This week, Pastor Shane preaches on the Gospel of John 1:4-13. 

Behind all the lights and festivities, what exactly is Christmas about? In one word, Jesus. But who is Jesus? Join us as we look at four truths about Jesus from the Gospel of John that will lead you to experiencing new life.

In this message, Pastor Shane breaks down the opening verses of the Gospel of John.

Prayer is the most powerful weapon God has given the Church and is the subject of our final passage in James for this series. In the six verses of our passage, prayer is mentioned in every verse. James reminds us that those who have become spiritually mature in their walk with Christ don’t just pray when there is trouble but pray on all occasions. When we are happy, James tells us to pray in the form of praise. Christian writer David Foster says, “Prayer is the central avenue God uses to transform us.” James talks about the importance of praying individually but also initiating prayer with others, whether it be the elders in praying for physical healing or praying for each other in the confession of sin. Prayer is our most powerful tool.

Most of us don’t think of ourselves as rich, but by virtue of the fact that we live in North America by world standards almost all of us are wealthy. In our text this week, James reminds us that God cares how we use our wealth, that God hears the cry of those who are poor, and that God’s desire is for us to use our wealth to enrich our lives spiritually by following Jesus’ command to give to the poor and to treat others fairly to build up for ourself treasure in heaven (Luke 6:33). Some could take James’ strong — even harsh — words about those ‘who are rich’ to be about class warfare or solely the 1%. But wealth and greed has a pull on us all. It’s not about the numbers but more about the heart: ‘So, what will you do with your wealth?’

The night before Jesus went to the cross, he prayed, “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine” (Lk. 22:42). That is what this week’s passage from James is about — embracing and trusting in God’s sovereign plan instead of our own. James writes to remind believers not to be self-confident but God- confident in going about life, knowing that ultimately God is sovereignly in control. This is the same message we read in the apostle Paul’s letters: “[Jesus Christ] is before all things, and in him all things hold together”(Col.1:17). A true Christ follower consciously lives life under God’s control, reaping rewards in character, mental health, and living with eternal purpose

We have been journeying through James now for several weeks and have come to see that this is a small book of the Bible that packs a big punch! This week is no different, as James turns to the topic of quarrelling and what leads to a peaceful life. James begins our passage by acknowledging that we all fall to the temptation to quarrel, which he says, is rooted in the selfish desires we battle within. Without even realizing it, James says, we can be so caught up in a selfish pursuit that it shapes even how we pray — if we even take time to pray. Thankfully, James says, God will keep giving the grace we need to turn and submit our desires and battles to him, which will lead to the promise of a peaceful and godly life.

Guest speaker Steve Cox speaks this week on James 3:13-18:

There is a great deal of difference between having knowledge and wisdom. Both are good, but wisdom is knowing how to best apply the knowledge you have. Scripture states that, “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom”(Prov. 9:10). In our passage this week, James talks about there being two kinds of wisdom — a wisdom that is earthly in contrast to a wisdom that is from above, from God. Like many other aspects of our faith, James says the kind of wisdom you live by shows itself in how you live. James makes the point that to truly understand God’s Word is to put it into practice — to live out what God says. To help us see the difference and not be confused, James gives examples of both to help us choose.

In challenging believers to make sure the ‘rubber is hitting the road’ in their relationship with God, James goes for the jugular in targeting one area: the use of our tongue. James reminds us of the power of our words. He writes, “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness” (v.9). What we say can have great effect — both positive and negative. James argues what we all know — that we stumble in sometimes saying the wrong thing. A need we all have is to is filter what we say, for which we need God’s help. In our passage, James gives us three reasons to tame our tongue, a problem that we need to recognize is rooted in our heart, as we ask Holy Spirit for help.

Over the centuries, there has been much debate over James’ words in this week’s passage about the question of whether we are saved good works or by faith alone. Thankfully, the sufficiency of Jesus’ work on the cross and the Apostle Paul’s words in Ephesians 2:8-9 settles the issue, where Paul says we are saved by grace through faith alone, “not by works, so that no one can boast.” What James is really getting at in our passage is a different question: What is the nature of genuine faith? Typical of James, he does not mince words in making it clear that genuine faith in Jesus is always accompanied by works (action) — as opposed to simple mental assent. Faith without deeds, James claims is actually dead — worthless.

In his letter, James lays out the importance of matching your ‘walk’ with your ‘talk’ in pursuing genuine faith and a true walk with God. From a place of loving concern, James in our passage this week, calls out an issue we all struggle with — showing favouritism. Exposing the incompatibility of favouritism and faith, James asks the question, “how can you claim to have faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ if you favour some people over others?”(v.1). Showing favouritism has two sides. Partiality and prejudice. Both come down to treating or relating to someone based on appearance or outward things. Instead, James says we should love everyone the same and show mercy to those the world shuns.