The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the genius of God on display. God came as a child, vulnerable and humble, and called the unlikely ones to follow Him.
Jesus, with all that he had, humbled himself to serve the world and reconcile it to God. In the same way, we are to be active in serving, passive in self-promoting, allowing the gospel to show it's fruit in our lives.
Paul urges the Philippians to sit loosely in their culture and live according to the gospel alone. We are called on to be bold for Christ but humble toward the world.
James now calls us to good deeds done in the humility that comes from wisdom. This wisdom from above, quite different from natural earthly wisdom, is to become our inward compass for life in Christian community. (Please note, bible study questions relating to the sermon can be accessed by clicking on the paperclip icon, found on the right).
James urgently calls on believers to look like real believers, to be undivided in their devotion to the Lord. His message is fast and sometimes furious but always sprinkled with grace. (Please note, bible study questions relating to the sermon can be accessed by clicking on the paperclip icon, found on the right).
Unlike gifts we typically exchange the gift of salvation by grace is indispensable, costly and unearned. Therefore we should receive it with humility, joy and thankfulness. (Please note, bible study questions relating to the sermon can be accessed by clicking on the paperclip icon, found on the right).
Acknowledging who God is, in entirety, puts us in the right position before him and it is in this humble place of empty hands and broken hearts that confession is welcomed and forgiveness assured.