Faith Begins

ILLUST - Your family knows you best. You could act all cool with a girl - all macho - show her your best side, until she meets your family. - Brad and his self-made audio tapes. . . If you really want to get to know someone get to know their family.

We’re about to start on a new series. One that will take us through the rest of summer, and as we do, I want you to keep in mind the idea that if you want to get to know someone, get to know their family.

Turn to James 1:1

**Who wrote the book of James?

James 1:1 ESV

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

Four keys to understanding the Book of James:

Five keys to understanding the Book of James:

James 1:1 ESV

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

James

Must be Jesus’ brother:

Why it must be Jesus’ brother:

Several different James in Bible.

The name James is mentioned over 40 times.

Refers to up to 8 different men.

James is NT rendering of Jacob - popular name

Jesus had a brother named James:

Matthew 13:53–56 ESV

53 And when Jesus had finished these parables, he went away from there, 54 and coming to his hometown he taught them in their synagogue, so that they were astonished, and said, “Where did this man get this wisdom and these mighty works? 55 Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? 56 And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all these things?”

Matt 13:

The James here is Jesus’ brother.

Why didn’t he state that he was Jesus’ brother?

(ultimate name drop - Ima writing this letter to you, and you best listed because me and the Son of God - we tight!)

He didn’t need to. Everyone knew him. We’ll see later that he was a main leader of the church in Jerusalem - he was THAT James.

ILLUST - Secret Service brings a letter on White House letterhead signed “Donald” - you won’t question which Donald

2. He was following Jesus’ example of humility. How does he describe himself? Servant. Jesus came to serve not to be served and that was James as well.

3 different viewpoints on how James was related to Jesus:

Step brothers

3 ways James was related

Joseph had a wife prior to Mary and they had children including James. This is all just speculative.

Cousins - James and Jesus were close but not really related as brothers

This is usually used to help promote the idea that Mary was a perpetual virgin.

They were half-brothers.

This is the first marriage for both Mary and Joseph.

What it means that it is Jesus’ brother:

We have very little written about Jesus growing up.

If you want to know about Jesus get to know his family.

Mark 6:3–4 ESV

3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor, except in his hometown and among his relatives and in his own household.”

A servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

Interestingly, what does James call himself? A servant of God and of Jesus!

This is significant because at first, James didn’t believe his brother was God. That’s kind of natural if you have a brother - you have a hard time believing them when they post a status on Facebook that says, “I am God.” Makes for an awkward family reunion.

Mark 3:21 ESV

21 And when his family heard it, they went out to seize him, for they were saying, “He is out of his mind.”

Mark 3:31-

Mark 6:3–4 ESV

They took offense at him.

John 7:2–5 ESV

2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him.

John 7:25 ESV

25 Some of the people of Jerusalem therefore said, “Is not this the man whom they seek to kill?

James, the servant of God, did not believe Jesus was the Son of God.

But then,

1 Corinthians 15:4–7 ESV

4 that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, 5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:5–7 ESV

5 and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve. 6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

1 Corinthians 15:6–7 ESV

6 Then he appeared to more than five hundred brothers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have fallen asleep. 7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

If anyone would know if it was really Jesus who really died and really rose again - it would be his family!!

1 Corinthians 15:7 ESV

7 Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles.

James then gives himself to following his brother Jesus as Lord Jesus Christ.

What else except the truth of the resurrection could account for James’ transformation?

James then, along with Peter, becomes a major leader in the church in Jerusalem. In fact, when Peter leaves the city (likely due to persecution of Herod), James is left to lead the Christian movement.

James has such authority that Paul recognizes him has his leader and calls him a “pillar” of the church.

Galatians 2:9 ESV

9 and when James and Cephas and John, who seemed to be pillars, perceived the grace that was given to me, they gave the right hand of fellowship to Barnabas and me, that we should go to the Gentiles and they to the circumcised.

James helps lead the Jerusalem Council as they discussed what parts of their new faith in Jesus were born out of true teaching and devotion to Jesus, and what was vestiges of empty religion.

What we see is that James has convening power and and authoritative voice.

Of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ

Leader of the church yet humble

To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion

This is probably one of the earliest writings in the New Testament

Written in the early 40’s.

This was written shortly after the time of - stoning of Stephen and persecution of the church.

