Podcasts about faith works

SUMMARY  In this episode of the Faith and Work podcast, host Joanna Meyer engages with Tracey Gee, author and consultant, to explore the intricate relationship between purpose, desire, and calling. They discuss the challenges of discerning one's calling, especially in the context of faith, and how desire plays a crucial role in this process. Tracey shares her personal journey of navigating career transitions and the importance of recognizing and embracing one's desires. The conversation also touches on gender perspectives regarding desire, the consequences of ignoring it, and practical steps to identify and pursue one's desires. Ultimately, they emphasize the significance of engaging with disappointment and the treasure hidden within our lives as we seek to align our work with our calling. Wherever you're listening—Spotify, Apple, or YouTube—subscribing, rating, and reviewing the show helps others discover what we're doing here. It's a small way to support the mission—and it means a lot to us.  HIGHLIGHTS Excerpt from The Magic of Knowing What You Want "Our desires have something important to say. They shake things up in profoundly generative ways to help us create what the world needs. The more I work with people coming alive to who they are, the stronger my hunch is that our desires have a central role to play in us, and the world is waiting to welcome the beautiful work our desires are capable of."   On Question Overload  "And I noticed that when you ask yourself, what do I want? Usually what happens is that you start asking then 60 other questions. Like, okay, what do I want? Yeah, but is that really possible? Or if I could do that, could I pull that off? Like, I don't know if I, if anyone would actually hire me, does that exist? I don't know if I can afford that. don't know. Am I allowed to ask this? Am I allowed to want this? Then not only are we trying to ask, again, this question that I think is really sacred and really central, but then we get sort of hijacked by millions of other questions that quickly pile on top of it. those are questions often, not always, but often rooted in some fear, some anxiety, some uncertainty, right, all of the above. And then we're overwhelmed and we don't know what to do with that." RESOURCES Download the episode transcript here Book Recommendation: Parker Palmer, Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation “The place God calls you to is the place where your deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet.” ― Frederick Buechner, Wishful Thinking: A Seeker's ABC Attend Women, Work, & Calling Annual Event to hear more from Tracey Gee Purchase The Magic of Knowing What You Want Download our Getting Clear about Calling Group Discussion Guide  Listen to Part 1 and Part 2 of our Faith & Work episodes: What Does It Mean To Be Called?

How do you get your faith to work? Join Kenneth Copeland on Believer's Voice of Victory as he reveals how faith works when you align your identity in Christ. Find out how to take bold, corresponding actions; stand confidently in your identity in Christ; and receive every blood-backed promise He has given you!

Believers Voice of Victory Video Broadcast for 09/08/2025. How do you get your faith to work? Join Kenneth Copeland on Believer's Voice of Victory as he reveals how faith works when you align your identity in Christ. Find out how to take bold, corresponding actions; stand confidently in your identity in Christ; and receive every blood-backed promise He has given you!

Faith Works | Checking My Motives | 9-7-25 by Kearney eFree Church

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

Today's teaching is live. View our full livestreams on our website or download the omega church app: http://omegachurch.com/ https://subsplash.com/omegachurch-tx/app

August 24th | Michael Kelley brings us the next sermon in our series from the book of James, “Faith Works.”

Today's teaching is live. View our full livestreams on our website or download the omega church app: http://omegachurch.com/ https://subsplash.com/omegachurch-tx/app

Faith is not just a noun or just a verb.  They are both.  You may ask how can they be both?  You see you can't have faith without works but works are a result of your faith.  Faith in Jesus, not your works.  Works done for your glory or the glory of man will only lead to religious piety.  Works as a result of our faith in Jesus because we love Him and people, will have reward but the reward is inconsequential.  We do because of who we belong to.  We do because it is who we are.  We don't find our identity in what we do but because of who we are and who He is in us we, do.  We work.  We believe.  We have faith and we do faith!

Faith is not just a noun or just a verb.  They are both.  You may ask how can they be both?  You see you can't have faith without works but works are a result of your faith.  Faith in Jesus, not your works.  Works done for your glory or the glory of man will only lead to religious piety.  Works as a result of our faith in Jesus because we love Him and people, will have reward but the reward is inconsequential.  We do because of who we belong to.  We do because it is who we are.  We don't find our identity in what we do but because of who we are and who He is in us we, do.  We work.  We believe.  We have faith and we do faith!

Date: 08/10/2025Series: Book of James: Faith WorksSpeaker: Geoffrey Ekstein, Pastor/ElderScripture: James

Faith Works | Wisdom vs Knowledge | 8-31-25 by Kearney eFree Church

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

HOW TO MAKE FAITH WORK EFFECTIVELY | PROPHET SHEPHERD BUSHIRI

In this message from Pastor Finu, we explore Romans 4:13-25 and the kind of faith that stands firm when life feels impossible. Abraham's story shows us that righteousness is not earned through works or law but credited through faith in a God who raises the dead and creates what does not yet exist. Faith is not blind optimism but trust in God's character and promises, even when reality looks hopeless. Like Abraham, our failures do not define us, God's faithfulness does. Through the death and resurrection of Jesus, we are credited with righteousness and invited to rest in the assurance of God's grace. What if faith is not about trying harder, but about letting go and trusting the One who always catches us? Sermon: Faith Works Without You Series: Romans Speaker: Finu Iype Full Service: https://youtu.be/YdyDqJbHMHI Apple Podcast: http://thisisvillage.church/podcast/apple Spotify Podcast: http://thisisvillage.church/podcast/spotify Your Next Steps: http://thisisvillagechurch.com/nextsteps Village Kids Online: http://villagekids.online Give: https://thisisvillagechurch.com/give Website: https://thisisvillagechurch.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillageChurch/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thisisvillagechurch/ X (Formerly Twitter): https://twitter.com/thisisvillage TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thisisvillagechurch

Faith Works | Small But Mighty (Part 2) | 8-24-25 by Kearney eFree Church

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

Genuine faith will be lived out by people of faith.

August 17th | Michael Kelley brought us the next sermon in our series from the books of James, “Faith Works”

August 10th | Michael Kelley brings us the first sermon in our series “Faith Works”

Faith Works | Launch! | 8-17-25 by Kearney eFree Church

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

Welcome to Champions for Life online sermon player. We pray that each message will bless you by teaching you how to walk in love, live by faith and experience God's prosperity in every area of life. We know faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word

Faith Works | Tiny But Mighty | 8-10-25 by Kearney eFree Church

For this week's talk, we are listening to the third episode from the Faith Works Podcast, another Christadelphian podcast that we think you should be listening to as well!Click here to subscribe to Faith Works Podcast!We hope this strengthens your Faith and brightens your day!Thank you for listening, God bless, and talk to you next week.Send talk suggestions or comments to: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoodChristadelphianTalks@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠For Show Notes, visit our website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠GoodChristadelphianTalks.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Social Media: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ | ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram

