Faith Works: Loving Others
09/28/08
Dr. Phil Wilkes, James 4:1-3
We all know that conflicts happen in relationships. James writes in this passage to address the source of our conflicts and how we can move beyond them. James says that the source of our conflicts is because of a battle within each of us. It isn’t because of what someone else did our because we were dealt a bad hand in life. Instead of always trying to blame someone else or our circumstances James tells us to examine our own hearts. Instead of manipulating, scheming and plotting how to get something out of somebody else James says it is time to do something totally radical. Why not start trusting God to meet your needs? It is time to become dependent upon God.
Podcast
We all know that conflicts happen in relationships. James writes in this passage to address the source of our conflicts and how we can move beyond them. James says that the source of our conflicts is because of a battle within each of us. It isn’t because of what someone else did our because we were dealt a bad hand in life. Instead of always trying to blame someone else or our circumstances James tells us to examine our own hearts. Instead of manipulating, scheming and plotting how to get something out of somebody else James says it is time to do something totally radical. Why not start trusting God to meet your needs? It is time to become dependent upon God.
Podcast
Faith Works: What Did You Say?
09/21/08
Dr. Phil Wilkes, James 3:1-12
In James 3 he writes to describe the power of the tongue and how hard it is to control our speech. Today we have so many ways to communicate with each other and they can be used for good or for great evil. People today love to pass on information about others even though they do not know if it is accurate or true.
A man once wrote, “I overheard my mother passing along to my father a newsy tidbit, concerning a neighbor. ‘You know you shouldn’t repeat stories about others,’ I said. ‘That makes you a gossip.’
‘I’m not a gossip!’ she snapped back. ‘I’m a news analyst.’”
James tells us that the tongue has incredible power and is difficult to control. In fact, it has been used to tear down and burn others creating incredible pain. This ought not to be characteristic of those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. Christians are to be led by the Holy Spirit and submit themselves to the Lord each day.
James describes the inconsistencies of the tongue and concludes this ought not to happen among God’s people. Only through the control of the Holy Spirit can your speech be transformed into a tool that will build up others.
Perhaps there is someone you need to go to and apologize because your words have burned them severely. You may need to go to your spouse, your child, or your parent and tell them how sorry you are for the caustic things that have come out of your mouth. You are never more like Christ than when you seek to heal a broken relationship.
Podcast
In James 3 he writes to describe the power of the tongue and how hard it is to control our speech. Today we have so many ways to communicate with each other and they can be used for good or for great evil. People today love to pass on information about others even though they do not know if it is accurate or true.
A man once wrote, “I overheard my mother passing along to my father a newsy tidbit, concerning a neighbor. ‘You know you shouldn’t repeat stories about others,’ I said. ‘That makes you a gossip.’
‘I’m not a gossip!’ she snapped back. ‘I’m a news analyst.’”
James tells us that the tongue has incredible power and is difficult to control. In fact, it has been used to tear down and burn others creating incredible pain. This ought not to be characteristic of those who claim to follow Jesus Christ. Christians are to be led by the Holy Spirit and submit themselves to the Lord each day.
James describes the inconsistencies of the tongue and concludes this ought not to happen among God’s people. Only through the control of the Holy Spirit can your speech be transformed into a tool that will build up others.
Perhaps there is someone you need to go to and apologize because your words have burned them severely. You may need to go to your spouse, your child, or your parent and tell them how sorry you are for the caustic things that have come out of your mouth. You are never more like Christ than when you seek to heal a broken relationship.
Podcast
Faith Works: You Have A Choice To Make
09/14/08
Dr. Phil Wilkes, James 2:1-13
We all have our favorites. Favorite foods, favorite ice cream, favorite restaurants, favorite clothes and on it goes. We play favorites with people we like based on very subjective criteria that we establish. Based on what we value we choose to like some people and to reject others.
James writes in this passage to address a problem occurring among Christians. They were playing favorites with those who came to church. They were choosing some over others because of how they might benefit from certain people. Using the same criteria they would also reject or ignore others that did not meet their standards or could not benefit them in some way. They were playing favorites.
James says that as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we are not to show favoritism towards some people while ignoring others. The solution is to live out the royal law found in God’s word to “love your neighbor as yourself. James even goes so far as to say when you show favoritism you sin before God (James 2:9) As you have experienced the mercy of Christ in your life you are to show that same mercy and love towards everyone you interact with.
Podcast
We all have our favorites. Favorite foods, favorite ice cream, favorite restaurants, favorite clothes and on it goes. We play favorites with people we like based on very subjective criteria that we establish. Based on what we value we choose to like some people and to reject others.
James writes in this passage to address a problem occurring among Christians. They were playing favorites with those who came to church. They were choosing some over others because of how they might benefit from certain people. Using the same criteria they would also reject or ignore others that did not meet their standards or could not benefit them in some way. They were playing favorites.
James says that as believers in the Lord Jesus Christ we are not to show favoritism towards some people while ignoring others. The solution is to live out the royal law found in God’s word to “love your neighbor as yourself. James even goes so far as to say when you show favoritism you sin before God (James 2:9) As you have experienced the mercy of Christ in your life you are to show that same mercy and love towards everyone you interact with.
Podcast
Faith Works: What Are You Waiting For?
09/07/08
Dr. Phil Wilkes, James 1:19-27
In this passage James tells us to receive God’s word in our lives with humility. We are to embrace God’s truth and allow it to transform our lives. Once we embrace God’s truth we are to take action and live out what God reveals to us in his word. To only acquire knowledge and truth but do nothing with it is simply self deception. It does you no good. James says that faith without works is dead or useless. It cannot impact your marriage, heal broken relationships, help you in a crisis or deal with struggles. God’s truths are to be lived out each day. When you begin to apply God’s word in your life James says you will begin to experience the life God has designed for you.
Podcast
In this passage James tells us to receive God’s word in our lives with humility. We are to embrace God’s truth and allow it to transform our lives. Once we embrace God’s truth we are to take action and live out what God reveals to us in his word. To only acquire knowledge and truth but do nothing with it is simply self deception. It does you no good. James says that faith without works is dead or useless. It cannot impact your marriage, heal broken relationships, help you in a crisis or deal with struggles. God’s truths are to be lived out each day. When you begin to apply God’s word in your life James says you will begin to experience the life God has designed for you.
Podcast