James 5:7-20; Let your yes be yes and if you claim to be a Christian, live in obedience. We have enough who are Christians in 'name only.' And if someone wanders from this truth, it is love to bring them back.

James 4:13-17; This time of year we often reflect on the past and make decisions for the future in the form of "New Years Resolutions." As James is calling Christians to live a life entirely different from the world around them, he calls them to make decisions, not from their own wisdom and willpower but from Gods. Do want to know and do God's will? How do we know the will of God? What kind of decisions should we make and how and why should we make them?

James chapter 3; Words are powerful. And not only are they powerful but they are frequent - we use them all the time. And James points out that "we stunmble often," therefore words become dangerous, the tongue an untamed beast. This sermon address this dangerous power of words and the countercultural way in which the Christian should use words.

James 1:19-2:26; Imagine a life spent hearing the word. Attending a church service every week, participating in Bible studies and small groups and being completely unchanged. A life of hearing and belief but no action, no fruit. In a word: uncoverted. A wasted life. This is stupid religion.

James 1:1-18; This teaching introduces and begins a series in the book of James. James shows us that the legitimate Christian is not destroyed through trials but on the contrary, finds joy and growth. The countercultural reality for the Christian is that times of suffering, though a result of the fallen world, are often good gifts from God. The difference between one who suffers well vs. one who's suffering ends in destruction is wisdom. And wisdom enables us to rise our of our fleshly view and view suffering from God's perspective.

Luke 8:1-3; This teaching explores the life transformation that the Gospel of Jesus Christ ultimately brings and how it creates within us a heart of generosity. Mary Magdalene gave much because she knew that she had received everything - she had received Jesus!

John 12:1-7; The final two teachings in "Profiles of the Unlikely" profile two individuals, one was likely, the other was not. One seemed righteous, the other a sinner. Yet the “likely” was proven false and the “unlikely” was commended. And the difference was seen first in their generosity. This teaching focuses on Judas who's false dedication to Jesus was clearly shown as he did not get what he wanted. His sin was greed.

Joshua 2:1-7; God's people are helped by a ... prostitute? And she is commended for her faith? This teaching explores the faith of Rahab the harlot, her place in the great faith chapter of Heberews 11, and her first act of great faith when helping the spies. In the eyes of the world she may have been too sinful, too disconnected, too lost. But God uses the unlikely.

Genesis 38:1-14; This teaching continues the series “Profiles of the Unlikely” and listens to Tamar’s story, a girl who was “cursed” in the eyes of her father-in-law; forgotten, tricked, and shamed. Have you ever experienced rejection? ...Been forgotten? ...Felt unlikely? This sermon places Jesus at the center our our solution.

Today we read about and explore the life transformation that Jesus ultimately brings and how it creates in us a heart of generosity. Mary Magdalene gave much because she knew that she had received everything - Jesus.