Faith Works | A Faith That Works | 8-3-25 by Kearney eFree Church

Message from Ps. Alvin & Michelle dela Peña

Mentoring often sounds like the perfect way to steward your time in retirement—until you try it and realize it's not as intuitive as you'd hoped.For many retirees, mentoring seems like a meaningful way to invest in the next generation—a way to put their life experience to work. But what if we've misunderstood how mentoring fits into God's design for this season of life? Jeff Haanen joins us with practical stories and spiritual insight to help us reframe it.Jeff Haanen is an accomplished entrepreneur and the founder of the Denver Institute for Faith & Work. He is the author of An Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God's Purpose for the Next Season of Life and Working from the Inside Out: A Brief Guide to Inner Work That Transforms Our Outer World.Rethinking MentoringRetirement is often marketed as the reward for decades of hard work—a long-awaited season of leisure and personal fulfillment. But what if there's a deeper, richer invitation waiting for us in this chapter of life? What if retirement isn't just about what we get—but what we give?Retirement isn't the end of our calling. It's a fresh opportunity to steward our lives for God's Kingdom in powerful new ways. One of the most meaningful ways we can do that is through mentoring—especially when we reimagine it as intergenerational friendship.Many of us picture mentoring as a formal, structured relationship: scheduled coffee dates where the older offers wisdom and the younger listens. While these settings can be helpful, we've found that mentoring is most fruitful when it grows from an organic, mutual friendship.Rather than casting ourselves as sages who dispense advice, we're invited to be fellow travelers—learning, laughing, sharing, and growing together. Intergenerational friendships emphasize mutual respect, shared experiences, and spiritual growth over time.This vision of mentoring as a form of friendship has deep roots in Scripture. Jesus said to His disciples, “I no longer call you servants… I have called you friends” (John 15:15). The Apostle Paul invested in Timothy, Elijah mentored Elisha, and Naomi walked with Ruth—but in each of these relationships, we find more than just a teacher and a student. We see companions whose hearts were knit together in love and trust.In God's upside-down Kingdom, wisdom flows both ways. The older bring experience and insight; the younger bring hope, energy, and perspective. Together, we become more like Christ.What Makes Mentoring Thrive?Through our own journey and through observing others, we've seen several elements that make these relationships truly flourish:Delight in the Next Generation. Mentoring starts not with duty but with joy. When we find genuine delight in those younger than us—when we enjoy being with them, listening, and learning—we build the foundation for real connection. Affirm Before Advising. Many younger adults are uncertain about their calling or whether they have what it takes. A word of affirmation can be far more powerful than advice. Encouragement builds trust and opens the door to growth. Lead with Vulnerability. We don't need to have it all together. It's our stories of failure and God's faithfulness that often minister most deeply. Humility makes room for healing and hope. Commit for the Long Haul. There's no shortcut to transformation. Mentoring thrives when we're patient and willing to walk alongside someone over time—through victories, setbacks, and seasons of change. Ask Thoughtful Questions. Jesus often asked His disciples powerful, heart-revealing questions. We can do the same. When we help others discover truth for themselves, they take greater ownership of their journey.The local church is a natural place to start. It's one of the few places left in our culture where generations regularly gather. Maybe it's time to simply show up—to attend a young adult gathering, volunteer in youth ministry, or offer to listen and pray for someone younger.Our workplaces also offer opportunities. Even in retirement, we may still have professional wisdom worth sharing. Informal conversations, apprenticeships, or consulting can all create meaningful space for mentorship.Most importantly, we must pray. We've learned to listen—not only to our mentee but to the Holy Spirit. We ask: Lord, what do You want us to say in this moment? How can we best serve this person? Prayer is the lifeblood of all fruitful mentoring relationships.What If Retirement Looked Like This?Imagine if thousands of believers approaching retirement swapped comfort for Kingdom impact. What if instead of isolating ourselves, we stepped into churches and communities, offering our time, wisdom, and presence?We believe that mentoring may be one of the most significant contributions we can make in our later years—not only for the benefit of others, but also for our own joy and growth. As we give ourselves away, we often find our richest reward.So here's the invitation: Start showing up. Start listening. Start sharing your story. And watch what God does through friendship across generations.Help Us Equip Others to Live with PurposeRight now, more people than ever are seeking biblical wisdom to navigate their finances and their calling. When you become a FaithFi Partner, you help meet that need.Partners receive:Early access to new devotionals and studiesA subscription to our Faithful Steward magazinePro access to the FaithFi appJoin the mission today with your gift of $35/month or $400/year at FaithFi.com/Give. On Today's Program, Rob Answers Listener Questions:I'm trying to compare mortgage rates from several lenders, but I'm concerned that multiple hard credit inquiries will affect my credit score. What's the best way to shop around without damaging my credit?I'm trying to decide between setting up a Special Needs Trust or an ABLE account for my nephew. Can you explain the differences and help me understand which option might be better for his long-term financial support?After my husband left, I found myself in a challenging financial situation. Most of my savings are gone, and because of a traumatic brain injury, my ability to work is limited. I feel overwhelmed and don't know where to begin. How can I start to rebuild my financial life?Resources Mentioned:Faithful Steward: FaithFi's New Quarterly Magazine (Become a FaithFi Partner)An Uncommon Guide to Retirement: Finding God's Purpose for the Next Season of Life by Jeff HaanenBankrate | Lending TreeMovement MortgageWisdom Over Wealth: 12 Lessons from Ecclesiastes on MoneyLook At The Sparrows: A 21-Day Devotional on Financial Fear and AnxietyRich Toward God: A Study on the Parable of the Rich FoolFind a Certified Kingdom Advisor (CKA) or Certified Christian Financial Counselor (CertCFC)FaithFi App Remember, you can call in to ask your questions most days at (800) 525-7000. Faith & Finance is also available on the Moody Radio Network and American Family Radio. Visit our website at FaithFi.com where you can join the FaithFi Community and give as we expand our outreach.

