beforehand

In our passage this week, Philip encounters a rather unique individual in the middle of the desert, one of the most powerful men from an African empire. He is a eunuch, but he is also a convert to the worship of the God of Israel.In this passage Philip shares the gospel with this man starting with a passage from Isaiah 53. As you prepare for the sermon, along with reading Acts 8:26-40, read Isaiah 53 as well. Meditate on this stunning prophetic portrayal of the sacrifice of Jesus. And consider God's providence in the Spirit's orchestration of this incredible encounter.Pray that we too would open our mouths to explain God's word by the guidance of the Spirit with those we encounter. And may we see God's goodness to bring near those who are far-off.

This Sunday we will consider the advance of the gospel into Samaria in Acts 8, showing how Christ brings joy, unity, and freedom even into a place long marked by division, idolatry, and spiritual darkness.Through Philip's preaching, the Samaritans receive the good news, experience real transformation, and are welcomed fully into God's people with no second-class status. Against this backdrop, Simon the sorcerer emerges as a warning example—someone who appears to believe but ultimately seeks to use God's power for personal gain and self-advancement. The gospel continues to spread despite human failure, the passage invites us to reflect: whose name are we really seeking to make great—our own, or Jesus Christ's?Pray that the Lord would give you a humble heart, willing to be examined by His Word, and ready to receive the gospel not as a tool for self-gain, but as the power of God for salvation.

Luke 2:22-35 this good news of great joy will continue to be revealed. There we learn that this good news is for more than just Israel; Jesus will be a light of revelation to the Gentiles.However, included with this prophecy of great news is a warning. The arrival of the long-awaited Messiah will be met with great opposition.However, we can be encouraged that the hearts of many will be revealed through him. This includes those with whom you share the light of Christ through your life!As you prepare for our time together, pray that we would be those who continue to share this “light of revelation” despite the opposition we may face for following Christ

Luke 2:15-2115 When the angels went away from them into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go over to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.” 16 And they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in a manger. 17 And when they saw it, they made known the saying that had been told them concerning this child. 18 And all who heard it wondered at what the shepherds told them. 19 But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart. 20 And the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.21 And at the end of eight days, when he was circumcised, he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Luke 2:8–14The angels didn't whisper the Christmas message — they announced it.This week, we'll sit in the fields with the shepherds and hear the good news of great joy — news so good that heaven itself couldn't stay silent. We'll see why God sends this announcement to unexpected people, what it means that Jesus is Saviour, Christ, and Lord, and how this good news moves us upward in worship and outward in witness.

This Christmas Season, we're fixing our eyes on The Fulfillment of God's Promises — and this weekend, we'll see how that Promise didn't arrive in power, comfort, or control…but in humility.Here's what we will be studying together: 

A quiet town.An unexpected girl.A messenger from God.A Messiah coming to fulfill the Promises.The announcement of Jesus isn't just a Christmas moment — it's the turning point of the whole story of Scripture.Every promise finds its “yes” in Him.Mary responds with humble faith:“Let it be to me according to Your word.”Join us this week as we dive into the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke and examine Luke 1:26-38

What do you do when the needs around you are bigger than your capacity?As we come to Acts 6, we're stepping into a moment where the early church hit a crisis — not of apathy, but of capacity.Widows were being unintentionally overlooked. Tension was growing. Unity was threatened.But instead of ignoring the problem or pretending they could just “do more,” the apostles did something stunning:✨ They acknowledged their limitations.✨ They invited the whole church into the solution.✨ They raised up Spirit-filled servants to meet real needs.And the result?The Word increased. Disciples multiplied. And the most unlikely of people came to saving faith in Jesus.This passage reminds us:The church doesn't flourish when a few people do everything.It flourishes when every member steps in with the gifts God has given.Consider as you listen:

❓What do you value most?

