Embark on a journey through the teachings of James, where the lines between faith and action blur into a lifestyle of unity and righteousness. We promise that by tuning in, you'll uncover the potency of a community united in love, especially during the trials that test our bond and beliefs. Our reflections on the church's vital role in this tapestry interweave support with the gospel's transformative message. The mission field, we argue, lies as much in our neighborhoods as it does overseas, with every day presenting a new opportunity for believers to fulfill their calling.
Ever questioned the true hallmark of a living, breathing faith? Our discussion on the synergy of faith and works reveals that the trials we encounter are not just hurdles to overcome but mirrors reflecting the resilience of our belief in God's unchanging goodness. Through the lens of both Paul and James, we illuminate how authentic faith naturally manifests in our deeds, our generosity, and even in the restraint of our tongues. This episode is not just a conversation but an invitation—to act, to serve, and to embody the very principles we profess.
As we wrap up with a focus on authenticity, we dissect the significance of aligning our lifestyle and speech with our faith, aware that inconsistency can erode the strongest of testimonies. We share insights on controlling the tongue, embracing heavenly wisdom, and the humility required to avoid judgment. Our mission and vision are more than just words; they're about transforming 'me' into 'we', creating a community that's compellingly equipped to introduce others to Jesus. Join us as we commit to this shared vision, where every action and word is a step toward a world that recognizes His need now more than ever.
Embark on a journey through the teachings of James, where the lines between faith and action blur into a lifestyle of unity and righteousness. We promise that by tuning in, you'll uncover the potency of a community united in love, especially during the trials that test our bond and beliefs. Our reflections on the church's vital role in this tapestry interweave support with the gospel's transformative message. The mission field, we argue, lies as much in our neighborhoods as it does overseas, with every day presenting a new opportunity for believers to fulfill their calling.
Ever questioned the true hallmark of a living, breathing faith? Our discussion on the synergy of faith and works reveals that the trials we encounter are not just hurdles to overcome but mirrors reflecting the resilience of our belief in God's unchanging goodness. Through the lens of both Paul and James, we illuminate how authentic faith naturally manifests in our deeds, our generosity, and even in the restraint of our tongues. This episode is not just a conversation but an invitation—to act, to serve, and to embody the very principles we profess.
As we wrap up with a focus on authenticity, we dissect the significance of aligning our lifestyle and speech with our faith, aware that inconsistency can erode the strongest of testimonies. We share insights on controlling the tongue, embracing heavenly wisdom, and the humility required to avoid judgment. Our mission and vision are more than just words; they're about transforming 'me' into 'we', creating a community that's compellingly equipped to introduce others to Jesus. Join us as we commit to this shared vision, where every action and word is a step toward a world that recognizes His need now more than ever.
Like I said, james, james offers a lot of of really good insight into how you and I, as believers in Christ, should live our life right. And so, for someone who's not a Christian, it's not that this information isn't good for you, because it is but for those of us who are specifically part of the church that God has created, james is really laying out the importance of living not only in unity together, but living right, lie like in the right way, right so that our life is a reflection to those around us, so that when people see us, when they see the way we love each other, when they see the way we treat each other, when, when they see how we handle conflict, when they see how we handle trials and temptations, that that they're they're motivated to start asking questions, and not only motivated, but but encouraged to think that maybe there's a different way. I was reading an article earlier this week, and one of the things I was talking about is you know, there's a lot of social services that exist in the world today. There's a lot of different resources and ways for for people to get help, and and those are good things, and but the article was talking about how the the one thing that almost all of those things lack is the message of the gospel, and and, whereas the church is supposed to not only provide for the community, provide for believers, provide for those around them and take care of it, like you know, people who are in need to look over the, you know, look out for the widows and the orphans, but but we're also, we have the gospel attached to it. So the good news of Jesus Christ and and these are things that are, are such, should be so built into who we are, and and and I and Cody said it that you know we're, we're sending two teams, you know we're praying for two teams that are going overseas, but but there's so much mission work that needs to happen here. As someone who is a believer in Christ, the truth is, you are always on mission and our mission is to spread the gospel. That's why we exist, that's why we're here.
Speaker 1:Like I said, we're going to read through the entirety of James, and I realize it's probably going to be a lot, but I love reading scripture, I love spending time in it, and I think that a lot of times, especially with James, says is right to the point. So, believing this is what God has given us, believing that this is inspired, that it's been revealed. And the James is writing the words that he believes and that we believe God is speaking to the men and women of the church. It says, james, the servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ, to the 12 tribes scattered among the nations said consider pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work, say they may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God. He was generously to all, without finding fault, and will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
Speaker 1:That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation, since they will pass away like a wildflower, for the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant as blossoms fall and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, their rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres on a trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life to the Lord, as promised to those who love him.
Speaker 1:When we are tempted, no one should say God is tempting me, for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. And after desire is conceived, he gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, though we might be a kind of firstfruits for all created. My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this.
Speaker 1:Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues in him, not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it though it would be blessed in what they do, those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight render on their tongues to deceive themselves and the religion is worthless.
Speaker 1:Religion that God, our Father, accepts is pure and faultless, is this Look after orphans and widows in their distress. And he keeps self wanting from being polluted by the world. So, like I said, james starts, he starts out with this idea that the trials and temptations will come. There are so many people, I think, in today's world and there's this weird form of Christian Christianity that exists and I don't even know if I want to call it that that they convince people that if you become a Christian, that all of your worries will go away, all of your woes will disappear into the night. And James is like no, he's like listen, they're going to happen, expect them to happen.
Speaker 1:And so if you have someone and I've had people tell me and you know it drives me nuts, but it's a personal thing, like when things happen in my life you know I've had people say to me well, you're not praying hard enough. I'm like you have no idea how hard I'm praying. You have no idea the amount of tears that I've shed in the darkness because I can't understand why things are happening. You know, I I think about this trip to Africa. I am like struggling with the fact that tomorrow morning I am not getting on a plane, because I've been, I've been building up to this and I even asked you know, we were in back praying with the worship team before we started and I was like I don't know what to do because all of the stuff that I was supposed to do is done, because I wasn't going to be in the country for two weeks. And so Cody looked at me and he said go find someone to serve. And I was like you're not wrong, right? He's like go be a missionary while you're here.
Speaker 1:And but I think about it because I don't understand why things are happening now. I don't understand why I blew a tire on Friday. I don't understand why people get sick I but what I know is that when those things happen, the way that we respond is a reflection of where our faith is, because it doesn't mean that we can't be upset about them, it doesn't mean we can't feel depressed about it, but what it means is that when those temptations and trials come and I love what James says, that don't don't misunderstand this, don't blame God, because God is unchanging. God is consistently the same. Everything good comes from above. So so when bad things happen, there's the response should be OK, god. I might not understand this, but I do understand you. I know who you are, I know that this is not a surprise to you.
Speaker 1:And so, James, he starts out this letter and, by the way, he's talking to a group of young believers that are probably going through a lot of trials and temptations right now. They've been shunned by family, they've lost their connection to the synagogue a lot of them and so they're probably struggling. And then James says trials will come, but God is the same. Temptation will come, but it's not God doing it. And what I love about it is that, that underlying statement, that that idea that God is always the same no matter what happens.
Speaker 1:And so he continues on. He says you know, the way that you live matters, how you carry yourself, the things that you do, the way that you treat people. Like this is a reflection of the God that you serve. And I love it. Because people think there's like a conflict sometimes between Paul and James, because James is talking about the need for works in your faith and and Paul spends a lot of time talking about you know how it's all like faith based and really all we need is faith and there's not a conflict between the two and they're speaking to two different audiences. But I love what James says, like if you are someone of faith, the natural response to having faith is work. God produces work in us. God teaches us to love people, he teaches us and he, like I said earlier, we, you and I are consistently on mission and that mission is, is a part of who we are. It's a part of everything we do. And the moment that you accepted Christ, you signed up to be part of the mission and so we put our faith into practice. And James continues in chapter two In my brothers and sisters, believers in our glorious Lord, jesus Christ, we must not show favoritism.
Speaker 1:Suppose a man comes into your meeting wearing a gold ring and fine clothes, and a poor man and filthy old clothes also comes in you. So special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say here's a good seat for you, but you say the poor man. You stand there or sit on the floor by my feet. Have you not discriminated among yourselves and become judges with evil thoughts? Listen, my dear brothers and sisters. Has not God chosen those who are poor in the eyes of the world to be rich in faith and to inherit the kingdom he promised to those who love him? But you've dishonored the poor. Is it not the rich who are exploiting you? Are they not the ones who are dragging you in the court? Are they not the ones who are blaspheming the noble name of him to whom you belong?
Speaker 1:If you really keep the royal law found in scripture, love your neighbors as yourself, you're doing right. But if you show favoritism, you sin and are convicted by the law as a lawbreaker. For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point, it was guilty of breaking it all. For he who said you shall not commit adultery also said you shall not murder If you not commit adultery but do commit murder, you become a lawbreaker. Speak and act as those who were going to be judged by the law. They give us freedom because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.
Speaker 1:What good is it, my brothers and sisters, that someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such a faith save them? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to them go in peace, keep warm and well fed, but there's nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. What someone will say you have faith, I have deeds. Show me your faith without deeds and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God good? Even the demons believe that and they shudder. You foolish person. Do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together and his faith was made complete by what he did, and the scripture is fulfilled that says, abraham believed God and described to him as righteousness and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is considered righteous by what they do and not by faith alone. In the same way, was not even Abraham the prostitute considered righteous for what she did when she gave lodging to the spies and sent them off in different directions. As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead. And once again, this is the word of God, that this is what we as Christians believe, that we live and we base our life off of.
Speaker 1:And James starts out, and just from the letter we can assume that they were showing favoritism. You know, it's interesting because if someone were to come in here and we would make them sit on the floor, by the way, we wouldn't right At least I don't think we would. If someone were to come in here of a low position and we were to make them sit on the floor because, for whatever reason, they don't belong in our pews, we would all hopefully have a collective what just happened, that that shouldn't be right. But what I see happen, and what happens a lot of times in churches, is we might not be making someone sit on the floor, but we treat them like they belong there. They might be sitting in our pews, they might be sitting in our chairs, they might be worshiping next to us, but we treat them like they don't belong right. And so James is talking about this idea of don't show favoritism, that the rich man, the poor man, they're all the same in God's eyes. They were all created by God.
Speaker 1:I think that's as Christians we struggle with that, because when people don't act like us, then they'll talk like us, then they'll think like us. It's really easy for us to write them off, but every person on the face of the earth was created in the image of God, which means that every person was made to be in relationship as a son and daughter of the God most high. And so, as we look at humanity, we have to learn how to see people as our brothers and sisters. And I know that that gets complicated because there's people that are not Christians and they don't believe and they think we're crazy. But the reality is, especially if they don't know Jesus, there's someone who's lost, in the need of someone to love them, because God made them God when Jesus died on the cross, the moment that he gave up his life and he took on the sin of the world. He didn't pick and choose, it was universal. He meant that that sacrifice was for everyone who was willing to accept it. And if we learn to see people in that light, we see them different, we approach them different, we treat them different.
Speaker 1:The church should be the one place where people, no matter who they are, rich or poor, feel like they belong always. And then, once again, james goes on to say but your faith is great, but if you're not putting anything into practice, it's useless. And he used some pretty strong language. He says oh great, you have faith. Even the demons believe in God, congratulations. But he says that if you really have faith, a genuine faith in Jesus, then your life should reflect that. People should know that you're a Christian by the way you live and by the way you love. That's such a pointed statement. But that's what you and I, we, are called to. It's to be the type of people that when people look at us, they think, wow, there's really is something different about them. Listen, I love the second year. We've been able to work with Rob and sending a team down the Dominican and, like I said, we have a team that I'm connected with, it's gonna end up going to Africa.
Speaker 1:Like that desire to go into the world to reach the loss, to feed people, to help meet the needs of people, like that's inspired by faith. That's the driving factor is we're helping and we're praying for an opportunity to bring someone to the knowledge of Jesus. We think about the Brown Bag diner we do here. That's why we do it. We're not just trying to feed people, but we want people to know who Jesus is, and so we're looking for every opportunity. So the way that we live, the things that we do, it matters.
Speaker 1:James understands that and he's reminding his initial audience that the way you live, if you claim to have faith and you do nothing with it, you're dead. There are no bench warmers in the kingdom of God and if you are, get off the bench. You and I are supposed to be the kind of people that are action-oriented. So James continues this is not. Many of you should become teachers, my fellow believers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly. By the way that verse is stuck in my head 24-7, because the Bible was clear that that I will be judged more strictly Said we all stumble In many ways.
Speaker 1:Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check. When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or we take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boast. Consider what a great force is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one's life on fire and itself is set on fire by hell. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It's a restless evil full of deadly poison.
Speaker 1:With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father. With the curtain and with it we curse human beings who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth comes praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring, my brothers and sisters? Can a fig tree bear olives, or grapevine bear figs? Neither can the salt spring produce fresh water. Who is wise in understanding among you? Let them show up by their good life, by deeds done in humility. That comes from wisdom. But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth. Such wisdom does not come from heaven but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic, for where you have envy and self-ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure peace, loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit. In partial and sincere peacemakers who sow in peace, people harvest of righteousness. How many, how many conversations have you had with someone and Within a moment, something they said, you just lose all respect for them. I Remember when I was working in the warehouse that I was at, they brought a guy in and he was training us on the operation of a new forklift that that we had purchased, and he was a so-called expert of this particular forklift.
Speaker 1:And so we brought him in and we're having this conversation and he was like training my team or whatever, and he stops and he he first off he called it by the wrong name, which I'll give him that one, and then he started quote a bunch of facts about it that, upon later research, we found out was completely wrong, and so one of the things that concerned us was because we handle a lot of heavy merchandise is the particular weight load that it can handle was nowhere near what he said it could be. So the danger there is, if you try to use this lift to move something that's too heavy, it could fall over, it could tip over. Damnage happens, but. But all I can think about it is this guy who is this so-called expert of this particular thing? And Then you come to find out he doesn't actually know what he's talking about. And so, of course, in my mind I'm thinking I need to get somebody else in here, because this guy I Don't know why he called himself an expert. By the way, I love tiktok not really, but I love tiktok because everyone on tiktok is an expert in whatever matter they're talking about.
Speaker 1:Right, but but imagine, as a Christian, that you're out there sharing the gospel and you're telling someone about the importance of knowing who Jesus is and how great he is and how much grace and mercy he has. And Then they hear you start gossiping about your neighbor you don't like and you start talking poorly About that co-worker that you have, or or you start using language is not appropriate. Imagine how much that gets in the way of your testimony of God when the words coming out of your mouth Don't line up with the life you claim to live. And that's what James is saying is listen. You have people who will praise God on a Sunday I'm putting the Sunday in there because you didn't say that praise God on a Sunday and then go to work on Monday and curse people who are made in the image of God and and he says, at brothers and sisters, that cannot be. By the way, I'm gonna take this a little further, because Facebook didn't exist back then.
Speaker 1:The stuff you post on social media also matters. The stuff that you shared on your TikTok, whatever, like the things that you say about other people, how you talk about people. That the, the way you engage, the way you and talk even about your church, the way you talk about the ministry that we do, the way that you talk about things, has an impact beyond you. You cannot. As someone who is a believer, you should not be okay With praising God on Sunday and cursing your neighbor on Monday. You should feel a certain way about that. And James goes on to say, as he wraps up he talks about the different wisdom that exists. He talks about an earthly wisdom that's demonic and self-seeking, he goes on to say, but the wisdom that comes from heaven is pure peace, loving, consider it submissive, full of mercy, good fruit and partial and sincere, said. Peacemakers who sow and peace reap a harvest of righteousness. We talked about it last week.
Speaker 1:The, the first yield sign I, was created in 1939. If I remember correctly, I think it was Oklahoma, kansas, one of those areas. I know they're not the same thing, don't worry, I know, I know I I did okay in geography, but but the first yield sign was created in 1939. I was actually actually was Kansas because of the Kansas traffic Institute. It was a student who worked there created the first yield sign and the the first time it was implemented was in their town, at one of the heaviest Accident prone areas, and within a year of the yield sign existing, the accidents in that area dropped to zero.
Speaker 1:By the way, for those of you here, last week I explained how to use a yield sign. I'm not doing that again, and but if you know how to use a yield sign, there's a reason why they exist. It doesn't mean speed up and go faster, but but imagine how, how much different our conversations would be if we would learn to yield our tongue a little faster, if we would step back and ask God is this conversation fruitful, is it beneficial? Is it of you? Before I text this, before I post this, before I do any of this, is it of you? Because, god, if I'm in you, I cannot praise you and curse your creation in the same breath. James continues on.
Speaker 1:Chapter 4 Says what causes fights and quarrels among you? Don't they come from your desires? The battle within you? You desire, but do not have. So you kill, you cover it, but you cannot get what you want. So you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do an.
Speaker 1:Ask God. When you ask, you do not receive. Because you ask, with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures. You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world means Emnity with against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God, or do you think scripture says without reason that he jealousied, long for the spirit he's caused? Dwell on us, but he gives us more grace. That is why scripture says God opposes the proud which shows favor to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God. Where's this, the devil, and he will flee from you. Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners. Purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve more in whale. Change your laughter to morning, in your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord and he will lift you up.
Speaker 1:Brother and sister, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against their brother or sister or Judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you're not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There's only one lawgiver and judge, the one who's able to save and destroy. But you, who are you to judge your neighbor? Now listen, you who say today or tomorrow, we will go to this for that city, spending a year there, carry on business and make money, why? You do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. Instead, you ought to say if it is the Lord's will, we will live, and we will live and do this or that. As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. If anyone then knows the good they ought to do and doesn't do, it is sin for them. This is probably one of the harsher parts of this letter. And and James is, he's not pulling any punches, he's like listening. Submit your life to God, give your life to his purpose, because if you do, he's gonna lift you up and and understand that that your quarrels and your boasting and and you're fighting amongst yourself, that's not godly. That's you, that, that's your sinful nature.
Speaker 1:Struggling Because in going you, looking at this whole series, what, what is going to change us as a church, as a community, is to really go from that me to we mentality that the UNI are in this together, that you are my family, that if you have a need that becomes my need, if you have a prayer or a concern, that that will. We share in that burden together, all of us collectively. Because what unites us more than anything is the mission that you and I have been called to To see people know Jesus. To see people know Jesus. To see people Embrace and have their lives changed by the kingdom. That is what should set us apart from everywhere else, and people see that In the way that we work together, in the way that we love each other and even in the way we speak of each other Not only of each other, but but the way we speak to each other.
Speaker 1:And then James Wraps up his letter, says now listen, you rich people Weep and well. Because of the misery that is coming on you, your wealth is rotted and moss that be in your clothes, your golden silver corroded. The corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You've hoarded wealth in the last days. Look the wages you failed to pay. The workers who mowed your field are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You've lived on earth and luxury and self-indulgence you have fatten yourselves in the day of slaughter. You've condemned and murdered the innocent one who is not opposing you. Be patient then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You to be patient and stand firm, because the Lord's coming is near. Don't rumble against one another, brother and sisters, or you'll be judged. The judge is standing at the door.
Speaker 1:Brothers and sisters, an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count them as blessed. Who've been, who persevered you've heard of Joe's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy. Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear, not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is simple yes or no, otherwise you'll be condemned.
Speaker 1:Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to prayer with them and anoint them with the word in the name of the Lord and the prayer offered in faith, we'll make the sick person well. The Lord will raise them up. If you have sin, they'll be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person Is powerful and effective.
Speaker 1:Elijah was a human being, even as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain and it did not run in the land for three and a half years. Again, he prayed and the heavens gave rain and the earth produces crops. My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth, and someone should bring that person back, remember this whoever turns a sinner from the air of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins. I Love what James. I Love the entire letter, because he's establishing the importance of how we, we, treat each other. He's establishing that the way that we live Matters. The way that we speak of people matters.