This was written to the ‘dispersion’.

12 tribes: This is reminiscent of the Jews sho lived outside of Palestine due to persecution or exile.

James had in mind here not only the Jewish Christians, bu

Based on our biblical theology, we believe that believers today, are grafted into the Twelve Tribesl.

Greetings

(structure of James)

This is a letter.

5 chapters.

Wisdom and Prophecy.

Proverbs of the NT - especially mirrors first 9 chapters of Proverbs

Little different, though. Unlike Proverbs, James isn’t going to give us pithy little sayings about the wisdom of ants.

James will punch you in your ‘faith.’

2 main influences - Proverbs and Jesus’ teaching (especially Sermon on the Mount)

The whole book will be a practical treatise on how to carry out Jesus’ summary of the Torah - To love God with everything that you are and to love your neighbor as yourself.

The interaction of faith and works.

James tells you who he is then points to God. That’s where it all begins.

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

^^God is not about forcing you to obey him; he is about flourishing you because he loves you.

All of his commands - in the OT and in James are there not because he wants to make you do something for him - he doesn’t NEED you. It’s not about restricting your fun - it’s about keeping you from chasing a life that he knows will not fulfill you.

Four lessons as we begin our study of James:

The gospel can change your faith.

James went from thinking his brother was a lunatic to believing he is Lord in one moment. What made the change? The resurrection.

In the gospel our sin is exposed and our Savior is revealed.

Read through the Book of James and tell me if it isn’t what one commentator called it, “a punch in the gut.” James is a punch in the faith. As I read through it I realize that I’m still not crushing this whole ‘Christ-follower’ thing.

Still use words that are sometimes sharp and cutting and leave others feeling cursed rather than blessed. I’ll still catch myself judging my brother or sister.

Still find myself gravitating toward people of influence or people who I think would benefit me.

Still find my heart drawn toward the things this world has to offer - my eyes still pop when I see the latest and the greatest. I still at times believe the lie that it will satisfy my longings.

Speaking of my heart, I have to admit , sometimes my heart is still caught divided between the world - wanting to be a friend of the world and God. I’m a double-minded man.

There are still times I fall into an empty religion. I may know all the facts about Jesus, read the words of Jesus, claim the name of Jesus, wear the shirts with the fish of Jesus, sing the songs about Jesus, but my faith feels as empty as all the cicada shells I find on anything my kids can put them on.

James will expose and re-expose the practical areas of our lives where we are NOT living a fully committed life to Jesus and our neighbors. This will push us back to the gospel.

The gospel can change your faith - from one of empty shells to wings that fly.

This will not be a book that condemns you, but it will certainly convict you.

Here’s the test to give yourself as we go through James:

>> As James gives us those things which evidence true faith, ask yourself whether you do these things in certain company and contexts, or is it a consistent part of your character?

There can be a difference between religion and faith.

James is writing to a bunch of church people. Many were likely Jews long before they were Christ-followers. They knew how to be religious. But true faith and religion are not always the same thing.

Think about it. James wouldn’t need to write about something that wasn’t an issue. (silence your phones, keep breathing, etc.) James needed to tell them to stop constantly listening about Jesus and start doing something about Him.

He’s writing to a bunch of small churches in many different contexts and there are obviously men in the church who are chasing money and networking to find the guys who will help him the most.

There are women in the church who speak sunshine and roses about people when they are around, yet cut down and shred those roses when talking about those same people behind their backs.

There are teenagers who bounce back from chasing the world and chasing God and often times lead duplicitous lives between church and school.

There are churches that are marked with quarrels and fights because people are bent on having their own preferences and desires. Churches in which there are those who are sick and are not prayed for, where there is sin that is unconfessed.

The amazing thing is, James is writing to the church less than a decade after Jesus actually walked among them.

There is a huge difference between empty religion and a fulfilling faith.

(From Barna)

“The percentage of people who have not attended a church function at all in the past six months has surged in the last decade from one-third to nearly two-fifths of all Americans. The shift is even more drastic among younger Americans: more than half of Millennials and Gen Xers say they have not been to church in the last six months.