Faith Works | Don't Play Favorites | 7-27-25 by Kearney eFree Church

Faith Works | James 1:26-27 | 7-20-25 by Kearney eFree Church

ABOUT THE NEWWe are a people of love and excellence who are result-oriented, spirit-led, word-rooted, prayer-driven, and kingdom-conscious. Led by Pst. Shola Okodugha, we are on a divine assignment to equip and raise men; to release people from strongholds that have stifled them from taking their rightful places, and to give young people an avenue for their God-given gifts to find expression.OUR CREED"As sure as God helps us,We will not give upWe will not cave inWe will not quitWe will not failWe will not dieUntil our job is doneAnd victory is won"——Partner with us to spread the influence of God all over the world. Give - https://pay.squadco.com/TheNewglobal——BROADCAST DETAILSMinister: Pst.Shola OkodughaDate: Saturday, July 19, 2025——Stay ConnectedSubscribe to the latest content: http://bit.ly/subscribethenewliveWebsite: http://wearethenew.org/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearethenew_global/#TheNewLive #SholaOkodugha

Faith Works (2025-7-16) Live Wednesday Evening Service with Pastor Curtis Hutchinson

Faith Works (2025-7-16) Live Wednesday Evening Service with Pastor Curtis Hutchinson

5. A - Faith Works by Love - Compassion - Pastor Bethany Schmelzer by Joy Church Eugene

5. B - Faith Works by Love - Going - Pastor Johnny Schmelzer by Joy Church Eugene

Ever wonder if what you're doing — especially as a mom — is really making a difference? Whether you're leading in a boardroom or just trying to keep up with the laundry, this conversation is for you. Authors Jordan Raynor and Kaleigh Cox join us to talk about the surprising influence of faithful moms in the lives of five world-changers they feature in their new book, Five Mere Christians. This episode will remind you that your work matters, even if no one's clapping. You don't need a big platform or a ministry title to make an eternal impact — you just need to be faithful with what God's put in your hands today.You'll learn:How the quiet faith of a mom can shape a legacy.What it really looks like to glorify God in your everyday life.A simple habit that helps you stay present at home.Encouragement for when you're doing the work but not seeing the fruit.Resources From This Episode:Order your copy of Five Mere Christians by Jordan Raynor and Kaleigh Cox.Join the Circle 31 Book Club starting August 1 to read this book in community.Struggling to connect with your kids? You're invited to an exclusive $10 webinar with the Chosen Care team to learn how attachment styles shape connection — and how to build better communication with your children, no matter their age.

