James 4:7-12: Summary:

We win the war within by cultivating the power that is friendship with God. And we cultivate that by knowing the deal (4:4), heeding His passion (4:5), and believing His promise (4:6). But James isn't done. Even the demons believe. The Christian then will exercise a living faith in God's promise of more grace. The next aspect of cultivating the power of friendship with God is applied humility. We must actionably humble ourselves, laying our full weight upon the low foot pedal of the great Fountain. Such humility consists in trusting the promise and wanting the power of God's friendship (4:7-9). And with our passions victorious by the presence of God, we'll find ourselves best positioned to promote the overall peace and righteousness of our local church (4:11-12), to the glory and power of God's grace in Jesus Christ.

Sermon Outline:

The power of God's friendship is given to humility applied. (4:7-10)

This power positions us to promote a pregnant peace in our church. (4:11-12)

James 4:1-6: Summary:

Wisdom befits God's purpose. As it is peaceable, it produces the church-wide righteousness that proves the new creation power of the risen Christ. But at new birth, the war has just begun. Our passions are alive to God and, yet, still imperfectly pulled toward self-exaltation. Our passions are at war within us and, when we slum with sin, self will forego sacrifice. Losing the war within, a church will experience civil wars, so that we'll lose sight of the battles we ought to be fighting together. We need to win the war within. So, how so? Simply through the power of friendship with God. In the new birth, a side was taken. God adopted and befriended us, that we might know His fatherly friendship and, with it, our passions knit to His own. And for that, He never runs out of grace for those who, acknowledging our need, run to Him.

Sermon Outline:

There is now a war within us---and we've got to win it. (4:1-3)

We'll win it by cultivating the power of friendship with God. (4:4-6)

James 3:13-18: Summary:

James sets two paths, two ways of living, before his readers. One is characterized by humility, gentleness, a yielding spirit, peace. The other is full of jealousy and self promotion. Only one gives off the scent of heaven. Only one has a lasting beauty.

Sermon Outline:

Show me something beautiful (v.13)

A canvas in disarray (vv.14-16)

The gospel made visible (vv.17-18)

James 3: 1-12: Summary:

"So also faith apart from works is dead," James declares. He then proceeds with a warning. We live in a world rich with opportunities to show our good works. We can help orphans and widows. We can do good to one another, sharing with those in need. All good things. A picture may be worth a thousand words, but it only takes one lying word to ruin a reputation. One harsh word to wreck a friendship. One careless word to call the bluff on our claims of "faith". Painting picture after picture, heaping up images, stringing together examples, James warns us that what we say speaks volumes about about the validity of our faith.

Sermon Outline:

Put faith to work...through diligent pursuit (3:1-2)

Put faith to work...by staying alert (3:3-8)

Put faith to work...by purifying the source (3:9-12)

James 2:14-26: Summary:

Building upon the Christian's vindication, James addresses the mere profession of faith. Faith without works, by which he implies that mere profession, is a no-good, useless, demonic, dead faith. It's no faith at all. It's not true, justifying, saving. A justifying faith is a living faith. From experience in the local church, stifling spiritual logic, and the testimony of Scripture, James warns against lip-service Christianity. As seen in the examples of Abraham and Rahab, works are the spirit of faith. They prove that one's faith is living. The visibility of faith proves the validity of faith as saving. Doing the Word of God justifies (or vindicates) that a person's faith is justifying. It's truly united them to the Vine, Jesus Christ. James and Paul agree: the faith in Jesus that suffices for justification is, without exception, a living faith, a faith living to the glory of God.

Sermon Outline:

Make no mistake---saving faith lives to do good in the local church. (2:14-17)

Make no mistake---saving faith lives to make orthodoxy visible. (2:18-19)

Make no mistake---saving faith lives to work out the Word, as Scripture shows. (2:20-26)

James 2:1-13: Summary:

James launches out in description of pure and undefiled religion before God our Father. As new creatures in Christ characterized by doing the Word of God, we're called to hold faith without a favoritism reflective of the world's value system. James offers three lynchpins: the faith that merges our thoughts with the mind of Christ (2:1-4), a grasp of election and effectual calling that emphasizes God's priorities in the creation of our heavenly assembly (2:5-7), and an accountability to the rule of our King and His Kingdom: love (2:8-13). Elevating and giving preference to one person over another on the basis of things that have no bearing on the worth of the person themselves is a sin that the Christian assembly will do well to put and keep away, particularly as we will be judged under the law of liberty and/or Christ and/or love and mercy. The merciless prove they haven't known mercy, nor will they be shown a mercy they've withheld; whereas the Christian, operating under a mercy that's spared us condemnation, will show a mercy that loves impartially.

