Many of James' hearers were poor and oppressed.  James instructs them to be patient, to avoid grumbling and to persevere.  This offends our modern, western sensibilities.  What is James after in this passage?  And might he have a powerful message for us today?

James "elegant punch to the face" continues as he shows us some of the ways that pride rears its ugly head in our everyday lives.  Again, James calls us to a life marked by humility, and a willingness to disadvantage ourselves in order to advantage others.

Our world is filled with conflict and violence, and often these things rear their ugly head within the church.  James puts his finger on what's underneath them, and more importantly, how to bring healing and peace to fractured relationships.

According to James,  there are two kinds of wisdom, two ways of living and navigating relationships.  In this sermon, Pastor Bill explores how we can become the kind of people who sow peace in divided times.

James warns us that the tongue is powerful, corruptible and inconsistent.  But underneath these sobering warnings are truths that can transform us into the kinds of people who use our tongues to build up and bless.

Guest Speaker Maureen Desilets reflects on the exhortations in James 2:14-26 that often lead to unnecessary controversial arguments about 'Faith Versus Deeds', or the ‘right words' as opposed to the ‘right actions’. Together we’ll see - when we accurately understand what both the author James and the Apostle Paul are saying to their original audiences - it’s a “Both/And” stance NOT an “Either/Or”!

James confronts the hypocrisy of claiming allegiance to Jesus while showing favoritism to our neighbors, and calls us to consistently follow Christ by loving our neighbors in the same way God does.

James, the half-brother of Jesus, begins his letter with a theology of suffering and a theology of growth that are identical.  In this sermon, Pastor Bill unpacks why and how we can trust God when trials come into our lives.

"Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn."  These words from the Apostle Paul invite us to share deeply in the self-giving love of Jesus.