When you think of religious words associated with Christmas you likely think of joy, hope, or peace. But what about holy? Christmas is literally a “holy – day.” Holiness is a common theme in the gospel account of Jesus’ birth, and an important piece of our identity as Jesus followers. Today we consider what holiness is, and what it looks like in the life of a believer.

 “You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” - Leviticus 19:2 NLT

The wasteland will rejoice and blossom. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. He is coming to save. And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind and unplug the ears of the deaf. The lame will leap like deer, and those who cannot speak will sing for joy! Springs will gush forth in the wilderness…and will satisfy the thirsty land. And a great road will go through that once deserted land. It will be named the Highway of Holiness. It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways… (Isaiah 35 NLT excerpts)

Jesus’ earthly ministry brought healing, restoration, renewal, reconciliation – and opened for us the way of holiness. During this time before Christ returns, we are called to travel the road of holiness. The way we get there is not by our own efforts. Holiness is primarily God’s work in us through the Holy Spirit, but we do have a role to play. These are specific ways we can pursue holiness, as seen in the characters in the Christmas story. 

1) Complete Obedience 

 [Joseph] did as the angel of the Lord commanded and took Mary as his wife.  - Matthew 1:24 NLT

 While holiness is more than rigidly following a set of rules, it does involve some standards, since God’s expectations of our behavior are different than those of the world. Partial obedience is still disobedience.

2) Comprehensive Faith

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true.” - Luke 1:38 NLT

Scripture teaches that we are to “walk by faith, not by sight”, but most of us do not live this way in our daily lives. We tend to rely on ourselves and what we can accomplish rather than trusting God and what He can do. Real faith means depending on God completely, each and every day, for everything.

3) Concentrated Love

 “You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind…[and] love your neighbor as yourself.” - Matthew 22:37, 39 NLT

 Jesus made life relatively simple by giving us one command to follow. As author, Francis Frangipane, puts it, “A holy life is a life alive with love, compelled by love, filled with love.” Holiness means loving like God loves, not by giving an expensive gift, but by giving of ourselves. 

Conclusion

 Þ Is there some area of partial obedience or even total disobedience in your life? What would total obedience look like for you? 

 Þ Where are you on the continuum of walking by faith or by sight? Is there any area where you need to trust God more completely?

 Þ What can you do, during this special time of the year, to demonstrate concentrated, pure love for God and for those around you?

 Our Father in heaven, thank you for these days of Advent and this new year in Christ. Your holiness is filled with love and your love is filled with holiness. Come, Holy Spirit, fill our lives with complete obedience, comprehensive faith, and concentrated love so we can be holy as the Lord our God is holy. Transform this special season into true holy days so that we might become more like Christ – the one who came, is here, and is coming again. Amen. 

In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar—when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, his brother Philip tetrarch of Iturea and Traconitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene— during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the desert. He went into all the country around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. As is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet: “A voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him. Every valley shall be filled in, every mountain and hill made low. The crooked roads shall become straight, the rough ways smooth. And all mankind will see God’s salvation.’” (Luke 3:1-6 NIV) 

Luke is speaking of John the Baptist in this passage, and he quotes a prophecy from the book of Isaiah given some 700 years earlier. Sometimes we lose sight of the fact that God is working in the world and has been working for many centuries. We get caught up in the busyness of life and we become spiritually sleepy. The call of Advent is to “Wake Up!” from our spiritual slumber, allow God to refresh and renew us, and to see the world through God’s eyes. 

One key element of “waking up” is making time for spiritual contemplation, which looks like this:

1) Reflect 

Luke 1:5-25 tells about an incident when Zechariah could not speak.

Our lives can be very noisy, and we fail to develop inner quietness and peace.

Consider the “Quiet Game” challenge (devotional, p. 31-32)

2) Repent 

Luke 3:3 – John the Baptist calls people to a baptism of repentance. 

When we make time to reflect and find inner quiet, God often speaks to us about areas of our lives He would like to change. Repent is a good word! (devotional p. 39) 

Repentance is not just walking away from something bad, it is running towards what is good. Take this time to receive forgiveness from God and find a new direction.