Speaker 1:When he wraps up his letter, he reminds them of the importance of having faith and putting your faith in God, and, and and that's where, that's where he ends is he? He says look, it's great that you're doing all of this, and you know we have some harsh words for those who are rich and, by the way, not necessarily rich, in fact, that they have wealth. But these are people who are rich and they're using it to their advantage or using it to the disadvantage of someone else, right? So? So he's calling them to account. That that's what the church is supposed to be. We, we are this collective community who comes together, who serves together, who loves each other. But we also hold each other accountable For the way that we live. And at the end of his letter it says if one of you brings someone back who has walked away, that's a good thing, and and and.
Speaker 1:So the same way, when you and I encounter people in our community, you don't know Jesus. One of the greatest opportunities we have, as we can bring them back into the family that they were created for. That's that's what makes the church unique is not just we're trying to help them, but we're bringing them back Into a relationship with a God who made them. That is our mission, that is our purpose. And when we fight amongst ourselves, it takes away from the mission. When we grumble among ourselves, it takes away from the mission. When we start focusing on me and not we, it takes away from the mission. There's nothing wrong with having a preference or how you like things and Listen there's not. But those things can never distract us from the mission. You and I Were saved by grace. Jesus died on the cross. Give up everything he had in order to restore us into a relationship with God, so that we could help other people be restored into a relationship with God. We are disciples. We're supposed to go make disciples. That is our mission. You have been saved for a purpose.
Speaker 1:So when you say, well, I don't know why I'm here, that's why you're here, it's gonna look different for everyone, right? Different towns, different ideas there, but the underlying mission Is to make disciples. Right, I Was just talking to Pastor Jeff Greco. Don't worry, I'm wrapping up promise. I Was talking to Pastor Jeff Greco. If you don't know who mr Greco is, he's been a long-term mentor of mine and he is. So he was a cross-� Christian church for a long time and we had a meeting on.
Speaker 1:We've been meeting regularly with different leaders and in one of the questions that we asked this group of church leaders is what's the difference between mission and vision? And and so I want to explain that to you Because I think it's important the mission of the church is to make disciples. That's it. That is Matthew 28 to go into the world, make disciples, baptizing in the Father, son, holy Spirit, teach them, as I do, go to the ends of the earth. That is our mission. Our mission never changes. It will never change.
Speaker 1:The vision is the way in which we do it. So when you talk about our vision, our vision is to Provide community needs, such as brown bag diner, to have community groups set up in order to Provide places for people to mature and grow in their faith. We have, you know, sunday morning services. You know we design it the way that it is so that we can help people enter into worship of the God who created them Right like you and I have this really awesome privilege every Sunday morning To stand before the God who made us and thank him for everything he's done Right. So so we, we, everything. We so our vision. It changes. It has changed over the years. It probably will change in the future. The vision changes.
Speaker 1:There's nothing wrong with that, as long as we understand what the mission is. The mission is to bring people to Jesus always, and if something in our vision doesn't fit that, then we're not doing you or we're not doing it right. We're sending teams overseas. The vision is the go to Dominican Republic. The mission is to bring people to Jesus. The Easter egg hunt that we have going on here a couple weeks the vision is to have an Easter egg hunt for the community. The mission is to use that to bring people to Jesus.
Speaker 1:So everything we do is driven by the mission, which is always the same, and I love, I love this entire book, this letter James writes, because everything he talks about Are things that we experience, and he reminds them that if you allow those things to distract you, you're missing the point of the mission our Unity together to go from me to we. If we can get to the we part, it's gonna make us unstoppable. So every time we come together, we love each other, we take care of each other, we pray for each other, we support each other, we offer accountability to each other, so that Every single person here is equipped To go into the world and bring someone to Jesus. So as you go into your world, I'm praying for you. As you have a need, I'm gonna meet it. This world needs us now more than ever. They need Jesus more than they've ever needed him before.
Speaker 1:Going from me to we, it's not easy, but it's what we're called to do. May God continue to use you. May God continue to use us to make a difference here and In every place that we go. May God continue to bring people into your life that needs Jesus, and may you be up to the task of Bringing them to the knowledge of him. That is our mission. Let's pray.