Who is Jesus? It’s the question we all ask at one time or another (or maybe many times throughout life). In John 18, Jesus answers that question for us. It’s an answer that confused those who heard it and an answer that can confuse us as well. But if we’ll listen, it’s the answer we need.

In Mark 12, Jesus announces his standard for generous living. It’s a different standard than the one we expect. Generosity in our world has to do with the size of the gift given. For Jesus, generosity is an attitude of the heart. As we look at the story of the widow’s mite, we’ll examine our own generosity.

When was the last time you provoked someone? Who was it? Maybe more importantly, why was it? There’s one reason the Bible tells us we can use to “provoke” someone else. Join us this Sunday as we discover that singular reason.

We all face difficult moments of loss—the deaths of friends and family members. Each year we pause as a congregation to remember those that have lived and died faithfully. We remember the blessing of family and friends as we look to the faithful future God has for us.

James ends his great book with a call to . . . prayer? It seems anti-climactic after the repeated call to action. Why does he end here? He ends here because there’s more to prayer than meets the eye. If we want a faith built around the essentials, then we must understand that prayer isn’t just an ending point -- it’s our beginning as well.

No one likes to suffer. Ever. When we do we want it to be over quickly. James gives us a different perspective on suffering and pain. James says that there’s fruit that will come of our suffering IF we’re willing to be patient. Could suffering really be good for us?

This is not our home. James reminds us that ultimately, we’re people of God’s kingdom—not just citizens of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, or the United States. But that truth doesn’t release us from the responsibility to actively work to bring God’s kingdom to life in this world. What do you have to offer? What can you do to make that happen?

Let’s admit it. Our words get us into trouble. James knew that, so his toughest warnings had to do with the words we use. Faithful living involves important choices about making our words instruments, not hindrances to what God is doing in us and around us.

James challenges how we see the world around us, particularly our notions of who’s important and who’s not. The essential lesson here is “Do not judge.” Easy? Of course not. But James pushes us to see what can happen when we acknowlege our prejudices and preconceptions and move beyond them.

For James, faith is not an idea or a set of beliefs. Instead it’s a life-altering force that changes how we live and act. What could happen if you allowed your faith to grow and change you? We’ll begin our study of James with an examination of what faith really is and how we merge that with our busy lives.