Sharon Church | Sermons

The Book of James is a letter to struggling Christians encouraging them to stay faithful in the face of great suffering. It is  full of practical wisdom and truth to help us know and follow God's plan for our flourishing. In this passage, James addresses an issue that he considers to be a serious sin happening among the church communities - favoritism. He sees it as an affront to the Gospel and wants them to see it the same way.

The Book of James is a letter to struggling Christians encouraging them to stay faithful in the face of great suffering. It is  full of practical wisdom and truth to help us know and follow God's plan for our flourishing. In this passage, James is challenging his readers to not stop at hearing but to continue in doing. The promise is that the person who hears AND does will be blessed in his doing. 

The Book of James is a letter to struggling Christians encouraging them to stay faithful in the face of great suffering. It is  full of practical wisdom and truth to help us know and follow God's plan for our flourishing. 

In James 1:19-21 the context is clearly about the Word - specifically the Gospel, generally the Word of God. We must be eager to hear what God has to say to us - especially in times of struggle. However, we will often hear things we don't like. We will be challenged and convicted and tempted to grow bitter. James is begging his beloved brothers not to do that but instead to receive the conviction with meekness.

The Book of James is a letter to struggling Christians encouraging them to stay faithful in the face of great suffering. It is  full of practical wisdom and truth to help us know and follow God's plan for our flourishing. 

In James 1:13-18, James continues his encouragement to stay faithful during trials but works through the human struggle to see trials not as tests but as temptations. In doing so, we question the goodness of God and James is quick to remind us to look through our circumstances to the One who has our lives in His good and perfect hands.

The Book of James is a letter to struggling Christians encouraging them to stay faithful in the face of great suffering. It is  full of practical wisdom and truth to help us know and follow God's plan for our flourishing. 

In James 1:1-12, James introduces himself and gets right into the purpose of his letter to the struggling Christians scattered in the Greco-Roman world in the first century. He wants them to hold on to their faith even in the midst of what they are going through because God has something for their souls in it. He has peace and wholeness and contentment for them - something we all long for - if they will just show some grit and endure. 

For three weeks, we will be studying three monumental moments in the life of Jesus - His crucifixion, His resurrection, & His ascension.

Because of His death and resurrection, His ascension becomes His coronation. It is there that He assumes His rightful seat on the throne.

This week, we look at the ascension of Jesus. In his gospel account, Luke seems to emphasize the ascension more than the other gospel writers. In fact, Luke makes it sound like Jesus emphasized it Himself. The ascension of Jesus is a crucial piece to the life and purpose of His mission and even today He sits at the right hand of the Father because of His ascension.

For three weeks, we will be studying three monumental moments in the life of Jesus - His crucifixion, His resurrection, & His ascension.Because of His death and resurrection, His ascension becomes His coronation. It is there that He assumes His rightful seat on the throne.This week, we look at the resurrection of Jesus. The great issue around the resurrection is not whether or not we believe a man was raised from the dead. The issue is who we believe Jesus is and why it matters. Belief in the what is not the same as belief in the why.

For three weeks, we will be studying three monumental moments in the life of Jesus - His crucifixion, His resurrection, & His ascension.Because of His death and resurrection, His ascension becomes His coronation. It is there that He assumes His rightful seat on the throne.This week, we look at the crucifixion - or as Jesus calls it, "When I am lifted up." Something miraculous happened on that Good Friday thousands of years ago that opened the door for "whoever" to be saved.

While the Apostle Paul was under arrest in Rome, he was visited by a church planter from Colossae named Epaphras. Epaphras had great news about the move of the Holy Spirit in Colossae but had some concerns about false teaching making its way into the church there. This visit inspired Paul to write a letter to the church in Colossae to remind them that Jesus really is above all.

As Paul concludes his letter, he focuses on how we are to use our words - and how they are to line up with our conduct.

While the Apostle Paul was under arrest in Rome, he was visited by a church planter from Colossae named Epaphras. Epaphras had great news about the move of the Holy Spirit in Colossae but had some concerns about false teaching making its way into the church there. This visit inspired Paul to write a letter to the church in Colossae to remind them that Jesus really is above all.

In this passage, Paul gets very practical. But these nine verses MUST be read in context with the previous two and half chapters. In this new kingdom of Jesus, there are ways to live in our everyday. When Christians live as if they are truly risen with Christ, everything changes.