Text: James 1:19-27

Main Idea: True Religion is not just a matter of hearing but faithfully obeying God’s Word.

Sermon Outline:

I. How Do These Verses Contribute to the Message of Chapter One?

II. How Does the Implanted Word Produce the Righteousness of God? (James 1:19–21)

III. Why Are We So Prone to Self-Deception? (James 1:22–25)

A. We Misunderstand the Goal of Hearing (James 1:22

B. We Misunderstand the Function of God’s Word (James 1:23–25)

C. We Fail to Recognize the Blessing that Obedience Brings (James 1:25)

IV. What is the Difference Between Empty and Undefiled Religion? (James 1:26–27)

Text: James 1:13-18

Main Idea: God may test our faith, but he will never, ever, tempt us to sin.

Sermon Outline:

I. The True Source of Our Temptations (James 1:13–15)

II. The Flawless Nature of God’s Activity (James 1:16–18)

III. The Bottom Line

Text: James 1:5-12

Main Idea: Christians mature through the crucible of trials as they humbly pursue God’s help in faith-filled prayer.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Promise of Wisdom and Qualification of Faith (James 1:5–8)

II. The Question of Poverty and Riches (James 1:9–11)

III. The Promise of Perseverance (James 1:12)

Text: James 1:2-4

Main Idea: Christians mature through the crucible of trials not the comforts of an easy-going life. 

Sermon Outline:

I. The Mindset that Leads to Maturity (James 1:2)

II. The Goal of God’s Testing (James (1:3–4)

III. The God-Ordained Path to Maturity (1:3–4)

Text: James 1:1

Main Idea: James authored this letter to comfort his former church members in the midst of their unjust suffering and to confront them for the worldliness continued to define their daily lives.

Sermon Outline:

I. Who Was James?

II. Who Was James Writing To?

III. Why Did James Write This Book in the First Place?

A. To Comfort 

B. To Confront 

Text: Luke 12:22–31

Main Idea: Anxiety is the self-defeating fruit of an unbelieving heart. 

Sermon Outline:

I. Why Did Jesus Choose to Address the Issue of Anxiety?

II. How Can Ravens and Lilies Help Me With my Anxiety?

III. What Does My Anxiety Reveal About My Faith?

Guest Speaker - Elder Greg Griesemer

Text: Matthew 6:5-15

Sermon Outline:

1) Talk to God Because He is Your ­­­­______________ Father

2) Talk to God Because He is Your ­­­­­______________ Father

3) Talk to Dad ____________

4) Talk to Dad ____________

A) Talk about what _______ simply __________

B) Talk about what _______ simply __________

Text: Luke 9:18–27

Main Idea: Our self-denying pursuit of Jesus ensures the kind of “profit” that our self-indulging pursuits can never produce. 

I. The Foundation of Self-Denying Discipleship (Luke 9:18–22)

II. The Call to Self-Denying Discipleship (Luke 9:23)

III. ThePromise of Self-Denying Discipleship (Luke 24–27)

Text: Luke 5:27-32

Main Point: Jesus didn’t come to coddle sinners in their sin but to call sinners to repentance.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Sinner (Luke 5:27–28)

II. The Scandal (Luke 5:29–30)

III. The Surprising Goal of Jesus’ “Tolerance” (Luke 5:31–32)

Text: Luke 5:17-26

Main Point: Jesus came to deal with the disability that defines all people— their inability to overcome their sin and be reconciled to God.

Sermon Outline:

I. The Problem (Luke 5:17–19)

II. The Proclamation (Luke 5:20–21)

III. The Point (Luke 5:22–26)

IV. Two Implications

A. While Jesus may not heal every person who prays for physical healing, he forgives every person who comes to him in humble repentance and faith.

B. Enthusiasm for Jesus and participation in things related to Jesus are not the same thing as faith in Jesus.