Millennials who are opting out of church cite three factors with equal weight in their decision: 35% cite the church’s irrelevance, hypocrisy, and the moral failures of its leaders as reasons to check out of church altogether. In addition, two out of 10 unchurched Millennials say they feel God is missing in church, and one out of 10 senses that legitimate doubt is prohibited, starting at the front door.”

What difference does Jesus make in the world if Christians don’t make a difference for Jesus in the world?

This is why I am so proud of you -

Boundless overage to Puerto Rico

Many families significantly helped through difficult times

Household Blessings does more than offer “Be warm and well fed”

Tattooed man loved by conservative elderly

>>I’m going to ask you, over the next several weeks, to allow God to really work on your faith, to show you, to show us our emptiness. To sit together, just like the Early Church would have, to listen to this letter together, assess our own lives, our own faith, to confess our sins to one another, and commit to live out a fully committed Jesus-first life.

Faith must be at work no matter where you find yourself.

The Diaspora were scattered.

The new believers who were all in one city were now in many different cities, in many different cultures, and some for not good reasons.

James expects believers to be fully devoted to God and show that faith by loving their neighbor wherever they find themselves.

**Wherever you find yourself is where your faith must express itself.

>>The life of the church follows the regular rhythm of gathering and scattering. If your life is fully devoted to God you will work out your faith wherever you are during the week.

Jesus’ family invites you to be a part of Jesus’ family.

Can you imagine being so close to Jesus that he’d be like a brother to you. Maybe you’ve never experienced a relationship with Jesus in such a way that you could call him your brother.

Luke 8:19–21 ESV

19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. 20 And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” 21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Luke 8:21 ESV

21 But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

“Those who hear the Word of God and do it.”

If anyone understood what it meant to know about Jesus but not know Jesus, it was his brother, James.

If anyone would know of any reason why we shouldn’t follow Jesus as a sinless Savior, it was his brother, James.

If anyone would have evidence that Jesus did not rise from the dead, it was his brother, James.

Instead, tradition tells us that James died as a martyr, fully committed to following his brother, Jesus - believing that he DID live a sinless life, he DID die on the cross and rise again three days later, he DID come to give us a way to live a life that leads us to flourishing as we live out the way Jesus taught us to love God and love our neighbor.

details of James’ death

Church historian writes this:

“Leading him into their midst they demanded of him that he should renounce faith in Christ in the presence of all the people. But, contrary to the opinion of all, with a clear voice, and with greater boldness than they had anticipated, he spoke out before the whole multitude and confessed that our Saviour and Lord Jesus is the Son of God. But they were unable to bear longer the testimony of the man who, on account of the excellence of ascetic virtue and of piety which he exhibited in his life, was esteemed by all as the most just of men, and consequently they slew him. “

Church history tells us that James was forced by the religious leaders to the top of the Temple where he was thrown off.

“.. threw down the just man... [and] began to stone him: for he was not killed by the fall; but he turned, and kneeled down, and said: "I beseech thee, Lord God our Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do."

And, while they were there, stoning him to death, one of the priests, the sons of Rechab, the son of Rechabim, to whom testimony is borne by Jeremiah the prophet, began to cry aloud, saying: "Cease, what do ye? The just man is praying for us." But one among them, one of the fullers, took the staff with which he was accustomed to wring out the garments he dyed, and hurled it at the head of the just man.

And so he suffered martyrdom; and they buried him on the spot, and the pillar erected to his memory still remains, close by the temple. “

The story goes then that after James’ death, his brother Simon (who is listed among Jesus’ brothers in the Gospel accounts) takes the place of James as the leader of the Jerusalem church.

In addition,

Jude 1 ESV

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and brother of James, To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:

The family of Jesus - those who knew him best - were so convinced of who he was, who he claimed to be, that his words held life - that they were willing to go to their deaths. Not just one crazy brother and his little crazy brother, but four brothers (and perhaps more.

The family of Jesus invites you to be a part of the family of Jesus.

>> Maybe for the first time - you’ve never felt a part of the family - you need a family with the life that Jesus wants to give you - with all of the joy your soul can handle and a life that is meaningful and makes sense of this world.

Maybe, you need to commit that over these next 12 or so weeks, you will take whatever God wants to show you and truly DO something about it - Not just hear 12 more sermons, but commit to making a significant change based on the punches to your faith that James wants to bring.

Conclusion

‘Brother, are you known?’

If anyone

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