The early church was marked by wholehearted devotion — unity, generosity, honesty, and awe before a holy God.But the story of Ananias and Sapphira reminds us: God is not interested in partial obedience, spiritual performance, or selective surrender.God wants the whole heart — not the edited, filtered, Sunday-only version.Before you listen, take a moment to slow down and prepare:⸻

What would you do if you were told to stop talking about Jesus?In this Sermon, we'll look at Peter and John standing on trial before the most powerful leaders in Israel. They boldly proclaim judgment — and then astonishingly offer grace and forgiveness through Jesus to the very men who orchestrated His death.The result: threats to stay silent.Their response:

Have you ever had a day that didn't go as planned?

This sermon goes through Acts 2:42-47

Have you ever noticed that every birth story is different?Some babies come fast, some slow. Some are birthed at home, others in hospitals. Each one unique. Exciting. Life-altering.This Sunday, we are studying one of the greatest birth stories ever — the birth of Jesus' Church.After weeks of waiting, the promised Spirit finally comes — and when He does, everything changes: God's people are filled with His presence, empowered for His mission, and sent with good news to the ends of the earth, starting in Jerusalem.This weekend, we continue our study through the book of Acts, seeing that this passage isn't a dry history lesson — no, if you're a Christian, this is your lineage, your story.

Waiting isn't easy. Can I get an amen? Ha!Whether in line at Costco or in life's hardest seasons, whether in waiting seasons with an end date or open-ended ones, how do you handle waiting?Waiting for a wedding date.Waiting for a prodigal kid to return.Waiting for a spouse to heal from hurt.In Acts 1:12–26, we see the early church waiting on Jesus' promises and we see how Jesus continues to lead His Church through His Word and how He replaces Judas with Matthias.We also learn from the godly example of how the early church how they:➡️ Obeyed Jesus' commands.➡️ Get into His Word.➡️ Trust their King.We will be talking about all of these things this weekend: seeing how Jesus continues to lead His people and how His people set a godly pattern of waiting, getting into God's Word, and trusting Him to lead them.

How important is the Ascension of Jesus to your faith?In Acts 1:9–11, we read of Jesus being lifted up, taken into glory, and promised to return in the same way. The Ascension isn't just a footnote in redemptive history—it's a crucial moment that shows us:- Jesus' sacrifice was accepted by the Father.- Jesus is reigning right now as King.- Jesus has poured out His Spirit to empower our mission.- Jesus will return in glory to vindicate His people.✨ Two Things to Think About:How does Jesus' Ascension give you courage in a world that often opposes your faith?Where in your life do you need to rest in the reality that Jesus is reigning right now?

This Sunday we launch into the book of Acts—our origin story as the Church. From a small group of 120 believers to a global movement, Acts shows us that the risen Jesus is still at work through His Spirit-empowered people.We're praying big things as we dive into this book: that we would be renewed, reshaped, and bold in following Jesus and making Him known.

Ever had drama with another believer that felt HUGE…but later you realized it was actually small?How we handle those moments matters. This Sunday, we'll look at God's roadmap to unity in Philippians 4:2–13.

When Listening to God Hurts

How do you approach God when you have an urgent need?Do you find yourself “bargaining up” with your good works or “bargaining down” in unworthiness?This week, we will be in Luke 7:1–10 and seeing how a Roman centurion shows us another way—faith that rests entirely on the authority of Christ.This week, we'll see how Jesus responds to faith that says, “Just say the word.”⸻Two Things to Think About as you listen::1) Where do you place your confidence when you pray?Do you lean on your good works, your service, or your feelings of worthiness? Or do you hesitate because you feel unworthy?2) What does this story teach about Jesus' authority?Notice how the centurion recognized Jesus' word had power over all creation. What might that mean for your prayers and faith today?⸻Two Things to Pray through as you listen::1) Pray for a humble, confident faith. Ask God to free you from trusting in your works or wallowing in your failures, and to place your trust fully in Christ's authority.2) Pray for those carrying heavy burdens. Intercede for friends, family, or church members who need healing, help, or hope—asking God to work mightily because of who He is, not because of what we've done.

God's glory revealed in a storm. That is the picture David paints for us in Psalm 29, sandwiched between scenes of heavenly worship. God's power in the storm reveals to us his glory, calling all beings both earthly and heavenly to worship him. Read Psalm 29 and consider: do you see God's glory revealed in the world he has made? Does it lead you to awestruck worship? Pray that our hearts would be reoriented by the glory of God and what that should produce in us.

This week we studied Psalm 28. David offers a lament to God and prays for justice against those who give no regard to the works of the Lord. In this sermon we dig into the concept of biblical lament and how it is a powerful tool God has given to his people to help us walk through suffering.Read this psalm and consider if you have ever prayed a prayer like this. Do you regularly bring your pain to God? Are you strengthened by the knowledge that he hears you?

Confidence… then uncertainty.Ever been there?One moment, you're standing strong in faith … the next, you're wondering if God even hears you.Welcome to Psalm 27.This Sunday, we're walking with David through the emotional highs and lows—bold trust on one hand and honest fear on the other. We'll see how he prays when his faith is strong, and how he clings to God when everything feels uncertain.In doing so, we'll learn how to navigate seasons where both courage and fear are present in our lives - and learn how, in both, our confidence can rest in a faithful God who has promised never to forsake His people.

False accusations sting … but they don't have to sink you. Instead, they can be used to demonstrate our faith and deepen our trust in God as we wait for Him to vindicate us.That's what we are going to see in Psalm 26 as David walks through false accusations and, instead of trying to prove himself innocent in the court of public opinion, he 1) leaves the matter with God to sort out and 2) prays that God would use this season of being misunderstood as the means by which he might grow in godliness. He then gives himself to walking in holiness as he waits for God's vindication. Thus, Psalm 26 helps teach you and I how we can respond righteously when we walk through being falsely accused; helping us see 1) how to pray and 2) what to give ourselves to (holiness) as we wait for vindication.Here are two ways to prepare before listening to this sermon: 1️⃣ Read Psalm 26 and note: A) the things that David prays and B) the things David commits to.
2️⃣ Reflect on your last false‑accusation moment—how did you respond? Was it like David? How or how not?Then, spend some time praying:1️⃣ “Judge & vindicate me.” God - help me to not constantly live for the court of public approval; rather, let me learn to care about your approval and living righteously instead.2️⃣ “Refine me.” If you are currently walking through false accusations, ask the Spirit to burn away bitterness instead of letting it take root and ask that this situation might be used to refine you so that you might walk in holiness in every area of your life.

FORGIVEN ➞ GUIDANCE ➞ RESCUEDavid's stuck. He can't Google‑map his way out, so he asks God for two things on repeat:
1️⃣ “Wipe my mess.” 2️⃣ “Show me the path.”
Same for us—if we were wise enough, we'd already be free.

In this sermon, we're diving into Psalm 24 and the jaw-dropping reality of God's kingly presence. Before you listen, we'd encourage you to carve out some quiet moments to prepare your heart for this sermon in the following ways:1️⃣ Read Psalm 24 slowly, noting how the entire psalm reflect's God's holiness and glory.
2️⃣ Read 1 Chronicles 15-16 for some historical backdrop that will be mentioned in our sermon.Then ask yourself honestly (Heart-Check): Do your desires, habits, and priorities actually show a longing for God's presence, or just the appearance of it? Ask the Spirit to search and refine you.

God's comforting presence never clocks out.Whereas we are bound by time and space; while we close our eyes in sleep and can only be in one place at one time, we must remember that God is not like us.No, He is always with us. Not only in the green fields and beside the calm waters; no, all the time - meaning that He is with us as we walk through the darkest of valleys, promising us comfort, vindication, and a future that is safe and secure as He promises to bring us safely to His home, where we will enjoy His presence forever. That's what Psalm 23 teaches us to sing.It reminds us that we never walk alone, for the God who found us and called us to Himself will be the One who walks with us throughout this life and into the next one.Thus, Psalm 23 is this beautiful reminder that the God of all comfort never abandons His people. Before joining us tomorrow for our gathering, we'd encourage you to read Psalm 23 and reflect upon these things:1) How have you experienced God's comforting presence in your life? In the good times, as He has provided all that you've needed, but also in the dark valleys? How has God drawn near to you as the Good Shepherd and provided for you?2) Are there fearful situations that you are currently walking through? Today, is it a fight to remember these words: “You are with me"? 3) Are you practically resting in the awareness that your Good Shepherd is caring for you? In what area of your life do you need to be reminded of this? And are there those around you that need to be reminded of this truth? 4) How does knowing that God's presence never clocks out change your outlook for today? How about for tomorrow?Pray As You Prepare:

In this sermon, we'll be reflecting on Psalm 22 in a message titled “Forsaken by God.” We'll walk through one of the most haunting cries in all of Scripture: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” words spoken both by David in anguish and by Jesus on the cross. This psalm helps us see that even in our deepest sorrow, God is at work. Christ was truly forsaken so that we, in Him, never will be. Come ready to explore how our suffering, rather than silencing our faith, can actually become the very means God uses to advance His kingdom.How to Pray and Prepare:    • Ask God to soften your heart and strengthen your faith amid trials.    • Pray that those struggling with sorrow or silence from God would find hope in Christ's forsakenness for us.    •Read Psalm 22 in advance and meditate on how Christ fulfills it.Key Verse:“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” – Psalm 22:1

How do you respond when what you've been praying for finally comes to fruition?Are you someone who naturally moves on and thinks about the next situation or problem? Or are you someone who pauses, reflects, and spends time praising God for how He solved the situation and came through? Most Christians would like to say that we respond with pausing and reflecting … but we'd also admit that there have been tons of times in our lives when we've just moved on, forgetting to pause and thank God for what He's done.Well, this week, we are studying Psalm 21 … which comes immediately after Psalm 20.We wanted to point that out not just because 21 comes after 20, but because there is this tight connection between the two Psalms. In Psalm 20, there are these prayers for deliverance.In Psalm 21, we see that God has provided.God has saved His King. He has answered the prayers of the King and the prayers of the congregation of the righteous. God has shown Himself as strong and mighty to save. The righteous have this incredible victory.Thus, in this week's Psalm, we learn how David praised God for how he was delivered from the hands of his enemies and how his kingdom was established. However, we also know that this song is one that fits in the hymnbook of Israel long after David died. So, we might wonder, how did Israel sing this song after him, like in the exile when things looked bleak? And how does this Psalm point towards King Jesus? And how have Christians sung this song over the last 2,000 years?We will be exploring these things together in our gathering this week.So, here's our ask: before coming to our gathering, spend some time reading Psalm 20 and Psalm 21. See how God answered the prayers of His King and His people. And spend some time reflecting upon the many ways that God has answered your prayers. Then, spend some time praying and thanking God for the ways He has provided in your life as He has responded to your prayers. Take delight in Him as you do so, recognizing His strength and provision.

As we prepared ourselves for our gathering (where we examined Psalm 20), we encouraged our church to spend some time reading over and trying to understand the main theme and rhythm of Psalm 18.Why? Well, the reason for doing so is that David, in Psalm 18, reflects upon how God has delivered him from all of his enemies. Then, in Psalm 20, David builds upon what he has already said and turns to ask God to deliver King Jesus in similar ways. Thus, the themes of these two Psalms are tied together under the banner of deliverance for the King, with David asking God to do for King Jesus (Psalm 20) what God did for him (Psalm 18). As such, Psalm 20 is often referred to as a Royal Psalm; sung about the coming promised King who would fulfill the promise of God given to David in 2 Samuel 7. Therefore, it is a song of faith on the day of trouble, remembering how God saved David and pointing to how Jesus would be delivered on His day of greatest trouble. Through it all, we see how God never fails to do all that He has promised.

