Sunday Sermons

As we continue on in our series in James, we approach the end of chapter 1. This passage explicitly gets to the heart of the main thrust of the letter. Real faith is not of faith that merely hears and mentally agrees with what is written. It is one that activates and makes us into a ‘doer of the word’.

In James 1:12-18, he continues on with the theme of faith in the midst of trials. In this section, we see what a grounded faith looks like as well as the nature of temptation when the heat gets turned up. It is in the hardships of life that the firmness of the object of our faith gets tested. And so only the unchanging, giver of good gifts, will suffice.

This week we begin a new 12 week sermon series through James. The Bible teaches that we are saved by grace through faith. James is concerned about examining the nature of faith, answering the question, What does real faith look like? In this opening passage, we see that real faith is joyful faith that lasts.

In the last sermon in this summer series, we focus in on the holiness of God as a theme throughout the story of the Bible. God’s ‘otherness’ is something that is often downplayed or overlooked in society as a whole and even within the church. But it is essential for us to understand it and embrace it in order that we worship him in truth.

This week we covered an issue which lies at the heart of God’s design for people but exists as a source of confusion in the world today: The creation of man and woman as equal but different. Though God’s design for gender is something that we naturally rebel against, through Christ we see its redemption and the ultimate fulfillment of its purpose.

This week’s sermon focused in on God’s ultimate mission throughout history which is for him to receive glory through making himself known to people of all nations. It is a purpose that we see which remains consistent from the moment he first created human beings in Genesis 1 until the culmination of all time in the book of Revelation. It is a truth that can fuel our worship, direct our prayers, and move our feet to go.

This week we look at the story of the revelation of God, through His word, to His people. From creation to the end, the response that people have to God’s word is indicative of their relationship to him. For this reason, it is essential that we uphold His word as central in our lives.

With a focus on God’s wrath a week ago, we now move into God’s atonement for this week. From early on in Genesis we are made aware of its necessity as the thing that allows God’s people to actually be his people. The story of atonement is a story of a great cost paid by God to make right what we have made wrong.

The wrath of God is one of the most consistent themes throughout Scripture. And yet, it is a theme which is mostly ignored when we think about or teach on God’s nature. But if we are to worship him in truth and understand the depths of his grace for his people, then meditating upon God’s wrath becomes a necessary exercise for us.

In this Sunday’s sermon, we explored the theme of fellowship that runs throughout the entire storyline of Scripture. The big idea of the sermon was that, “fellowship with God is the foundation of our fellowship with one another.” Here are a handful of questions to help you and your life group discuss and apply this sermon to your own lives: