James continues to carry a sharp sword with his cutting words in chapter 4. Friendship with the ways of the world is like committing adultery against God.

The rust of the flesh, bitter jealousy and selfish ambition, will corrode us from the inside out. Why are these two things such dangers to us?

Bits in the mouths of horses, sparks of flame, and rudders on a ship. James adds one more to the list—the tongue. What do these things have in common? They’re small in size, but have huge, and sometimes devastating, effects.

It’s not enough to say you believe. It’s not enough to have a superficial belief. It’s not enough to just do good works. The Bible is consistent—we must have a proper belief, profession, and works. 

Oil and Water. Five Guys and a diet. Diesel and a gasoline car. These things are incompatible. So also is partiality and the church.

Can our religion really be ‘worthless?’ That is a strong word, but it’s intentional—it is designed to provoke us to action.

The antidote to a heart that is being lured into sin is a conviction of the unchanging goodness of God.

How are you leveraging the riches the Lord has given you for His glory?

Only with the Christian worldview can joy and trials truly coexist. The letter written by James explains how.

James, the brother of our Lord, wrote a “wake up call” letter to Christians who had been scattered in the Middle East. That letter, which we will be studying in this new sermon series, will serve as a wake up call for Christians today as well.