It's getting warmer outside.The flowers are bursting forth and filling our city with wonderful colours.We hear the old familiar sound of lawn mowers on Saturday mornings.And we have busy schedules around ballfields.Which means … Summer has arrived … well, almost, we are in Canada, after all

In this sermon, we will be finishing out our study of the book of Titus by looking at all of ch.3. There Paul once again focuses on the importance our good works being the fruit of the Christian life. Throughout Titus we have seen how sound doctrine is the root which produces good works. Just as fruit adorns or beautifies a tree, our good works should beautify the gospel we preach.Before listening, consider how the relationship between our theology and obedience relate to one another. How do you understand the way in which your love and service to others is part of your witness to your transformation by Christ? Pray that God will give each of us the spiritual vitality needed to be vibrant fruit-bearing trees we ought to be. And in doing so, pray that many would see how these good works bear witness to the transformative power of sound doctrine.

Have you ever noticed, when teaching teens to drive, that what is instinctive for you … isn't instinctive for them?You want them to be aware what's going on around the car at all times. One of the times when they don't instinctively do this is when changing lanes. So, you have to remind them that, if they want to change lanes, they need to physically turn around and check their blind spots to avoid accidents.They have to turn and look backward in order to go forward.In our text this week, we see Paul reminding us to do the same thing.He calls us to look backward and to remember the first time that God's grace appeared, bringing salvation (the life, ministry, death, burial and resurrection of Jesus). Then, he calls us to look forward to Jesus' Second Coming in hope.In this, we see a wonderful explanation of God's grace available to any who would come to Jesus. We also see how that grace trains us to leave behind who we once were and to live out our new identities as Jesus' people.We are to be an expectant people, a hopeful people, looking forward to the day when our Great God and Saviour Jesus Christ will return in glory. On that day, everything sad becomes untrue. Every broken heart is mended. Until then, we wait … expectantly. And as we wait, we do so remembering our new identity in Jesus as those who have been redeemed from lawlessness and purified, washed clean, by Jesus. We really are a people of His own possession.And we long for His coming when our faith will be turned to sight.

Making disciples.These are words that we might see on a church website and it's definitely ones that Pastors or Missionaries like.But, if we are honest, most of us have no clue what it means to be apart of “making” someone a disciple of Jesus.Well, this weekend, we are going to flesh out what this means as we study Titus 2:1-10.And what we will discover is that, for a church to be healthy it must not only have Pastors committed to teaching sound doctrine and living out their faith; no, many unhealthy churches can have that.A healthy church must have more.It must have godly men and women committed to living out their identity as disciples and their calling to make disciples. But, again, what does this mean?  Is it a 10 step program?  A course offered at Millar College?  A seminar we attend?This weekend, we want to explain how we practically live out this calling and explain what we mean when we use biblical phrases like this.For, if we are to be faithful to Jesus' commands, we have to know what a disciple is, and then, becoming convinced we have a role to play in helping other to follow Jesus, we need to know who to prioritize in discipleship and how to practically do this out. Honestly, our goal this weekend is to de-mystify disciplemaking and show you how you can get off the bleachers and into the game that God created you to be apart of so that we can be faithful to Jesus, who commanded us to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20).

In this sermon, we discuss Titus 1:6-19 and how to spot faithful and faithless elders. For more information about The Trails, please visit: trailschurch.ca

What does a church need to be healthy? How can you tell if a church is healthy or unhealthy?For many of us our answer to that will be more informed by our experience in the church more than what God's word makes clear. And thankfully, it is not quiet on the subject. We will see throughout the letter of Titus what Paul teaches is necessary for the health of a local church. It's not what we may think, nor has the prescription changed in the last 2000 years.We are excited to get into the book of Titus together!

Who is this “righteous” person who has power to heal when they pray?Is it me?  Is it you?  Is it some “super holy person”?And, are we guaranteed healing as Christians?If we gather the elders together and they anoint you with oil, is that the trick to guarantee a healing?Is the reason you're sick because of uncobfessed sin?There are so many HUGE questions in our text for this weekend and we can't wait to dive into them as we bring our study of James to a close.

