Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: Christian Brotherhood

Text: James 1:2, Romans 12:9

Notes:

• James 1:2, “My brothers/brethren/brothers and sisters”
• Romans 12:9, “Let love be without hypocrisy”
• 1 John 4:8, 16, “God is love”
• Leeman, “without God our love is an idol dressed up in a costume”
• 1 John 3:18, “let us love…in deed and in truth”
• Proverbs 14:4, “Where there are no oxen the manger is clean,
  but abundant crops come b the strength of the ox”

How do we develop this biblical love?

• By feeding on Christ
• By spending time together
• Horton, “…to disregard the kingdom is to disregard the king”
• Harvey, “to love the church we must come to terms with her imperfections”

Cultural Roadblocks to Loving Others

• Individualism
• Consumerism

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: Real faith matures by prayer persistence in God’s truth

Text: James 1:21-22,
“Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness
and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (ESV)

Overview of the book of James:

• Ancient Wisdom for a Modern World
• James is the oldest book in the NT.
• Key verses: James 1:21-22
• Paradox: there are some who see James’s message in opposition to Paul’s message:
  • Paul: Romans 5:1, “we have been justified by faith”
    • Paul addresses our justification to God
  • James: James 2:24, “a person is justified by works and not by faith alone”
    • James address our justification in the eyes of men
• Key themes:
  • Wisdom
  • Maturity/Wholeness/Integration
    • Applying all of God’s word to all of our life
    • Matching our practice up with our creed
      • Matthew 12:50, “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
    • Real faith is proven by practice and not profession
    • There is a danger in compartmentalizing our lives
    • There is no part of our lives that is off-limits to God and His word
    • Faith grows by
      • repeatedly obeying the truth
      • over time
      • through testing
    • Real faith sees testing as opportunities for growth
    • Real faith will product the real life of Christ:
      • Controlled tongue
      • Care for others
      • Community with believers
      • Personal purity
    • Real faith will display real change

Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: Focus on Faithfulness, and let God build your legacy

Text: James 1:18-22

Notes:

Our goal is not to leave a legacy–our goal is to be faithful.
A legacy is the result of faithfulness.

1. Conviction
   • Our source of truth
     • “receive with meekness the implanted word”
     • We are convinced that God’s way is the only way to live life
     • We hear God’s truth
     • Truth demands action
       • Right beliefs are not enough
       • “be doers of the word and not hearers only”
   • Our methods of handling problems
     • “quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath”

2. Consistency
   • Doing the right thing–over and over
   • Consistency = faithfulness
   • Faithfulness over time results in maturity
   • Faithfulness <> perfection
   • There are no shortcuts to spiritual maturity
3. Compassion
   • “speaking the truth in love”
   • Loving God will always involve loving your neighbor
4. Courage
   • Galatians 2–Paul refers to James as a pillar
   • James was faithful to the end
   • “Courage is not simply one of the virtues but the form of every virtue at the testing point,
     which means at the point of highest reality. ”  –C.S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters

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Preacher: Jeremy Herbert

Theme: Understanding the Paradox of Jesus Christ

Text: Hebrews 9:11-15

Notes:

Jesus Christ:

• Almighty God, yet born a man
• Eternally existent, yet born in flesh
• High priest, and yet also sacrifice
• Christ is described both as a lamb and as a lion
• Christ was a priest like no other
• Christ was a lamb like no other

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