Sermon Preview Brothers and Sisters in the Lord, As we discovered last Sunday, James 4 is another one of those rather blunt sections of the Epistle that tells us plainly the way things are with each of us. The brother of our Lord is addressing the real cause of relational discord within the body of Christ, and he identifies the source as our “passions,” which are “at war” within each of us (4:1). Behind every quarrel and fight and every relational fracture is a passion that is seeking satisfaction in an illegitimate way.  Deep in our hearts we want what we want, how we want it, and when we want it. And if we don’t get it, then things fall apart. This is what the inspired author means in verses 2-3 where we discover an unholy logic at work. Unrequited “lust” leads to things like “murder” and coveting. A believer under the influence of such lusts and “passions” will say and do things he never envisioned.  When our lusts rule the day, there are always consequences and collateral damage. We never lust for something in isolation. Others are always affected. And this is a most serious thing when it comes to the unity, purity, and harmony of the body of Christ. What is the answer to this persistent and pervasive problem of our unshackled “passions”?  What do we do when we find ourselves in the heat of this “war” that is raging within each of us? How can our relationships within the Church be protected from the havoc wrought by our selfish desires? As we will see this Lord’s Day, the simple solution is found in verses 2-3. And it is about asking—about asking the right Person in the right way. To better understand the pathway through this warfare, let your mind and heart reflect upon those familiar words of Jesus in Matthew 6:25-34. And then let’s all pray that the preaching of God’s Word will richly bless and edify His people. I love you all!! Mike

Upcoming Events:January 31, 6 PM – Women’s Evening Bible Study February 1, 9 AM – Women’s Morning Bible Study February 5, 4:30 PM – Youth Group February 12, 3 PM – New Members Class February 14, 10 AM – Presbytery Meeting February 25, 10 AM – Baby Shower for Leah Johnson (at Renee Davie’s house) February 26, 5 PM – Parenting Class Connecting with the Catechism:Q. 12. What special act of providence did God exercise towards man in the estate wherein he was created? A. 12. When God had created man, he entered into a covenant of life with him, upon condition of perfect obedience; forbidding him to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, upon the pain of death. Gal. 3:12 Gen. 2:17 Q. 13. Did our first parents continue in the estate wherein they were created? A. 13. Our first parents, being left to the freedom of their own will, fell from the estate wherein they were created, by sinning against God. Gen. 3:6-8, 13 Eccles. 7:29 Q. 14. What is sin? A. 14. Sin is any want of conformity unto, or transgression of, the law of God. I John 3:4 Announcements: Special Prayer: Please continue praying for Sondra Behmer who was readmitted to Huntsville Hospital last night. Annual Budget: Information about the yearly budget is available on handouts in the Narthex to anyone who is interested. Snacks for RUF:Christ Presbyterian has committed to providing snacks for the RUF at UAH Large Group meeting on Monday, March 6th and Monday, April 10th. Some information below: We are providing snacks (chips, trail mix, granola bars, fruit) and/or desserts (brownies, cookies, donuts, etc) for UAH students at the RUF “Large Group” meeting –  between 75-100 students. We are asking 4 people to sign up for each night with each person preparing a snack/dessert to serve 25-30 people. If possible, bring your food in containers/bags that do not need to be returned. DROP-OFF: If possible, bring your contributions to the UAH Nursing Building on the Monday you sign up at 6:45pm. Come into the lobby of the ‘newer-looking’ Nursing Building and you will find RUF students setting up. If you are unable to drop off at that time contact Norman for pickup (334-313-1298, ndeaniv@gmail.com). If you have any questions please contact Norman Please use this link to sign up for a slot: http://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090444a9a92ca7ff2-provide Bags of Blessings: Our church has volunteered to help March 8th and April 5th with the Bags of Blessings ministry at the Care Center in New Hope. Packing begins at 6:00 PM and lasts around 1.5 hours. We need 25-30 volunteers. Please contact Norman Dean, ndeaniv@gmail.com,  if you would like to help or want more information. New Members Class: The next New Members class will be held at the church on February 12 and 19 from 3 to 5 PM. This class is for anyone interested in learning more about becoming a member of our church. Attending the class does not obligate you to join, but anyone wishing to become a member must attend both classes. See the sign up sheet in the Narthex. Nursery will be provided, and there will be a meal after the February 19 meeting. Parenting Class: This year, we will meet again and discuss the topic of Leading Our Children to Faith in Christ. He will be using the book “Bringing the Gospel to Covenant Children” as a guide. This will be a wonderful chance for us to learn more about the reformed view of covenant children and their coming to Christ, what this looks like at our church, as well as ask any questions related to the communicant’s book that the Session has us go through with our children before they make a profession. It’s also a chance for us to fellowship! Mark your calendars: Sunday, February 25th at 5:00 to 6:30 pm Sunday, March 6th at 5:00 pm (with potluck fellowship dinner to follow) Location: The Nuwayhid’s Basement, 3002 Firethorn Drive, Hampton Cove Please RSVP to children@christpreshamptoncove.org, along with $6 for a copy of the book. So that we may all be present at the sessions, please plan to have a sitter for your children so that they may stay at home. The church is offering a childcare stipend for this event. We will provide a form for you to fill out closer to time.. Don’t let childcare hinder you from coming (email me if you need ideas!). Presbytery Meeting: There will be a meeting of the Providence Presbytery at the church on February 14. Prayer Requests: Healing: Please pray for the health of the following individuals: Chris Smotherman, Elizabeth Holton, Janet Chou, Ramona Edwards, Katie Dyer, Rebecca Berry, Jenan Nuwayhid, Bill Dent, Zig Jastrebski, Bill and Mitzi Cowley, Leon Galecki, Sondra Behmer, and Suzanne Nimon. Expecting parents: Please pray for the Lancaster family who is due in April, and for the McCool family who is due in June. Ministries: Please pray for the following missionaries and ministries: Seth and Jessica Lewis (Ireland); Steve and Rita Williams (New Zealand); Reid and Kelli Jones, Jennifer Kent (RUF UAH); Ken and Angie Burnett (FCA); Franky Garcia (seminary student).

 Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

“What causes quarrels and fights among you?”

This is the divinely inspired question that greets us as we begin reading the fourth chapter of the Epistle of James. Upon encountering this rhetorical query in the first verse, one might initially think of those relational discombobulations that we experience in our homes. After all, each of us can easily relate to “quarrels” and “fights” with our family members. No home is without such tension and the constant reminder that we are not just sinful, but that our sinfulness is particularly revealed by our inherent selfishness. The same goes for our relationships with our extended families, friends, and our neighbors. On this side of the fall (Genesis 3), relationships have been tricky at best, and always polluted and devilishly influenced by the trouble we have with our Creator.  Alienation from Him equals estrangement from other people.

But when James raises this pointed question he first has in mind our relationships within the body of Christ—our spiritual family.  And with a surgeon’s skill, he is probing and prodding his readers in order to get them thinking about the true source of relational strife in the Church. Why do we argue? Why do we get angry with a brother or sister in Christ? Why do we allow our feelings to get hurt so easily? What causes so many local churches to split?  Why isn’t there more love and harmony among those who have been made new in Christ, and are the recipients of God’s eternal love and soul-cleansing mercy?

Well, the answer he provides will drive us all to the mirror, much in the same way as when James addressed the source of temptation in chapter one (v. 14).  Here he says that our relational problems stem from our “passions” (4:1), and the “war” these desires ignite “within” our own hearts. And then, with the fires of lust-driven warfare blazing away, the resulting damage is pretty ugly indeed (1:2-3).

On Sunday, we will begin our look at this most convicting passage from the little Epistle known for its down-to-earth practicality. As you prepare for worship and the preaching of God’s Word, you might begin your review of this section at James 3:13, and then read all the way to 4:12.

I know the Lord has a powerful Word for us this week, and I look forward to our worship together!

Special Thanks to Mr. Cliff Smith

Last Sunday we welcomed Mr. Cliff Smith to our Adult Sunday School Teaching rotation. Cliff joins Dr. Bud Lancaster and Mr. Crawford Dillon as teachers for our class on ‘The Blessing of Humility.’  Cliff, and his wife Thelma, have been members of CPC for over two years now and we are so thrilled that the Lord has sent us such a gifted Bible teacher. Cliff has a Master of Divinity degree from Birmingham Theological Seminary and, as far as I know, is the first student in the history of the Seminary to defend a theological paper at the annual meeting of the Evangelical Theological Society.  We are so very thankful for Cliff’s willingness to serve in this way. Praise the Lord for His great provision, and please keep Cliff in your prayers as he has opportunity to teach us.

Connecting With the Catechism

Here are our questions and answers from the Shorter Catechism for memorization this week:

Quest. 10. How did God create man?

God created man male and female, after his own image, in knowledge, righteousness, and holiness, with dominion over the creatures.

Gen. 1:26-28

Col. 3:10

Eph. 4:24.

Quest. 11. What are God’s works of providence?