Faith Works | Quick, Quick, Slow, Slow! | 7-13-25 by Kearney eFree Church

Through every sentence and paragraph that makes up Jamess epistle, it oozes with wisdom as to how the Christian can live out his/her faith. The epistle helps us understand what faith looks like while suffering, how it responds to both poverty and wealth, how faith in Jesus impacts our speech, and how our faith as Christians helps us navigate life in our upside-down world. The group of Christians James addressed his letter to were Jewish Christians who understood what it meant to be a marginalized people, even before faith in Jesus; but after belief in Jesus as the promised Messiah, they were also ostracized by members of their community, and for some, their own family members. So, who was James? Let me begin by stating the two things that we know about the person who wrote this epistle: 1) James was the half-brother of Jesus, and 2) he did not believe in Jesus until he witnessed His resurrection. Here is why I am mostly certain that James, the half-brother of Jesus (and not the apostle James) wrote this epistle: The apostle James died by execution under Herod before this epistle was written (Acts 12:1-2), and the James mentioned in Galatians 2 and Acts 15 is the brother of Jesus who became a predominant leader in the Jerusalem church. We are told in the gospels that Jesus had biological brothers who were born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus birth who did not fully believe in Jesus even though they grew up with Jesus (see Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 7:3-5). Jesus appeared to his brother, James, and then to the rest of His brothers, after his resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15:6-7). However, when James did finally believe in Jesus, he was all-in on who his older brother claimed to be, and his belief was backed up by his life, actions, and convictions. Not only was James all-in when it came to Jesus, but how he introduced himself in his epistle tells us a lot about who he was as a man of God: James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad... (v. 1). James does not introduce himself as the half-brother of Jesus, but as a bond-servant of God. The Greek word for bond-servant is doulos, and it literally means slave. In other words, James authority as a leader does not come from his biological relationship to Jesus, but his submission to the Lordship of Christ, not as his older brother, but as the King of kings and Lord of lords. The other thing to note here is that James places God and the Lord Jesus side-by-side, implying that Jesus words before James believed are the truth that he has since bowed his knee too (see John 10:30). I believe that James finally believed that his brother was the Messiah when Jesus appeared to him after He rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:6-7), which is a good reminder right from the very beginning of James, that no one who has truly encountered the resurrected Christ can remain unchanged by an encounter with the living Christ. James went from a doubter who grew up with Jesus to a believer who would identify himself as a slave to God, and held Jesus as the Lord over his life. The dispersed Christians James addressed his letter to most likely include hundreds of Christians who fled Jerusalem as a result of the stoning of Stephen and the great persecution Saul (before his conversion and was renamed Paul) and others brought upon the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. I think James originally addressed his letter to those we read about in Acts 8:1-3, Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned loudly for him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison. It was to these Christians (and others), and now to us, that James letter addresses. The two great themes that are repeated through this epistle are faith (a word used at least 14 times) and obedience to God as the fruit of genuine faith (there over 50 imperatives given throughout James regarding this). This is the reason for the title of my sermon series: Faith and Works. There were other titles I thought of while preparing for this sermon series that came to mind, such as: Faith-Acts, Faith-Works, but settled for Faith and Works. If you are looking for a verse that encapsulates the theme of James, I submit to you James 2:17, In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. With the time that I have left, I would like to direct your attention to three categories that James addresses in verses 2-11 that set the tone for the rest of the epistle: 1) suffering and joy (vv. 2-4), 2) wisdom and knowledge (vv. 5-8), and 3) poverty and wealth (vv. 9-11). Suffering and Joy are Compatible (vv. 1-4) Suffering and joy sound just as incompatible as water and oil do they not? Whoever wanted to sign up for a healthy dose of suffering? You might be thinking to yourself: Jesus did. You are correct in thinking so, but do not forget that on the eve of His suffering, we are told our Lord prayed while in agony over what He was about to suffer: And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground (Luke 22:44). Jesus even included in His prayer, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done (22:42). The world tends to look at joy and suffering as incomparable, but James gives us a different perspective, he informs these dispersed Jewish Christians who have lost their homes and loved ones, Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials... Notice that James does not use the word some but the word all when it comes to the level of joy that we should have over the various trials we will experience in life. Why should we consider it all joy when things get difficult in life? On the surface, it sounds like James is giving us the same advice Bobby McFerrin gave us in the late 80s with his one-hit-wonder song, Dont Worry, Be Happy. Some of you remember the song: Here's a little song I wrote You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry, be happy In every life we have some trouble But when you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style Ain't got no one to make you smile Don't worry, be happy Cos when you worry, your face will frown And that will bring everybody down So don't worry, be happy Did you know that McFerrins song was number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks straight and that he received a Grammy for Song of the Year for that song? If James told these Christians the same thing Bobby McFerrin wrote in his song, they would have assumed that James was out of touch at best, and crazy at worse! Thankfully, James is not telling Christians who face the various trials that come our way