3) Realign  

Matthew 11:2-6 – Christ instructs His disciples to go report to John all the good they see Jesus doing.

“We want life to turn out the way we think it should. It doesn’t work like that. Our expectations of others and of God are unrealistic.” (devotional, p. 45) 

We find ourselves frustrated and disappointed. We must realign our assumptions and expectations.

Conclusion

- How can you Reflect this week? How might you make more time for inner silence and contemplation? Is this already a part of your daily ritual, or something you need to add?

- How can you make time to Repent this week? When you find silence, what is God speaking to you about? How can your repenting be not just “I’m sorry” but constructively picking a new direction?

- How do you need to Realign your expectations this week? Are there areas of life where you are frustrated or disappointed - with yourself, others, or God? Don’t be afraid to admit your disappointment. What would more realistic expectations look like?

The word Advent means “coming” or “arrival” and in this season we celebrate Jesus’ birth (his first coming) and we eagerly anticipate His second coming. It is important for us to have a clear understanding of Jesus’ return, so that we will not fear, dread, or ignore it.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed…For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. - 1 Thessalonians 4:13, 16-17 NIV

1) The REALITY of Christ’s Return
John 14:3; Matthew 24:30 – Christ’s return is a certainty.

a) When?

Matthew 24:36, 42, 44

Only God knows when it will happen.

b) What?

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17; Revelation 21:1, 3-4

Jesus will appear in power and glory, followed by the creation of a new heaven and new earth where God dwells among His people, there will be no more tears or sorrow or pain, and the unrighteous and ungodly will be judged.

2) Our RESPONSE until Jesus Comes Again

a) Watch and Wait

1 Thessalonians 5:6; Matthew 24:42; Luke 12:37a; 2 Peter 3:8-9

We live with a sense of anticipation as we look forward to a glorious reunion with our Savior.

2 b) Work and Witness
2 Peter 3:11-12a; Matthew 24:46; Acts 1:6-8

Until Christ returns, we carry on His ministry in the world.

c) Worship 1 Corinthians 11:26

Worship reminds us that Jesus is coming back and prepares us for our future destiny in heaven.

Conclusion

⇒ How do you respond to the statement, “Jesus is coming”? Is it with fear or panic? With excitement? With a. sense of “hurry up”? With a “not right now” because there is something more important on your mind? 

⇒ How has your thinking on the return of Jesus been shaped by popular culture, books, or movies? 

⇒ Do you take the return of Christ seriously? How much is it a part of your thinking? How might you live differently if you knew Jesus was returning this year? 

⇒ What would each of these responses look like in your life, practically speaking? 
Watching and Waiting 
Working and Witnessing 
Worshipping 

He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. - Revelation 22:20-21 NIV 

We need the power of God if we are to live as real Christians. We need power to live with patience in the face of adversity, we need power to live in victory over sin and temptation, we need power to live with others and enjoy healthy relationships, we need power to live with controlled tongues and speak in God-honoring ways, and we need power to accomplish all of the other things we’ve talked about in this study. So James concludes his letter by addressing how we access the power of God.

13 Are any of you suffering hardships? You should pray. Are any of you happy? You should sing praises. 14 Are any of you sick? You should call for the elders of the church to come and pray over you, anointing you with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 Such a prayer offered in faith will heal the sick, and the Lord will make you well. And if you have committed any sins, you will be forgiven. 16 Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results. - James 5:13-16 NLT

1) Pray

Think of prayer as a relationship with God; it involves an on-going dialogue. Because of this relationship we have access to the abilities and resources of the other party.

Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years! Then, when he prayed again, the sky sent down rain and the earth began to yield its crops. - James 5:17-18 NLT 

2) Praise 

Praising God lifts us above our circumstances and helps us keep a proper perspective. 

