Jesus: what people said

Posted on November 4, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 1:19-51.   You cannot always trust what people are saying about someone, but sometimes you can.  Listen to what people are saying about Jesus in today’s text. He is…

  1. the Lord (23).
  2. the Lamb of God (29).
  3. someone younger, but greater, because he existed first (30).
  4. he who baptizes with the Holy Spirit (33).
  5. the Son of God (34).
  6. Rabbi (teacher) (38).
  7. the Messiah (41).
  8. the one the Bible predicted (45).
  9. the king of Israel (49).

LORD, help us to encounter this great person, and lead others to him.

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Jesus: the only One

Posted on November 3, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

jesuschristJohn 1:1-18.  John describes Jesus as so unique that there is no one else like him in the universe. He is…

  1. The Word, the only one who was with God in the beginning (1).
  2. The Light, the only one whose light has shined in darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it (4).
  3. The only Son of the Father, who shares the Father’s glory (14).
  4. The only God who is at the Father’s side, and who has made him known (18).

In John’s Gospel we will see the uniqueness of Jesus.  We will see why he alone deserves our worship and obedience.

LORD, show us yourself as we read this book.  Make us aware of who you are.

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after faith: body life

Posted on November 2, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 5:13-20.   James shows that faith in Christ is more than a personal conviction.  It leads to body life.  Genuine faith in a community means that the whole body of believers:

  1. prays for one another (14).
  2. confesses to one another (16).
  3. restores one another (19-20).

Willingness to be part of a church and contribute one’s time, spiritual gifts, and financial resources are indicators of a genuine faith.  Lack of such willingness may indicate the competition mentality that James warns against in this letter.

LORD, make us followers of you, and obedient to all of your commands – even the reciprocal commands – where you teach us to love one another, pray for one another, and care for one another.

Posted in church, confession, discipleship, genuineness, giving, prayer, reconciliation | Tagged | 1 Comment

after faith: no rat race

Posted on November 1, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 4:11-5:12.   James is warning his churches not to try to get ahead in the rat race by…

  1. speaking evil against one another (4:11).
  2. boasting in arrogance (4:16).
  3. laying up treasure by defrauding their workers (5:1-6).
  4. swearing falsely for gain (5:12).

Instead, he encourages believers to demonstrate their faith in the Lord, who is compassionate and merciful, and who will reward and vindicate them when he comes.  He calls for them to imitate the prophets and be steadfast.  Like Job, if they suffer, they should do so in faith, trusting in God to bring about justice.

LORD, make us steadfast – looking to you to make things right.

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after faith: humble yourselves

Posted on October 31, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 4:1-10.    The same apostle who advised us to count it all joy when we face trials now tells us to “be wretched and mourn and weep” – to humblle ourselves “before the Lord and he will exalt” us.  Remember that the churches had developed a thirst for fame and honor.  Many wanted to be teachers because they wanted the world to respect them.  James warns that their pride was taking them down the wrong path.  Instead of seeking fame and prominence, the believers should be submitting to those already gifted and assigned to leadership.  The goal of the Christian faith is not for all of the converts to become just like their teachers.  Those who dare to teach should be few, and those who humbly support them should be many.

LORD, change us – not so that we can become famous for you, but so that you can live your life through us – whatever that life turn out to be.

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after faith: no wisdom wars

Posted on October 30, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 3:13-18.    James had warned the churches not to produce too many teachers.  It seems that the churches were in danger of wisdom wars – where teachers would compete with each other for the loyalty of the other believers.  James says that they need to avoid that kind of wisdom, and seek a wisdom from above.  God’s wisdom is pure, peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere (17).  The last thing a truly wise person would want to do is to win a following by usurping someone else’s authority.  True wisdom is meek.  It shows itself by good works and kindness.

LORD, give us the wisdom from above. May we produce a harvest of good works to commend our words to others.

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after faith: a disciplined tongue

Posted on October 29, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 3:1-12.  James had encouraged the churches to prove their faith by their works.  Many people were ambitious and wanted to be teachers like James.  He warned them that with such authority came much responsibility.  The tongue could do much harm.  It is a small thing, but like a rudder on a ship, it has much power.  Like a small flame, it can destroy the whole forest.  So James encourages believers to discipline their tongues.  On a corporate level, this meant having fewer teachers.  On a personal level, it means saying less and doing more.  The more the world sees the faith walk – the more it will be willing to listen to the faith talk.

LORD, discipline our tongues so that when we proclaim your gospel, people will trust it as the truth.

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after faith: proof

Posted on October 28, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 2:14-26.   After faith comes into a person’s life, there will always be things that the person does that demonstrate the validity of that faith.  These works could never be the basis of that person’s salvation, but they can prove that the salvation is genuine.  To justify someone is to declare him righteous.  While Paul argued that only faith justified a person before God, James argued that works will inevitably surface in the saved person’s life as evidence of his faith before the world. 

LORD, make us people who demonstrate the validity of the faith we have in you – by the works that we do.

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after faith: impartiality

Posted on October 27, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce Harvest  James 2:1-13.  James continues to show what it is supposed to look like after faith in Christ has come into a person’s life.  One of the differences is that believers see each other differently.  They do not judge by the externals.  That is why partiality is so wrong.  The ground is level at the foot of the cross.  Poor Christians are just as significant in God’s eyes as rich Christians.  Their present status and eternal destiny is the same.  Faith in Christ makes equals of us all.

LORD, help us to demonstrate our faith in you by having the same care for one another – regardless of our differences.

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after faith: his creatures

Posted on October 26, 2011 by Jefferson Vann

072LR Produce HarvestJames 1.   The purpose of James’ letter was to encourage a group of Jewish churches to stay true to their faith in Christ, and allow that faith to control their actions.

 

 

  1. Faith should produce steadfast living in times of testing.  Believers are God’s creatures – and the 1st century Jewish believers were “a kind of firstfruits” of that harvest (1-18).
  2. Faith should produce righteous living that demonstrates its genuineness.  The believer’s righteousness is positive – in that it helps the needy (like orphans and widows).  It is also negative – bridling the tongue, and keeping the life unstained from the world (19-27).

LORD, make us creatures who demonstrate our Creator’s faithfulness and righteousness.

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