to fake a smile and repeat to ourselves: Dont worry, be happy. That just will not work! James also experienced the fear his dear brothers and sisters experienced when persecution came into their city, and he no doubt felt the loss of dear Stephen when he had his head and body crushed under a barrage of rocks that resulted in Stephens martyrdom (see Acts 7). James is not talking about putting a smile on your face or faking your joy after receiving news of a terminal illness, the loss of a job, or the death of a loved one. He is reminding us that there is purpose behind our suffering even when it is brought to us by the hands of evil men or rouge cells in your body. Behind your suffering is a good God who does not waste your tears nor your hurts. What James wants these Christians to understand, and what the Spirit of God wants us to know, is that the various trials you will experience are allowed into your life by design and with purpose. Consider what two other apostles had to say about the purpose of suffering in the Christian life: The Apostle Peter: In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ... (1 Pet. 1:67) The Apostle Paul: ...but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom. 5:35) It is also important to note that James informs us that trials will come. The question is not if they come, but when they come (v. 2). We will come back to the significance of verses 3-4 next week when we look at verse 12, but for now you should know that your trials are producing something in you dear Christian. What those trials are producing is the kind of endurance that is fueled by hope because what others mean for evil, or what the hard things in life will ultimately be used for is not your demise or destruction, but your good, because such trials are allowed for two purposes in your life: Gods glory and your good. What else could verse 4 mean? Such trials are wielded by the Almighty to bring about the following in your life: ...that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Again, we will unpack this truth a bit more next week, but for now, think of trials as trails that God has purposed to use, to bring about verse 12 in your life: Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Wisdom for Life is Found in God (vv. 5-8) When we walk through the various trials that will come, such painful experiences can throw us through a tailspin. This is why some deconstruct their faith and walk away from the Christian faith and ask questions like: How can a good God allow such and such into my life? You can look at your circumstances and draw from those things your own conclusions without any regard for how God intends to use such trials to produce something much more lasting and beautiful in your life. Think about how easy it is to walk through your suffering and the hard things of life with little regard to seek wisdom from the One who has called us to walk through such trials. The point of verses 5-8 is that all of life requires a greater wisdom that can only come from the One whose knowledge and understanding of your life and the world is infinite. The fact of the matter is that you really do not know what is coming in while you sit and listen to this sermon. You do not know if there is some rogue cell in your body that threatens certain parts of your body. On a Monday (June 30th) I was told that my uncle was in hospice and by Thursday morning (July 3rd) he was dead. This is why Jesus said, For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they (Matt. 6:2526)? Jesus did not just tell us to not worry but provided the best way to fight and push back our anxiety: But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you (Matt. 6::33). Listen, when the trials come in the form of waves or even tsunamis, if your faith is not tethered to the One who is sovereign over such waves, you will be driven and tossed by the wind (Jas. 1:6). The point James is making in verse 5 is that we do what Jesus told us to do: Dont lean onto your own understanding in the midst of your trial but seek wisdom from the God who wants to use your trials to produce what is lacking in you. Instead of asking, Why me? You ought to ask: Lord, please use this trial in a way that helps me know and understand you more so that I can live the life you have called me to live better. Instead of running to your own conclusions, seek wisdom from the One who sees the whole picture of your life. Instead of running to whatever solution you think is best, run to Him who knows what is best! Our Treasure is Not Earthly (vv. 9-11) Finally, regardless of what you have in your bank account, your position and status before God has nothing to do with what the world thinks of you but what God thinks of you. The real question is not how much you have of this world, but how much of your heart does the Lord have of you? What is your so-called faith? Is it just religion? Where or who is your treasure? Most of those to whom James was writing, were poor. With the persecution that came to Jerusalem, they had lost their income, property, and social status. However, there were some who were wealthy. For those who are poor, it is easy to conclude that God has forgotten them. For those who are wealthy, it is easy to forget God. The danger for both groups of people is to become spiritually near-sighted to the point that you fail to set your eyes on what it is that you did not work for and cannot lose. How can you experience joy in suffering? Where does lasting wisdom really come from, wisdom that guides rather than blinds? It comes from setting our eyes upon that which has been given and promised to those who have been truly saved by the grace of God through faith in His Son, to receive the gift of salvation that you cannot work for or earn. Those who share in James status as bond-servants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 1), are heirs of Him who spoke and owns the cattle on a thousand hills! The poor are to glorify in their high position as those whose inheritance and status is found in the King of kings and Lord of lords! The rich person who also is a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, must hold his/her wealth with an open hand in a way that honors God and serves His people. Why? Well, in the words of the famous missionary, CT Studd: Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last. Let me leave you with this final thought: When you are going through the hard stuff, know that because of your identity as a Christian, that God is more interested in your good than you can ever wrap your mind around. When the trials come, because you are a Christian this much is true: You are more sinful than you know and more loved than you imagine.

