James Sermons Archives - Covenant United Reformed Church

Moses on Mount Nebo is the prophet who failed to heed the word of the Lord. He was told to speak to the Rock in Numbers 20, but instead he struck the rock in anger. Moses dying outside the land of Canaan is the consequence of the "do this and live ethic". James cites the commands from the book of the law, but is James laying out the same ethic of do this and live? Please stay tuned as we hear, "The Law of Liberty."

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The prophet Amos speaks of the Lord bringing his judgment against the nations and even Israel herself. Despite this warning, there is the note of comfort in chapter 9. Amos assures the Israelites that the Lord has not set aside His covenant to Abraham for He will see to it that people from the nations will be called by his name. James exhorts the dear brothers in the Lord to remember who has called the lowly making them the rich. It is none other than the Lord of Glory. Please stay tuned as we hear, "For Richer or Poorer."

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Moses told Israel that Israel will be a holy Nation and they will be a priestly people. The prophets came to the Isrealites telling them that they have fallen away because they did not care for the poor, the orphans, and the widows. Is James saying the same thing to the Church or is James merely stating the binding effect of the same law, but declaring a different application? Please stay tuned as we hear, "Mirroring our Inheritance."

The post Mirroring our Inheritance (James 1:19-27) appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

The apostle Paul exhorts the saints in light of the Holy Spirit being present in them. For the apostle Paul we live in the power of the age to come as we are grounded in Christ. James is doing something very similar, but with a different emphasis. For the apostle Paul entering the age to come is assumed and at times mentioned explicitly. James on the other hand calls us to see ourselves as the New Israel journeying to Canaan. We are to keep our eyes on that final goal and staying focused through this age. So in 1:13-18 James presents the challenge to us to journey as those born from God.

The post Contrasting Births (James 1:13-18) appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

We are all familiar with the popular slogan, "Don't Worry Be Happy." James tells us to consider it a joy to undergo trials. Is James merely telling us to smile and the trials will go away? Or is there more to the substance of his statement. Please stay tuned as we listen to "The Refining Fire of Steadfastness."

The post The Refining Fire of Steadfastness (James 1:2-12) appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.

Martin Luther called the book of James an Epistle of Straw. Luther did not think that this book belonged in the canon of scripture. However, when we understand the implications of "the Lord Jesus Christ" we will see that James has a consistent view of the realization of the blessings of Christ even as we live in an exile situation away from heaven.

The post The Epistle of Straw? (James 1:1) appeared first on Covenant United Reformed Church.