This is a time of year with a lot of questions about Jesus, like:- Who was He?- What did He do?- Why was (is) He important?- Why in the world is He so influential today?There are answers to these questions all around us: magazines at grocery store check-outs, reels or shorts on social, schools give their answers and politicians this time of year have to decide what to write in their tweets as they seek to acknowledge the holiday around Jesus' death, burial and resurrection.In examining the questions that people give, it's clear that there is a lot of debate around Jesus. Some think Him a mystic teacher in the wrong place at the wrong time.Others think him a revolutionary who spoke truth to power.Still others think Him a prophet who spoke on behalf of God.But what do you say?  What do your Neighbours and coworkers say?This weekend, we are diving into John's Gospel as a church to answer these questions, landing on John 1:1-18 to see Jesus' identity and then shifting to John 3:14-21 to see how Jesus explained you and I can enter into the kingdom of heaven … and that's specifically why he came and that's why he's so important for us to believe upon. We can't wait to gather together to celebrate the risen Saviour this weekend.Be praying for those being invited to church gatherings for the first time - and pray that those who have heard the gospel hundreds of times would have hearts that are made soft by the Spirit.

What you believe about the future shapes how you live in the present.For example, how do you respond when the rich and powerful take advantage of you and seem to get away with it? When you experience unjust suffering, do you do so with an eternal perspective?Well, one of the foundational principles of theology is that what we believe shapes how we live. And James calls us to believe that Jesus is coming soon and when he does he will establish justice.And because we know Jesus is coming to bring justice, that changes EVERYTHING. Specifically, in James 5:1-11, with this perspective in mind we are commanded to live with patient endurance.As you read our text for today, spend some time considering how the return of Christ transforms how you live your Christian life. How should the reality of our future deliverance transform how we endure suffering in the present?Pray that God would form us into a people who live with patient endurance. That our view of the end would transform how we live in the present.

Do your words demonstrate someone whose life has been transformed by Jesus?Our text this Sunday, James 4:11-17, picks up on this theme and it's a continuation of James' admonition that we've seen earlier in this book for believers to tame our tongues.In short, James' desire is for the believer's life and actions to be consistent with the new identity and new life they have in Christ.Having just called believers to repent and humble themselves before God, James now turns his attention to humility in speech.  James calls us to fight the temptation to exalt ourselves in the way we speak. James takes aim at how we speak of those around us.  Our brothers, sisters, and neighbours. Some of the questions that arise in this text would be: Do we see ourselves as superior to others and talk down to them?  And how do we plan and speak of our future?  Are we presumptuous in our planning?  Do we boast in our own abilities?  Will we humbly submit our plans to God? Do we speak in humility looking to God to exalt us or do we speak in arrogance, exalting ourselves?James wants to remind us that the manner of our speech reveals the condition of our heart. What we say exposes what or who we worship. As Christians, we must speak truthfully and humbly from the overflow of a heart and affections that have been transformed by and are consistent with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.A heart of humility is the antidote to self-exalting speech.The question we must ask ourselves is this: When you speak, who is being exalted?

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Would you describe yourself as “wise”? That seems like a trick question, right?I mean, you'd probably need to know what the definition of “wise” is before you'd respond.  That's what we'd suggest doing as we walk into this weekend.As we come to James 3:13-18, we see that there are two different sketches given; one of the wise person (who has wisdom from above) and what their life is like and then one of the unwise person (who has … demonic wisdom).  In these verses, we see different heart motivations, characteristics, and effects (what is produced) from their lives.And they are polar opposites.

Accents. You know, those funny little ways that we learned how to say certain words which are dead ringers that we come from a certain country, people group, or family.  This weekend, we are spending time in the book of James considering how our words are like accents - dead giveaways as to what family we belong to - and they are indicators of what is going on inside of our hearts.Our words have this unique ability to externally demonstrate whether we have been internally transformed by the Gospel … or not.  Whether we have true saving faith … or whether we are deceived.Can't wait to, Lord willing, join with you all tomorrow and divo into James 3:1-12