Through every sentence and paragraph that makes up Jamess epistle, it oozes with wisdom as to how the Christian can live out his/her faith. The epistle helps us understand what faith looks like while suffering, how it responds to both poverty and wealth, how faith in Jesus impacts our speech, and how our faith as Christians helps us navigate life in our upside-down world. The group of Christians James addressed his letter to were Jewish Christians who understood what it meant to be a marginalized people, even before faith in Jesus; but after belief in Jesus as the promised Messiah, they were also ostracized by members of their community, and for some, their own family members. So, who was James? Let me begin by stating the two things that we know about the person who wrote this epistle: 1) James was the half-brother of Jesus, and 2) he did not believe in Jesus until he witnessed His resurrection. Here is why I am mostly certain that James, the half-brother of Jesus (and not the apostle James) wrote this epistle: The apostle James died by execution under Herod before this epistle was written (Acts 12:1-2), and the James mentioned in Galatians 2 and Acts 15 is the brother of Jesus who became a predominant leader in the Jerusalem church. We are told in the gospels that Jesus had biological brothers who were born to Joseph and Mary after Jesus birth who did not fully believe in Jesus even though they grew up with Jesus (see Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3; John 7:3-5). Jesus appeared to his brother, James, and then to the rest of His brothers, after his resurrection (see 1 Cor. 15:6-7). However, when James did finally believe in Jesus, he was all-in on who his older brother claimed to be, and his belief was backed up by his life, actions, and convictions. Not only was James all-in when it came to Jesus, but how he introduced himself in his epistle tells us a lot about who he was as a man of God: James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad... (v. 1). James does not introduce himself as the half-brother of Jesus, but as a bond-servant of God. The Greek word for bond-servant is doulos, and it literally means slave. In other words, James authority as a leader does not come from his biological relationship to Jesus, but his submission to the Lordship of Christ, not as his older brother, but as the King of kings and Lord of lords. The other thing to note here is that James places God and the Lord Jesus side-by-side, implying that Jesus words before James believed are the truth that he has since bowed his knee too (see John 10:30). I believe that James finally believed that his brother was the Messiah when Jesus appeared to him after He rose from the dead (1 Cor. 15:6-7), which is a good reminder right from the very beginning of James, that no one who has truly encountered the resurrected Christ can remain unchanged by an encounter with the living Christ. James went from a doubter who grew up with Jesus to a believer who would identify himself as a slave to God, and held Jesus as the Lord over his life. The dispersed Christians James addressed his letter to most likely include hundreds of Christians who fled Jerusalem as a result of the stoning of Stephen and the great persecution Saul (before his conversion and was renamed Paul) and others brought upon the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. I think James originally addressed his letter to those we read about in Acts 8:1-3, Now Saul approved of putting Stephen to death. And on that day a great persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except for the apostles. Some devout men buried Stephen, and mourned loudly for him. But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and he would drag away men and women and put them in prison. It was to these Christians (and others), and now to us, that James letter addresses. The two great themes that are repeated through this epistle are faith (a word used at least 14 times) and obedience to God as the fruit of genuine faith (there over 50 imperatives given throughout James regarding this). This is the reason for the title of my sermon series: Faith and Works. There were other titles I thought of while preparing for this sermon series that came to mind, such as: Faith-Acts, Faith-Works, but settled for Faith and Works. If you are looking for a verse that encapsulates the theme of James, I submit to you James 2:17, In the same way, faith also, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself. With the time that I have left, I would like to direct your attention to three categories that James addresses in verses 2-11 that set the tone for the rest of the epistle: 1) suffering and joy (vv. 2-4), 2) wisdom and knowledge (vv. 5-8), and 3) poverty and wealth (vv. 9-11). Suffering and Joy are Compatible (vv. 1-4) Suffering and joy sound just as incompatible as water and oil do they not? Whoever wanted to sign up for a healthy dose of suffering? You might be thinking to yourself: Jesus did. You are correct in thinking so, but do not forget that on the eve of His suffering, we are told our Lord prayed while in agony over what He was about to suffer: And being in agony, He was praying very fervently; and His sweat became like drops of blood, falling down upon the ground (Luke 22:44). Jesus even included in His prayer, Father, if You are willing, remove this cup from Me; yet not My will, but Yours be done (22:42). The world tends to look at joy and suffering as incomparable, but James gives us a different perspective, he informs these dispersed Jewish Christians who have lost their homes and loved ones, Consider it all joy, my brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials... Notice that James does not use the word some but the word all when it comes to the level of joy that we should have over the various trials we will experience in life. Why should we consider it all joy when things get difficult in life? On the surface, it sounds like James is giving us the same advice Bobby McFerrin gave us in the late 80s with his one-hit-wonder song, Dont Worry, Be Happy. Some of you remember the song: Here's a little song I wrote You might want to sing it note for note Don't worry, be happy In every life we have some trouble But when you worry you make it double Don't worry, be happy Ain't got no cash, ain't got no style Ain't got no one to make you smile Don't worry, be happy Cos when you worry, your face will frown And that will bring everybody down So don't worry, be happy Did you know that McFerrins song was number-one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for two weeks straight and that he received a Grammy for Song of the Year for that song? If James told these Christians the same thing Bobby McFerrin wrote in his song, they would have assumed that James was out of touch at best, and crazy at worse! Thankfully, James is not telling Christians who face the various trials that come our way to fake a smile and repeat to ourselves: Dont worry, be happy. That just will not work! James also experienced the fear his dear brothers and sisters experienced when persecution came into their city, and he