I think "it" brain rivals Chemo brain...sermon post...James 5:1-6

 


Not so flattering picture of me (I am dealing with "it" at the moment) but it is a grand flag.  Don't tell my dad but this is his birthday present for making it 91 years!  It is completely made in the USA and I am sure he will love putting it out each day, weathering permitting, at his mobile in Florida.  He served in the Navy and the Marines and I couldn't think of a better way to start the post with than a reminder of those who serve us in this way.  My heart breaks for families who have gotten news of their soldier's ultimate sacrifice this last week and also for those who are searching for ways to get their loved ones home.  It makes "it" seem like nothing in the scope of things.


This is the company and this is one quality flag.  The pole is white ash from Vermont.  Not sponsored by them or anyone but check them out if you are looking to replace your flag.  https://www.showallegiance.com/ I am looking forward to presenting it to him on behalf of myself and my brothers.

I have preached through cancer and today took me back to those days.  Knowing the text but putting it together to communicate it was difficult.  I don't blame anyone for shutting it off after a few minutes because I'm just hanging in there.  I feel a little guilty attempting it because God's word deserves our best.

James speaks to those who think they can just move on rather than repent of sin.  They make plans that don't include God.  James corrects their diversion and brings them back to come face to face with their boasting.

James now addresses those who think that sin doesn't touch them because they have plenty of resources.  This diversion from addressing the sin with repentance leads to sin upon sin.  Hoarding food, clothing and money leads to using others by cutting corners; leads to ignoring others by heaping pleasure upon pleasure; and finally to attacking others by using the courts to get what is theirs.  

James finishes this section with introducing us to the righteous one who does not resist in comparison to the rich who does not submit.  A great passage to read with James 5:1-6 is 1 Timothy 6:17-19.  One shows the wrong to do with our riches and one shows the right.

Probably most challenging for myself in this sermon was the definition of who is rich.

Poor = those with less than what they need to live

Sufficient = those with what they need to live

Rich = those with more than what they need to live

Oh no...if we are reading this, then we are probably in the rich category.  It doesn't matter how much more you have then you need to live.  You have additional resources that need God's guidance otherwise you will do the same as some of James' audience.  You will start hoarding.  To keep hoarding you will look for ways to cut corners to keep more the of the pie; to keep more of the pie you will ignore those in need around you so you can heap self-pleasure upon self-pleasure; and to keep comfy you will demand what is yours!  

It really makes me evaluate what I have and how I am using it for God's glory, and especially the more than what I need to live.  

Adam


 

A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 38th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Galatians #15 - Galatians 6:11-18 - "On The Road Again..."

Image
  Another week closer and it involves some more travel for the Wolfgangs.  I feel like the Willy Nelson song, " On the road again... "  I don't know if I agree with the next line though. " ...I can't wait to get on the road again. " One of the members of the church in Wisconsin calculated that I will travel well over 10,000 miles to make this transition.  Traveling mercies prayers please. Last Sunday we will look at Paul's final words to the churches in Galatia.  He brought them the gospel (good news) message of Jesus and what resulted were churches forming throughout the region.  The letter is to defend that message that our salvation comes from and is in Christ alone.  Christ's sacrifice on the cross was sufficient for the forgiveness of our sins.  The summary statement of the letter is found in  Galatians 6:15 (LSB) .  " For neither is circumcision anything, nor uncircumcision, but a new creation. "  Translated another way earlie...
Read more

God gave us a good weather window to travel...yeah God!!!

Image
  Berthoud Pass Here we are at the top of Berthoud Pass.  It was a whirlwind week to conduct a " hand off " service in Wisconsin on 3/17 and then preach a Palm Sunday sermon in Colorado on 3/24.  We give God all the glory for this happening.  So there are two video links at the bottom of this blog.  One is for the Wisconsin service and the other is for the Colorado service.  I racked up over 12,000 in the last 7 weeks.   I love to take these pictures sitting from the front row of chairs and listening to the one God has provided for the church I had been serving for 20 months.  I now have 3 and I am so thankful for the opportunity God gave us to serve Him in this type of ministry over the last 5 years.  It has been great to add to our daily prayer list Zach in Maine, Chris in Ohio and now Stephen in Wisconsin. This was our set up for the 2000+ mile trip.  No " hiccups " except for the strong eastern winds in Kansas.  Of course e...
Read more

Resurrection Sunday in a new space...Matthew 27.62-28.20

Image
  Resurrection Sunday has come and gone but it was a sweet day to be with the gathered saints of the Stillwater Community Chapel .  We are venturing through the Gospel of Matthew and this Sunday will take us back to Matthew 1.1 but last Sunday we were in Matthew 27.62-28.20.  It was a lot to cover so the white board was truly a help to keep me on track.  This year in my Resurrection Sunday message, I focused on the contrast of the cover-up story of the disciples stealing the body of Jesus fueled by a bride and the commission of speaking of a risen Lord fueled by boldness . After the service upstairs, we ventured downstairs to the lower level and had a great meal together.  The conversations around the tables allowed us to continue to talk about the passage of Scripture we covered upstairs.  Maybe this is a very informal picture of what happens at the  Waushara Community Church called the " Going Deeper " classes of the Come For More hour following t...
Read more