Sermon Outline:

Gospel fidelity is a stronghold against sinful partiality. (2:1-4)

Doctrinal clarity is a stronghold against sinful partiality. (2:5-7)

Lawful accountability is a stronghold against sinful partiality. (2:8-13)

James 1:19-27: Summary:

To live above nature as children of God mainly manifests as being doers of the Word of God. God is after our practical righteousness. It's becoming of God's children to pursue a church-wide righteousness by the patient discipleship that best produces it. Given this, we're to put away all self-deceit. God's children will be doers of the Word. We'll know we're not yet what God's saved us to be, so that we approach the perfect deposit of heavenly truth and liberty with a heart for change, intent on putting truth to action. Hearing the Word does not constitute the Christianity that our Father affirms as His own. It's a means to a practical Christianity weighted for mightiest impact. It calls the tongue to Gospel edification, our time, to Gospel visitation, our lives, to Gospel sanctification.

Sermon Outline:

Don't be deceived---God's children will pursue righteousness. (1:19-21)

Don't be deceived---by righteousness is meant doing the Word. (1:22-25)

Don't be deceived---God isn't. The children will reflect the Father. (1:26-27)

James 1:13-18: Summary:

For James, the Christian life is the tried life. Trial is of two broad sorts: external pressures (1:2-11) and internal principalities at war (1:13-27). James doesn't want us to be deceived. Temptation to sin, bringing forth death, originates from within us. We're tempted with evil when our desires, corrupted by sin, convince us the evil is desirable. We are our own worst enemy. No one is responsible for one's spiritual demise but the person themselves. Don't be deceived. God's the Savior of sinners. While, by nature, our desire is for sin, God's desired and, therefore, willed to bring us forth through the Word of truth that, above nature, we might live to God. The new birth frees our desires, infuses them with light and life and truth, so that, when temptation to sin arises, love for God is there to put away sin for 'the righteousness that God requires.'

Semon Outline:

Don't be deceived, we are the sinners by nature. (1:13-16)

Don't be deceived, God's saved us to live above nature. (1:16-18)

James 1:5-12: Summary:Continuing the theme of embattled Christian living, James exalts wisdom as a pivotal excellency. For seasons where loving God unsteadies life, get wisdom. But how so? By asking God for it in faith. James simply exhorts believers to be believers. Doubting is the evil twin of faith. It reveals a spiritually unstable person very much in danger of compromise under trial. Against doubt, he offers 'articles of faith' for faith: God is God, God has what you need, God delights to give it generously, and God honors 'the prayer of faith,' the prayer that believes God as He is. And if doubt endangers, so too do the anti-trusts that enter through that door. Here, it's the anonymity and/or publicity of one's social status. Wisdom grabs ahold of what's solid and everlasting, however invisible. It helps us see through the fog of earthly status to the radiance of heavenly status, so that we can afford whatever the cost of living publicly for Jesus. Setting aside doubt to gain wisdom in application of its eternal perspective is basic to loving God without limits. Such are assured: God will grant them Life.

Sermon Outline:

When loving God unsteadies life, know what's pivotal for standing fast---get wisdom. (1:5a)

When loving God unsteadies life, know the perils to standing fast---overcome them. (1:5b-11)

a: The peril of doubt, and overcoming it. (1:5b-8)

b: The peril of status, and overcoming it. (1:9-11)

When loving God unsteadies life, know the prize for standing fast---live for Life. (1:12)

James 1:1-4: Summary:James introduces himself to dispersed but gathered Christians. As is required to serve them well, James is first a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The Gospel is underneath him as he launches into deeply practical Christianity---heavenly wisdom for living faith. He deals initially with their approach to the trials they're facing. The main imperative is to count it all joy when they face them. This heavenly calculus demands applying what they know to be true about (1) God's goal with Christ's people, (2) the nature of true faith, (3) the result of testing of it, and (4) the cumulative effect and/or gain of steadfastness. Joy is in likeness to Jesus and, insofar as trials produce that, we can count it all joy when we meet them.

Sermon Outline:

James, and what to know of him. (1:1)

Trials, and how to meet them. (1:2-4)