Act on It
Keep Christ Preeminent • Sermon • Submitted
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· 2 viewsSince we call ourselves Christians, we need to actually follow Christ. This requires keeping Christ preeminent in all things, but especially the church.
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Transcript
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Introduction
In his general epistle, James had to address some super-spiritual people who smugly thought themselves better than he because they had faith, while all he had was works.
Really?, He asked, and how is one to know you have faith? He concluded that they could try to show their faith without their works and he would succeed in showing his faith by his works.
There are so many things in life like that…you can only see them as you act upon them.
Transition
Since that is true (it’s not really a question), Paul continues giving practical ways that we could live out Christ’s preeminence.
Illumination
Pray, 4:2-4
Pray, 4:2-4
Earnestly - give unremitting care to it
Vigilantly - awake and aware
Thankfully - gratitude, not entitlement
Purposefully (Not the only thing to pray about, but something that was pressing on Paul)
opportunities to share the gospel
courage and clarity in the opportunities
If Paul needed to help in this department, we certainly will
Live (walk), 4:5
Live (walk), 4:5
Wisely toward people - applied intelligence
Freely toward self
Not bound by law
Boundless opportunity
Our time is Our time
we are free to make it count
Speak 4:6
Speak 4:6
Graciously
Mercy and Grace are twin concepts
Mercy - not getting what you DO deserve
Grace - getting what you DO NOT deserve
Speaking with people in this way is not easy, that’s why he says the next part, “seasoned with salt”. It’s just not immediately obvious what that means.
Sacrificially (to God)
13 He shall lay his hand on its head and kill it before the tabernacle of meeting; and the sons of Aaron shall sprinkle its blood all around on the altar.
Conclusion
Pray, speak, and live may not seem like the most apparent ways to demonstrate that we are keeping Christ Preeminent. But when think about it, if we do them (especially in the case of prayer), and how we do them (living and speaking) is either shaped by what is preeminent in our lives. The tone and tendencies of our life will be different if Christ is preeminent than they are if we are preeminent. Living in a world full of people who are self-absorbed, it is refreshing any time we run across someone who isn’t. It gives us the opportunity to be refreshing to the people around us…and to the God above us.