In the 1st century The Colossians heard, “Worship Jesus, but not exclusively. Jesus is just one spirit among many to be worshipped.” In this passage we’ll consider Paul’s adamant declaration of Christ’s supremacy over every being. every idea, and every goal which invites our attention. (Colossians 1:15-23)
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In this introduction to his letter to the Colossian church Paul emphasizes that the church was flourishing until false teachers came and disrupted the growth and confused their theology. Paul’s purpose in writing was to encourage the believers to combat errors in the church while standing firm in Faith, Hope & Love. (Colossians 1:1-14)
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In this final message from the series through the letter of James, James sheds light for us on a crucial—and often misunderstood—passage about prayer from James 5. We can be encouraged that God does hear the prayers of His children, and it is often through them that He chooses to accomplish His work on earth… but not always in the ways that we may have chosen or desired. (James 5:13-18)
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How long can we hold on when tough trials come into our life? Not just the physical hardships, but emotional crisis, family battles, financial insecurity, spiritual battles… how long can we endure?
In a society of one-click shopping and seemingly endless instant gratification, patience is one thing that is often in short supply. In this passage James explains the necessity of patience in the life of a follower of Jesus, and how we can develop it. (James 5:7-12)
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In this text James speaks to people who plan their finances and spend their money as though there is no God, and he says they are wicked. These are serious words! May we use these words as a mirror to check ourselves in what we are doing, as James announces the judgement to come on the wicked wealthy, the filthy rich. (James 5:1-6)
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We all make plans… whether it’s we will do tomorrow or in the coming year. While the Bible acknowledges that it is wise to plan, it also recognizes that the attitude behind our planning is crucial. In this passage from James we find a helpful perspective on how to approach our life, in light of the fact that God is the one in control, not us. (James 4:13-17)
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In this text James begins by posing a question to all of us: Why do we fight? For most of us, we might think we know the answer. We fight because THEY started it! But James has a much different answer. The problem isn’t our circumstances, or our boss, or our friends, or our spouse, or our kids. The problem is much closer to home. It’s us. And in the end, that’s actually good news. Because if the problem lies within us, then the solution—God’s healing grace—is available to us. (James 4:1-10)
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In this text James illustrates two distinct types of wisdom, as well as the results that come from pursuing one or the other. When we see ourselves through the eyes of a loving Father e will find ourselves growing in peace personally as well as in our interactions with others. This is true, Biblical wisdom. But, when we see ourselves through the eyes of this world we will, by nature, compare ourselves to others, and it is then that we often lapse into false, or worldly wisdom. (James 3:13-18)
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The tongue is such a small part of our bodies, and yet it has astonishing power—both to wound and to heal, to bless and to curse. From this passage Ministry Apprentice Dexter Macauley shows us the dangers of the tongue and what it can reveal about the state of our hearts. (James 3:2-12)
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In this passage James has us considering the relationship between faith and works. Do we act on what we say we believe? Is our faith genuine, or, is it counterfeit, a fake representation of the real thing? This message explores faith that saves and faith that doesn’t—and how to know which one we possess. (James 2:14-26)
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