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Part 1: Suffering Together

DEEP ROOTS: JAMES

PART 1

 
Message Notes
 
Reading Plan
 
 
 
 
 

James 1:1-18

1. WE ALL FACE TRIALS AND SUFFERING.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” James 1:2-3 (NIV)

  • You live in a culture that does not prepare you for suffering at all.

2. WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN RESOURCES FROM GOD TO FACE SUFFERING.

  • A new perspective about suffering.

“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” James 1:2 (ESV)

“For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” James 1:3-4 (ESV)

  • Ask for wisdom to get through suffering.

“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8 (ESV)

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 (NIV)

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 (NIV)

3. WHO DO WE FACE SUFFERING WITH?

“When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone.” James 1:13 (NIV)

“But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” James 1:14-15 (NIV)

  • The answer for spiritual unfaithfulness is steadfast love for Jesus.

“Looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2 (ESV)

                                                                                                               

MY NEXT STEP TODAY IS: 

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This Week’s Reading Plan:

YouVersion® Bible App Reading Plan:
“Counting All as Joy” (5 Days)

Deep RootsDr. John Gerlach