But you are holy, you inhabit the praises of Israel. - Psalm 22:3 WEB

Come close to God, and God will come close to you. - James 4:8a NLT

3) Profess

Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. - James 5:16a

If we confess our sins to God, he can always be trusted to forgive us and take our sins away. - 1 John 1:9 CEV

Confessing our sins is powerful because it brings sin out into the open, and darkness hates the light. It also increases our accountability before others and helps us find victory. Confessing our sins is also powerful because it helps us know that we are not alone. 

We live in a world that tries to convince us that power is found in a position or by accumulating wealth or knowledge or fame. James gives us a radically different formula for how to live with power and it is described in our passage under investigation. 

What will you do about it?

 - How have you experienced God’s power through prayer? What prayer need(s) do you currently have?

 - What can you be thankful for, and offer praise to God for? Even in times of trouble, we can thank the Lord that He is with us and will never forsake us. 

 - Have you ever confessed your sins to another person? If so, what was the result? What precludes us from sharing the “secrets” in our lives with others? Do you have something you need to profess/confess? Who can you confess to? Will you commit to sharing your challenge with that person this week?

Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. (James 1:22a NLT)

How many of us know the right thing to do, but struggle to actually do it?

James is constantly reminding us that we must put our faith into action, we must choose to live correctly and to walk with God. This week, in James 4:1-10, he addresses the challenge of living in the world but not being in love with the things of the world.

 4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5 Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely? 6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up. (James 4:4-10 NIV 1984) 

 
How do we live in the world?

 1.     Recognize (evil and dangers) v. 4

 “Adulterous people” – to pursue the pleasures of the world is to be unfaithful to God

 What are signs we have become a “friend of the world” and an enemy of God?
 Are you jealous towards others and their successes? Do you have selfish ambition? Is it “all about you”? When you hear someone has succeeded is your first thought, “I could have done that”? When was the last time you had a conversation when you didn’t talk about yourself? These are just a few of the warning signs that you are “friends of the world” and preoccupied with yourself.


2.      Receive Christ (Submit) v. 7

 “Submit yourselves…to God,” or surrender your whole life to Him
 Is your thought process before you do something, “Would this be pleasing to God”? Do you love God more than you love anything in this world? If so, how do you show your love for God is a priority in your life? 
 

3.     Resist (the Devil) v. 7
 
 “Resist the evil, and he will flee from you.”

As children of God we have God’s protection and strength on our side, so we are able to resist evil and overcome temptation.

4.     Repent (Humble yourselves)  vv. 8-10
 
 “Come near to God and he will come near to you… Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts… Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”
 
We must repent (turn away from the things and values of this world) and come to God with a desire to be made right and pure. 

 
When we do that, God comes near to us and lifts us up.

What will you do about it?

From your experience and knowledge of the Bible, what are some of the symptoms of friendship with the world? Why is friendship with the world considered “adulterous” or makes you an “enemy” of God?

Do you recognize any of the symptoms of friendship with the world in your own life? If so, what can you do about it?

How can you actively submit to God today or tomorrow?

In what areas of life do you need to resist the Devil today? Do you need to repent of anything? 

What one aspect of this lesson would you most like to apply to your life this week?

Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. (James 1:22a NLT)

When James wrote his letter, people who said they believed were going on about their regular lives – unchanged by the gospel, maybe still worshipping idols or behaving immorally. They were not changed in any way by what they claimed to believe. This is still a problem in our society.

How to Live by Faith 

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God –  not by works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

All we have to do to be saved is believe (have faith) and confess. The verse above addresses the question of HOW we are saved, but James is not writing about HOW to be saved because he is writing to people who are ALREADY saved (they already believe). James is writing about WHAT your life should look like if you are saved.

This is an important discussion, because if we are wrong in this matter, it might affect our salvation. We might think we are saved, but maybe we are not. How do we know if we are saved? 

Dead Faith vs. Dynamic Faith 

In verses 2:14-16, James compares two kinds of faith: dead faith and dynamic faith. 

