Christ-St. Paul’s Church Fall 2014 Sermon Series Week 1

James: Living Out Our Faith September 14

But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. James 1:22

Living Out Our Faith: James 1:1

The epistle of James is commonly believed to have been written by James, the brother of Jesus around AD 55- 60. During this time in church history the “honeymoon” period was over and persecution was beginning. The brother of John had been martyred by Herod, Stephen had been stoned to death and the Jews had been scattered throughout the Roman Empire. Several of the Apostles had begun their missionary journeys and James became one of the leaders of the Church in Jerusalem.

From reading the epistle of James we see that James was no doubt a man of great conviction and faith. He was one of the first individuals to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection. In Acts 21:18-19 Paul brings greetings to James from the Gentiles and in Galatians 2:9 Paul calls James a “pillar” of the church. When Peter was delivered from prison, he asks that James be notified (Acts 12:17). However, James wasn’t without controversy. His epistle focuses so much on the practical aspects of living out our faith that Martin Luther devalued James’ work as an “epistle of straw”. Luther believed James’ writing conflicted with Paul’s doctrine of justification by faith apart from works.

James writes to point out potential problems as well as sin, much of which will be discussed later in this series. His focus is also reflective of Jesus’ teachings. The persecuted are blessed (James 1:12) poor will inherit the kingdom (James 2:5), showing mercy as a reflection of faith in Jesus (James 1:27). James is a unique book, since it is not about the life of Jesus found in the Gospels, nor a prophecy as in the book of Revelation, nor an exposition on doctrine that we find in Paul’s letters. Rather it is an adulation of Christ and an encouragement to seek Him despite circumstances. James is more like Proverbs than any other New Testament book.

The epistle of James was written to help us grow in our faith by obtaining spiritual maturity. It is a “how to” book of practically living out our Christian faith. James contains the ethics of Christianity, not doctrine. Living out religion as the expression and proof of faith. He does not exalt works as against faith, but faith as producing works. Doing (action), not doctrine is the final test of faith. Knowing about your faith is not enough, “...but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.” (James 1:25b) ;

This week we have the privilege and opportunity to What can we do? We can love the one in front of us. If live out the book of James by answering Bishop "Christians" in America -- just a small percentage of us -- would Lawrence’s call for fasting and prayer for the love one refugee family, we could help them all. If churches will persecuted church in the Middle East and Africa. actually care and do something, we can bring light to the Persecution is defined as a systematic mistreatment darkness, alleviate horrific suffering and advance the Kingdom in or policy to exterminate or subjugate an individual this region. or group of people because of their religion, race or beliefs. Open Doors USA annually publishes a Right now the people are OPEN to the Gospel!!! Even in the World Watch List, highlighting the 50 countries midst of this incredible suffering, God is moving. The pastors are where Christians face persecution. united like never before. God is appearing to the Muslims in (www.worldwatchlist.us). They estimate 100 million dreams and visions. The displaced Christians have more boldness Christians face persecution annually! Article 18 of and are caring for Muslims and Yazidi with the little they have! the Universal Declaration of Human Rights reads, We delivered every penny you sent over with us. Heaters/Cookers Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and and Arabic Bibles were provided for the refuges. And we put on religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or an early Christmas celebration for the children of one village. We belief, and freedom either alone or in community with others were also able to pray for and comfort many. and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance. We are eager to tell the story in the U.S and then return as soon as possible. Our plan is to locate ourselves in one of the villages -- While it may not be possible for you to witness the about six miles from the Mosul Dam -- and work with atrocities against our fellow believers first-hand, our the emerging local Church network. We will help on the front friends, the Kramers, have recently returned from a lines with this effort if you are willing to join us in what God is humanitarian aid trip in Kurdistan. The excerpt doing. Love One. below is a report from their trip. Hebrews 13:3 Remember those who are in prison, Thank you to all who prayed and gave so generously. as though in prison with them, and those who are Yesterday was a bit hairy, we came within a few miles of mistreated, since you also are in the body. ISIS and the fighting. We began our journey early in the morning and arrived here at 3am. Check it Out! Love for the Least: lovefortheleast.org Right now we're processing all that we saw and experienced Voice of the Martyrs: persecution.com firsthand. Honestly, we don't have the words at the moment. Open Doors: opendoorsusa.org The suffering is so immense. The magnitude of the disaster is Anglican Relief & Development Fund: anglicanaid.net beyond comprehension.

Christians were given 48 hours to leave their homes. Some paid to stay or converted to Islam. They were all crucified, What are your impressions of the book of James? beheaded or shot. Those who left were stripped of all their What is James’s tone (friendly, harsh, humble, arrogant, possessions, allowed to leave with only the clothes on their backs. Now they have absolutely nothing and cannot return authoritative?) home. Isis has destroyed their villages and placed landmines all around. The Christians are not in camps. They have Where do we find in Scriptures the words spoken by Jesus scattered to villages and family all across the region. The that James echoes in his epistle? average village is overflowing with refugees. They need food. They have no clothes. They need heaters and cookers. It will How do you see the study on James as applicable in your life? soon be bitter cold. Relief is NOT getting to them. In light of the Diocesan-wide call for prayer and fasting for the These people are in total shock. They have lost everything. persecuted church, what other practical ways can you live out They want to go home and can't. Some were betrayed by their your faith and offer help and hope for Christians standing in Muslim neighbours with whom they lived for generations. Their neighbours called in ISIS, giving their location away, to the face of terrorist threats? come and exterminate them. The hurt runs very deep. If you hug a refugee for more than 3 seconds, they break down and cry. 2