no doubt felt the loss of dear Stephen when he had his head and body crushed under a barrage of rocks that resulted in Stephens martyrdom (see Acts 7). James is not talking about putting a smile on your face or faking your joy after receiving news of a terminal illness, the loss of a job, or the death of a loved one. He is reminding us that there is purpose behind our suffering even when it is brought to us by the hands of evil men or rouge cells in your body. Behind your suffering is a good God who does not waste your tears nor your hurts. What James wants these Christians to understand, and what the Spirit of God wants us to know, is that the various trials you will experience are allowed into your life by design and with purpose. Consider what two other apostles had to say about the purpose of suffering in the Christian life: The Apostle Peter: In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials, so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which perishes though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ... (1 Pet. 1:67) The Apostle Paul: ...but we also celebrate in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. (Rom. 5:35) It is also important to note that James informs us that trials will come. The question is not if they come, but when they come (v. 2). We will come back to the significance of verses 3-4 next week when we look at verse 12, but for now you should know that your trials are producing something in you dear Christian. What those trials are producing is the kind of endurance that is fueled by hope because what others mean for evil, or what the hard things in life will ultimately be used for is not your demise or destruction, but your good, because such trials are allowed for two purposes in your life: Gods glory and your good. What else could verse 4 mean? Such trials are wielded by the Almighty to bring about the following in your life: ...that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Again, we will unpack this truth a bit more next week, but for now, think of trials as trails that God has purposed to use, to bring about verse 12 in your life: Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. Wisdom for Life is Found in God (vv. 5-8) When we walk through the various trials that will come, such painful experiences can throw us through a tailspin. This is why some deconstruct their faith and walk away from the Christian faith and ask questions like: How can a good God allow such and such into my life? You can look at your circumstances and draw from those things your own conclusions without any regard for how God intends to use such trials to produce something much more lasting and beautiful in your life. Think about how easy it is to walk through your suffering and the hard things of life with little regard to seek wisdom from the One who has called us to walk through such trials. The point of verses 5-8 is that all of life requires a greater wisdom that can only come from the One whose knowledge and understanding of your life and the world is infinite. The fact of the matter is that you really do not know what is coming in while you sit and listen to this sermon. You do not know if there is some rogue cell in your body that threatens certain parts of your body. On a Monday (June 30th) I was told that my uncle was in hospice and by Thursday morning (July 3rd) he was dead. This is why Jesus said, For this reason I say to you, do not be worried about your life, as to what you will eat or what you will drink; nor for your body, as to what you will put on. Is life not more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the sky, that they do not sow, nor reap, nor gather crops into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more important than they (Matt. 6:2526)? Jesus did not just tell us to not worry but provided the best way to fight and push back our anxiety: But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be provided to you (Matt. 6::33). Listen, when the trials come in the form of waves or even tsunamis, if your faith is not tethered to the One who is sovereign over such waves, you will be driven and tossed by the wind (Jas. 1:6). The point James is making in verse 5 is that we do what Jesus told us to do: Dont lean onto your own understanding in the midst of your trial but seek wisdom from the God who wants to use your trials to produce what is lacking in you. Instead of asking, Why me? You ought to ask: Lord, please use this trial in a way that helps me know and understand you more so that I can live the life you have called me to live better. Instead of running to your own conclusions, seek wisdom from the One who sees the whole picture of your life. Instead of running to whatever solution you think is best, run to Him who knows what is best! Our Treasure is Not Earthly (vv. 9-11) Finally, regardless of what you have in your bank account, your position and status before God has nothing to do with what the world thinks of you but what God thinks of you. The real question is not how much you have of this world, but how much of your heart does the Lord have of you? What is your so-called faith? Is it just religion? Where or who is your treasure? Most of those to whom James was writing, were poor. With the persecution that came to Jerusalem, they had lost their income, property, and social status. However, there were some who were wealthy. For those who are poor, it is easy to conclude that God has forgotten them. For those who are wealthy, it is easy to forget God. The danger for both groups of people is to become spiritually near-sighted to the point that you fail to set your eyes on what it is that you did not work for and cannot lose. How can you experience joy in suffering? Where does lasting wisdom really come from, wisdom that guides rather than blinds? It comes from setting our eyes upon that which has been given and promised to those who have been truly saved by the grace of God through faith in His Son, to receive the gift of salvation that you cannot work for or earn. Those who share in James status as bond-servants of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ (v. 1), are heirs of Him who spoke and owns the cattle on a thousand hills! The poor are to glorify in their high position as those whose inheritance and status is found in the King of kings and Lord of lords! The rich person who also is a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, must hold his/her wealth with an open hand in a way that honors God and serves His people. Why? Well, in the words of the famous missionary, CT Studd: Only one life, 'twill soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last. Let me leave you with this final thought: When you are going through the hard stuff, know that because of your identity as a Christian, that God is more interested in your good than you can ever wrap your mind around. When the trials come, because you are a Christian this much is true: You are more sinful than you know and more loved than you imagine.

Faith Works | God Is Good | 7-6-25 by Kearney eFree Church

Faith Works | Joy Through The Trial | 6-29-25 by Kearney eFree Church