The primary characteristic of dead faith is that there are “no deeds” – no obedience to the instructions of scripture, no action. There is a warning in Titus 1:16 about such people: They claim to know God, but by their actions they deny him. And as Jesus told us in Matthew 7:2, “Not everyone who says to me Lord, Lord will enter the kingdom of heaven… I will say to them - depart from me, I never knew you.” 

Dynamic faith, on the other hand, is very alive. Dynamic faith has power and it results in a fully changed life. It involves both the intellect and the will. Dynamic faith is more than just knowing something, it is choosing to obey. Some Biblical examples of dynamic faith include Abraham (Genesis 22) and Rahab (Joshua 2 & 6). Their stories are marked by what they did – by how their faith affected their actions, their choices, and their life story.

 Discussion starters:

- Do you know someone who says they believe, but there has been no change, no obedience, no good works coming out of their life? (Don’t answer aloud!) Is there something you can do to help this person turn fully to God and bring their faith to life? 

- Do you know someone who lived with dynamic faith and has departed this world to be with God? Do you think it was difficult or easy for that person to obey God throughout their life, no matter the consequences? Were their times during that person’s life when their faith just didn’t seem to make sense? What do you believe was the end result for that person when they arrived at their eternal home? Is there something you can you learn from that person’s example? 

- What kind of faith do you have – Dead or Dynamic? Is your faith only intellectual, a matter of words? Or has your faith in God changed your life? Has it changed who you are – your character, your priorities, the way you treat people? Has it changed the way you live, your actions? 

If your faith has not changed you – it might be a dead faith.

- If you don’t want to be one to whom Jesus says “I never knew you,” what do you need to do starting today to let your faith change you?

Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. (James 1:22a NLT)

The Bible makes it clear there will one day be a Day of Reckoning, a “final exam” of sorts. In Matthew 25 we read that the great multitude of humanity will be divided into two groups before the judgment seat of God – sheep on the right, goats on the left. What determines who is in each group?

Then the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.” (Matthew 25:34-36 NLT)

Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, “Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.” (Matthew 25:41-43 NLT)

As the people of God, it is very important how we treat other people, especially those with challenging life circumstances.

How to Live with Others

James begins chapter 2 with this question: “My dear brothers and sisters, how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favor some people over others?” (James 2:1 NLT)

He goes on to give an example of how favoritism, or showing bias to some people, might occur. (see James 2:2-6)

The genuineness of our faith is most evident in the way we treat others, especially those persons that others overlook and neglect. God expects us to give them special care and attention.

Three things to keep in mind about how to live with others:

1) Have Awareness
Do you notice people? Are you aware of how others in our community are suffering? If you have lived here for a while, do you even notice signs of economic disparity and suffering? 

2) Pay Attention
Be intentional about noticing people and interacting with them. Be willing to consider some of your own implicit biases.

Do you have friends or acquaintances who are very different from you – by race, nationality, religion, economic class, etc.? If not, what do you need to do to reach out and begin to hear and understand the stories of those who are different from you?

3) Take Action
We must actually do something about the needs we discover. God calls us to help others.

Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. (James 1:22a NLT)

What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well” – but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? Faith by itself isn’t enough. Unless it produces good deeds, it is dead and useless. - James 2:14-17 NLT

What is one good deed you could do this week that will put your Christian faith into action?

Lynn Haven UMC offers many opportunities to engage with others who are in need. What ministry are you participating in? Do you need to find a place to serve? Email [email protected] for a list of opportunities!

This is our fourth week in our sermon series titled “How to Live” based on the New Testament Letter of James. According to scripture, life is a series of tests. These challenges help us to grow stronger, and to become who God intends for us to be. In recent weeks we have studied how Christians are to handle trials and temptations. For the next two weeks we are investigating how Christians are to live with other people, both inside and outside the community of believers.

When you hear the phrase “difficult person” is there someone that comes to mind immediately? (Do not share that thought!) Is there a difficult person you know who is a part of the community of believers? Keep them in mind as we study today.

Learning how to deal with challenging people is one of the most important life skills someone can learn. People are people and they come with quite a variety of personalities and experiences. We are called to love them all and to treat them well. How does James say we should do this?

