Lesson for Sunday, November 30 2008

Series: Marks of a Mature Christian
Text: James 4:1-10
Lesson: Keys to Conflict Resolution

I don't know about you but I see conflict everywhere I look. People who do not get along with other people. This can take place at work at home and some times even in a church community. This week we will be looking at the following passage and the following questions:

James 4
1From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? 2Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. 3Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. 4Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. 5Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? 6But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. 7Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. 9Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness. 10Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

What is the root of all conflict?
What should my response to conflict be?
How can I avoid it?
What do I do once I have given in to it?

Lesson for Sunday, November 23 2008

Series: Marks of a Mature Christian
Text: James 3:13-18
Lesson: Heavenly Wisdom vs. Earthly Intellect

Who do you listen to?
Where do you go when you need answers?
How can I tell if that leader or if that teacher has others best interests, or, their own best interests? What is the difference between spiritual and carnal advice?
Why is seeing the difference so important?
How can I tell if someone is trying to manipulate me and use religion to control me?

I hope you will be here this Sunday. This is a very important subject! I have seen person after person get disappointed or abused spiritually by leadership in religious settings. We are going to talk this thing through so we can all avoid those who are in this thing for themselves!

I love you...grace and Peace, Jake

Lesson for Sunday, November 16

Series: Marks of a Mature Christian
Text: James 3:1-12
Lesson: Taming the Tongue

Ephesians 4:29 (KJV) 29Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

STATS:
• You have 30 conversations a day
• Spend 1/5 of your life talking
• 1 yr your conversation would fill an 800 page book…66 xs
• Men speak an average of 20,000 words a day
• Women speak an average of 30,000 words a day

The words that we say are so powerful...The book of James compares them to a small rudder controlling a large ship or a small jockey controlling a large horse by a small bit. The tongue displays where I am headed,it can destroy what I have and who I am. It speaks what is in ones heart. Those words affect those around us. They can destroy or build. They bring change ,or, they can bring pain. They can show love or display hate. They can uplift or tear down. one question: WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

What a convicting subject!!! I hope you will be here this Sunday!!!

Lesson For Sunday, November 9 2008

Series: Marks of a Mature Christian
Text: James 2
Lesson: Real Faith

Faith is a word that is thrown around in the Christian community like a football on a elementary playground. It is used and abused. It is taught on, and talked about. Phrases such as: "I am a person of Faith" ect.... are use all of the time. People all over say that the have it. So, what is it? How do you get it? How do I know if I have it? Where does it come from?

I hope you will read ahead this Week!!! God bless you and I am praying for you!

Read James 2:14-26; Romans 4:2; Matthew 7:21; Titus 3:5; 1 John 3:14,17; Philippians 1:20; John 1:22;