Orangeburg (SC) Church of Christ Audio

The book of James is very practical, and perhaps the entire book could be summarized by the phrase, “pure religion.”  But in this lesson we focus on a small, but important section of the book that details three aspects of pure religion: Hearing AND Doing, Minding Our Tongues, and Loving God and Others.

Speaker: Justin P. Sivley

What do I do now?  How is this part of God’s plan? It’s not suppose to be this way.  These are common questions when we are going through periods of trial, and we do not understand. But God assures us that he is always working, even if he is doing something that we don’t understand.  But we can rest knowing he is working, keep walking by faith, and keep praising God.

Speaker: Justin P. Sivley

We live in a world where it is not uncommon for people to show favoritism.  James speaks to that in the second chapter of his short letter, and warns that it should not be that way with Christians.  To show favoritism is a violation of the law, and it is an affront to the very nature of God, who shows no partiality Himself.

Teacher: Allen Hutchison 

In the aftermath of the raising of Lazarus, many believe in Jesus, but some run off and tell the Pharisees what has happened, setting in motion a plan that will lead to the cross. Meanwhile, Jesus withdraws for a period of time before returning to Bethany just before the Passover.

Teacher: Justin P. Sivley

Most people don’t like being tested, but it is a reality that we must face. Temptation is a test of our faith in God, and James reveals to us how that temptation manifests.  But we have assurance from God’s inspired word that when we endure the test, we will be blessed.

Speaker: Justin P. Sivley

The people of Zephaniah’s day believed that they could serve the Lord and serve the false gods of the people who lived around them. They thought they could have it both ways, but nothing could be further from the truth. As Jesus makes plain in Matthew 6, no man can serve two masters. Ultimately the choice we have is that of choosing between serving God and serving Satan.  What choice will you make?

Speaker: Justin P Sivley

Overcoming temptation is not done without effort.  As God’s people, we always want to do what is right, but in order to make sure we are doing what is right, we must recieve the word of God and put it into practice.  We must be doers of the word and not hearers only.

Our lesson material for this quarter comes from the study, “Looking at the Man in the Mirror, a Study of James” from the Cornerstone of Our Faith series by 21st Century Christian. Available at this link.

Teacher: Matt Burleson

When Jesus arrived in Bethany, Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days.  No one would have believed it possible for him to be raised, but Jesus, filled with emotion, did exactly that.

Teacher: Justin P Sivley

Christians are elect of God.  But what do we mean with the use of the term elect?  Peter gives us some clues as he opens his letter to the elect exiles in northern Asia minor.

Speaker: Justin P. Sivley

What does it mean to be away from the presence of the Lord?  Though sometimes those words are used with regard to judgement, it should be remembered that there is nowhere we can go in this world that God is not there. Realizing that should be both a warning and a comfort to us, as we recognize that God sees all, but also that is is always by our side. 

Speaker: Justin P. Sivley