How do we live with others?

1)    Listen to them 

My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires. (James 1:19-20 NIV) 

 2)    Don’t Judge them 

Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you—who are you to judge your neighbor? (James 4:11-12 NIV)  

We do not have control over the behavior of others, we only have control over ourselves and how we respond to other people. In addition, we usually do not know the whole story behind someone’s choices or behavior. Scripture teaches that we should embrace others more than casting judgment on them. 

We must be very careful not to say unkind or untrue things about others.

3)    Help them 

My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring him back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins. (James 5:19-20 NIV) 

For Discussion – How Do We Live Well With Others?

Listen to Them. How are you doing with the command to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry? Which one of those three is the one you need to work on the most? How might you change your habits to make progress in that area?

Do Not Judge Them. What is slander? Can you think of an example? What do you think you should do if someone slanders another person in your presence?

Help Them. Can you think of someone who is wandering from the truth? Did you know that we have a responsibility to help bring them back to truth and the community? What might that look like? How else could you be a helper to others this week?

Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. (James 1:22a NLT)

Learn more about this study at mylhumc.net/grow.

This is our third week discussing the “How to Live” sermon series that is based on the New Testament Letter of James. As a congregation we are following a reading plan through James and studying selected passages. Check out mylhumc.net/grow for more information. 

According to scripture, life is a series of tests. These challenges help us to grow stronger, and to become who God intends for us to be. Last week we studied trials – challenges that come upon us from the outside – and we discovered that when we patiently endure them and depend on God to get us through them, we grow in maturity.

Temptations are a different kind of test – Satan throws them at us to get us off course, to weaken us through shame and guilt, and to isolate us from other Christians. Satan wants us to fail these tests, but God wants us to pass them all, to persevere, and to live in victory.

God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NLT)

According to James, this is how we live in victory over temptation:

Remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, “God is tempting me.” God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else. Temptation comes from our own desires, which entice us and drag us away. These desires give birth to sinful actions. And when sin is allowed to grow, it gives birth to death. So, don’t be misled, my dear brothers and sisters. (James 1:13-16 NLT)

There are three important truths about temptation:

1) The Certainty of Temptation: Temptation is inevitable. It is a reality we all face on a daily basis. It will come, in a variety of shapes and sizes, in different seasons of life. 

2) The Consequences of Temptation: Temptation is simply when we face a choice – our response determines whether it becomes sin or not. 

3) The Conquest of Temptation: God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James 1:12 NLT)

The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure. (1 Corinthians 10:13 NIV)

Overcoming temptation is possible. God always provides a way to escape it. There are three things we need to live in victory:  Friends + Flee + Find Power in Scripture and Prayer

For Discussion:

What kind of temptations do you deal with on a regular basis? (You do not have to share these with everyone, but you must be honest with yourself or you will never win the struggle against them!)

Can you explain the sin cycle of “Desire --> Deception --> Disobedience --> Death” in your own words? Talk through each step and come up with an example of what this might look like.

Which part of the “Friends + Flee + Find Power in Scripture and Prayer” are you strongest in? The weakest? What do you need to do to strengthen your weak area and find victory over temptation?

Don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. (James 1:22a NLT)

This is our second week in our sermon series titled “How to Live” based on the New Testament Letter of James. This week Pastor Terry and Pastor Chris discuss How to Live with Patience. 

Discussion Questions:
On a scale of 1 to 10, how patient of a person are you? Would your spouse or best friend agree with the score you just gave yourself? Are there some things you are very patient about, and other things that just make you crazy? Share some examples of both in your journal or with a group. 

How are we supposed to live with patience in difficult circumstances?

How do you handle difficult people in your life?

Describe a time when your faith was tested and you persevered. How has that experience changed you as a person? How has someone being patient with you or you being patient with someone else proved to be a blessing?

Make a list of the things this last week that have challenged your patience. Are more difficult circumstances or difficult people involved? What can you do to practice patience in these and similar situations this next week? 

Learn more at mylhumc.net/grow.