God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.

Ps. 145:17

Ps. 104:24

Isa. 28:29

Heb. 1:3

Ps. 103:19

Matt. 10:29-31

I love you all and have you in my heart always,

Mike

 

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

On this coming Lord’s Day we will take a second look at what is the most debated section of the Epistle of James.  Of course, I am referring to James 2:21-26 where the Lord’s brother declares that we are “justified by works and not by faith alone” (v. 24). As we have seen, James is not offering up a different gospel, a gospel of works-salvation, or works-righteousness. Rather, he is addressing a very specific and troubling issue that was at play in the lives of his first-century readers.  In his eyes, some among the professing believers in the churches were exhibiting a “dead” faith (2:17). While claiming to belong to Christ, their lives were no different than before they allegedly believed the gospel message. There was no evidence that they had encountered the justifying and sanctifying grace of God. And this being the case, their claim to be Christians, their profession of “faith,” was bogus. It was not “justified.” In 2:26, James, somewhat indelicately, compared such people to a corpse!

His point, then, is that saving faith always makes itself known in our lives! And to prove and demonstrate this vital truth James gives us two amazing illustrations. He offers “Abraham” and “Rahab” as appropriate examples of the way saving faith works itself out in life. One was a patriarch, the other a prostitute!  From one perspective they could not be further apart. But from another, they are just alike!

On Sunday we will explore this rich passage from God’s Word.  And we will consider these two illustrations that demonstrate for us the true power of the gospel! To get a head start, you might want to refresh your memory of their respective stories.  For Abraham, read Genesis 22:1-19. For Rahab, check out Joshua 2:1-24.

Connecting With the Catechism

Here are the questions from the Westminster Shorter Catechism for this week:

Q 7. What are the decrees of God?

A. The decrees of God are, his eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.

Eph. 1:4, 11; Rom. 9:22-23.

Q 8. How doth God execute his decrees?

A. God executeth his decrees in the works of creation and providence.

Q 9. What is the work of creation?

A. The work of creation is, God’s making all things of nothing, by the word of his power, in the space of six days, and all very good.

Gen. 1; Heb. 11:3.

I love you all, and my heart is filled with praise to our Lord for each of you!

See you Sunday,

Mike

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

This coming Lord’s Day we are returning to the Epistle of James.  Our sermon will come from James 2:21-26.  The most remarkable feature of this passage is what the Lord’s brother says about being “justified” in verse 24: “You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone.”  Now, when we lay this verse up against what the Apostle Paul said about being “justified,” we seem to have a problem: “For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight,” and, “For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law”—Romans 3:20, 28.  It is certainly obvious why some have been confused by this ostensible conflict between Paul and James. But, as we will begin to see on Sunday, the problem is only apparent. In fact, both of these inspired authors are saying the same thing about salvation, yet from different perspectives.  Paul and James are responding to different questions regarding salvation and faith in Christ.

As we have seen previously in our studies, James is deeply concerned about the justification of a professing believer’s claim to have faith in Christ. Recall his rhetorical questions in 2:14. James has on his radar screen those members of the Church who provide little, if any, compelling evidence that they belong to Christ at all. They say they have “faith” in Christ.  But what is the proof of this claim?  How is such a claim justified? And by raising such piercing questions it is clear that, indeed, there should be some evidential support for a person’s profession of faith.

So, this week we will get acquainted with this critical passage. And we will allow the Lord’s own brother to teach us a thing or two about the blessed harmony there is between the Gospel of a works-free salvation, and the gracious life-transformation that inevitably results.    

Sunday School Resumes This Week!

Just one more reminder that Sunday School starts up again this week at 9:15 AM!

Connecting With the Catechism

This week we will work on memorizing the following questions from the Westminster Shorter Catechism.  Scripture proofs for each answer are provided for further study.

Q4. What is God?

God is a spirit, Whose being, wisdom, power, holiness, justice, goodness, and truth are infinite, eternal, and unchangeable.

John 4:24.

Job 11:7-9.

Ps. 90:2.

James 1:17.

Exod. 3:14.

Ps. 147:5.

Rev. 4:8.

Rev. 15:4.

Exod. 34:6-7.

Q5. Is there more than one God?

There is only one, the living and true God.

Deut. 6:4.

Jer. 10:10.

Q6. How many persons are in the one God?

Three persons are in the one God, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. These three are one God, the same in substance and equal in power and glory.

I John 5:7.

Matt. 28:19.

I love you all so much, and I can’t wait until we meet together before our Lord and King on Sunday!

Mike