Do you remember the song "Into the Unknown" from Frozen 2? Sorry if that triggered an earworm. There's a line that says, "I've had my adventure, I don't need something new. I'm afraid of what I'm risking if I follow you into the unknown." Have you ever paused to consider how that line relates to our walk with Jesus? There are moments when we don't know God's plan or what comes next, and it can lead us to question God and perhaps consider bowing to something else. It is in those moments that we have a choice to make: Stand for God or bow to the world. As we look at Esther 3 this week, we will see how Mordecai responds in a tense moment and unpack the implications for our lives.

What do you do when God seems silent and nowhere to be found? If you have ever felt that way, Esther is a book for you. It’s a story of intrigue, complexity, and deliverance. It’s a story where God is never mentioned, yet he is always there. As we begin our study of this book, it’s a story that invites us to be open to the reality that God is at work, even when we can’t see it.

As James concludes his letter, he highlights three dimensions of a way of life that is radically whole—personal integrity, persistent prayer, and compassionate community. Join us on Sunday, as we discover how God works through ordinary people to bring restoration, healing and hope.

Waiting is hard. We want answers now, relief now, and results now. Yet, life doesn’t always work that way. At some point, we find ourselves in situations that require patience. As James invites us to become people who are “radically whole,” he states that developing patience is part of that process. So, what exactly is it? How do I develop it? Join us on Sunday as we continue our study of James and learn how we can endure patiently.

In this week’s passage, James gives us a sobering warning about the toxic trap of hoarding resources and living in selfish luxury. This text invites us to ask this question: what values are influencing my financial decisions? Are we in a relentless pursuit of “more”? If the answer is “yes”, James gives us the solution to this problem—radical generosity.

James chapter 4 focuses on how double-mindedness leads to division in the life of the believer. James addresses outward quarrels and conflicts, inward turmoil and desires, and ways that believers need to humbly respond to God and resist the devil.

As it turns out, one of the most powerful forces on earth is something that each of us possesses—our tongue. Words have the power to build up or tear down, to heal or to wound, to point people toward God or away from him. In James 3, James confronts the surprising power of the tongue and exposes the divided heart that often lies behind our negative speech. Furthermore, he shows us how the internal work of the gospel can transform our interactions with others.

What does real faith look like? As it turns out, James warns that some have settled for a faith that isn’t real; in fact, it’s utterly useless. By contrast, he also gives examples of genuine faith in action. So, how do we tell the difference? How do we know if our faith is authentic? We will explore those questions as we continue our study of James on Sunday.

Do you think you are a good listener? One of the metrics of discerning if you are or are not is by how you respond to what you hear. Did you take action steps, or did it simply make an impact in the moment and no more? James is going to lean into that concept this week as we talk about "listening and doing" as it pertains to our relationship with Jesus and one another. 

This week we start a new series in the book of James. This is a hard-hitting book that addresses all sorts of topics—from hardships and suffering to conflict and speech. While the author discusses different themes, he does diagnosis an underlying problem that can sidetrack us in each of these areas. Likewise, with his diagnosis, he also has a prescription. It’s an invitation to embrace the gospel message deeply; it’s an invitation to be “radically whole.”