Podcasts about james 1:2-4

Anxiety and fear are real responses, but they are meant to counsel us, not imprison us. In His own suffering, Jesus showed that surrender brings strength and that anxious thoughts can point us to our deepest longings to feel significant, accepted, and secure. But these needs are fully met in Christ. When we reframe our life's telos around Him, anxiety becomes a doorway to deeper trust, joy, and freedom.

Is something currently testing your faith? Are you struggling with difficult relationships? Being offended and angry with difficult people is inevitable but living offended and angered by difficult people is a choice. This sermon introduces our study on trials and how they test our faith, especially through difficult relationships. Pastor Scott reminds us that trials are normal, can be a source of joy, and can transform us by building steadfastness in our lives.  

The lordship of Jesus is a wonderful thing—you just have to surrender to enjoy it. Joy is a powerful force. In this sermon, Pastor Bill Johnson teaches about the lordship of Jesus and how we can come to enjoy it. Throughout Scripture, we're invited, encouraged, and commanded to choose and partner with joy. What implications does it have on our faith? How does it affect the plans of the enemy? Find the answers to these questions, Biblical backing, and more as you join us for this message.

When was the last time you were really excited about a spiritual trial in your life? Never? Well, wait till you hear what James has to say about that. Welcome to the Daily Devo. If you are new here, we study our way through the bible book-by-book, chapter-by-chapter, and day-by-day. I want you to show up here every day. Here is what you will get: daily devotionals through a chapter for 6 days and, on day 7, a study of the whole chapter. Grab your James Scripture Journal, take notes, and follow along. Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. — James 1:2-4 Highlight these key verses. They introduce the first of 12 factors James addresses to help us “Grow Up Spiritually”—trials. No one likes trials, especially the kind that hit you out of nowhere—a family sickness, job loss, or tragedy. No one celebrates those moments. But that's not what James means by “Count it all joy.” He's urging us to look beyond the trial to see its purpose. Trials refine us. They produce steadfastness and build a full, complete faith. Take a moment today to reflect on a current or past trial. Instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” ask, “What is God teaching me?” Write it down. Too often, we rush through trials without recognizing how God is using them to grow us. The other day, my wife and I were hit with an unexpected expense. My gut response? Definitely not joy. But once I got past my irritation, I realized God was teaching me something practical—plan better for emergencies. Even I have to work at this, just like you. Complaining won't help when we worship a God who uses trials to refine us. Remember, trials aren't setbacks—they're setups for spiritual growth. Sometimes, you just need to stop long enough to see how. #SpiritualGrowth, #FaithThroughTrials, #CountItAllJoy Ask This: What trial are you facing today, and how might God be using it to grow your faith? How can shifting your focus from "why me" to "what's God teaching me" change your perspective on trials? What has a past trial taught you about steadfastness and trusting God's refining process? How does seeing trials as spiritual growth opportunities help you embrace them with joy? Do This: Ask, “What is God teaching me?” Pray This: Lord, help me to see trials not as burdens but as opportunities to grow in faith and steadfastness. Teach me to trust Your refining work in my life, even when it's hard to understand. Amen. Play This: Teach Me To Obey.

Spiritual Fitness Coach Caleb White shares some biblical navigation skills to help us stay the course today and persevere throughout the journey of life.Just released!  Our new Work in Progress Spiritual Fitness Journal introduces you to Back to the Bible's proven four-step process for spiritual transformation —a daily transformation that makes each one of us a beautiful work in progress!Click the link here and get your copy today with a gift of any amount.Thank you for supporting the mission of Christ.

Jenga: It Needs to be Done

Are you truly consistently joyful, day in and day out? Or is joy elusive or, at best, a “come and go” type of thing? Have you given up on expecting a consistently joyful life? Are your analytical mind and your achieving will robbing you of joy, often manifesting in troubling late nights wrangling with issues? Join Kevin as we look at what seems to be God's recipe for consistent joy, even for analyticals and acheivers! // Download this episode's Application & Action questions and PDF transcript at whitestone.org.

With so many of our kids experiencing and being treated for depression, it's important that we develop a biblical perspective on depression that will help us help our kids walk through the dark periods they may be experiencing. In his book Depression: A Stubborn Darkness, Ed Welch says that “depression is painful. It is a form of suffering.” Welch reminds readers that almost every page of scripture offers insights, direction, and encouragement about suffering, including the fact that suffering serves a purpose in our sovereign God's grand scheme and design to bring us into conformity to His image. What does James 1:2-4 have to say about depression and suffering? – “Consider it pure joy my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Depression can be a catalyst for spiritual growth rather than a reason for despair.

Jeff Maness – April 19, 2020 In times of trouble, many people begin to question whether this is the end of the world. In this message, we’re going to see how being ready for the end is much more important than knowing when it will come. Is This The End? Mark 13:32-33 32 “However, no...

Jeff Maness – April 19, 2020 In times of trouble, many people begin to question whether this is the end of the world. In this message, we’re going to see how being ready for the end is much more important than knowing when it will come. Is This The End? Mark 13:32-33 32 “However, no...

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Week 3 of "Asking For A Friend"

This message from Pastor Wade will help demonstrate the Cycle of Christian growth (James 1:2-4) and how we must make this an on-going process in our lives. We also learned how to faithfully stand in obedience! This obedience will allow JESUS to confer upon us the Kingdom as HE promised in Luke 22:28-30!

This message from Pastor Wade will help demonstrate the Cycle of Christian growth (James 1:2-4) and how we must make this an on-going process in our lives. We also learned how to faithfully stand in obedience! This obedience will allow JESUS to confer upon us the Kingdom as HE promised in Luke 22:28-30!

This message from Pastor Wade will help demonstrate the Cycle of Christian growth (James 1:2-4) and how we must make this an on-going process in our lives. We also learned how to faithfully stand in obedience! This obedience will allow JESUS to confer upon us the Kingdom as HE promised in Luke 22:28-30!

This message from Pastor Wade will help demonstrate the Cycle of Christian growth (James 1:2-4) and how we must make this an on-going process in our lives. We also learned how to faithfully stand in obedience! This obedience will allow JESUS to confer upon us the Kingdom as HE promised in Luke 22:28-30!

This message from Pastor Wade will help demonstrate the Cycle of Christian growth (James 1:2-4) and how we must make this an on-going process in our lives. We also learned how to faithfully stand in obedience! This obedience will allow JESUS to confer upon us the Kingdom as HE promised in Luke 22:28-30!

Refusal to give up is key if we are going to grow up in all things. To continue to mature we have to have a growth mindset. We need to learn to stick with it and not give up when it gets hard or uncomfortable.