James 1:2-18

"Dear Faithful Follower, About the same time Paul was trying to help the Galatian believers understand grace, My half-brother James was working with....."

Can they really be a blessing? Rubel Shelly reminds us of how hard times can actually shape us for the better and help us see our role in making the world a better place.

"And remember, when you are being tempted, do not say, "God is tempting me." God is never tempted to do wrong, and he never tempts anyone else...."

Have we've been asking the wrong question for too long? Ann Voskamp writes to put all of the bad news of the last few weeks in perspective and suggests that we've been asking the wrong question, a misguided question, far too long?

What's the most you have ever paid for a meal? While the most expensive meal in history was billed as an overcharge on a credit card, it really is a meal provided by our sin.

"Dear Beloved, Prayer is one of the most precious gifts you have received as the Father's child! One of the reasons I sent the Holy Spirit to you was...."

"But when you [pray and] ask [God], be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave...."

"When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; but each one is tempted when, by his own..."

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

"Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is..."

Inspirational illustration of James 1:14-15 niv after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

Where did you put your faith? Our faith can either be real and shaping us to be useful to God or it can be discarded or nothing more than a good luck charm.

Are you ready for the long hard chill of winter? Phil Ware talks about the harshness of a long, cold, hard winter and the trials and troubles we must endure as believers.

Why reject the goodness of God and all he has done to choose our own way? James Nored and Phil Ware continue helping us find our story in God's story, this time looking at the Fall.

Are you ready for the hard chill that's coming? We can survive times of trouble, trials, and temptation if we prepare.

What do you do when you are emotionally on fire? A recovery saying, HALT, reminds us to be careful when we are hungry, angry, lonely, and tired because then we are vulernable to temptation, sin, and weakness as well as addictions.

What are you going to find if you dig deep enough? Rubel Shelly reminds us that we need to not give up when our life seems to be in the toilet, because as often archaeologists do, we can sometimes find the greatest treasures in the most surprising places.

"Dear Disciple, I know most of you hate tests! Some of those tests are medical tests which can be terrifying. Some tests are necessary to get you into..."

We know that our God showers his grace upon us. One of his greatest gifts is heavenly wisdom, given when we ask for it in faith. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos encouraging us to recognize that God is our Father who longs to share His heavenly wisdom with His people.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love..."

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love..."

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love..."

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love..."

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows."

"Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. "

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

"If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him."

"Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed..."

Inspirational illustration of James 1:5 -- If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

e-card of James 1:2 - Consider it pure joy my brothers when you are faced with trials of many kinds...

E-card of James 1:17 - Every good and perfect gift comes from above.

Inspirational illustration of James 1:12 -- 12   Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

How can you keep holding on and believing? Hanging and persevering is worth it because joy follows morning just as morning follow night.

With all the crazy stuff going on, how am I supposed to know what to do? Tom Norvel reminds us as leaders that we are promised wisdom, we just need to pray for it and ask for it genuinely and in faith.

How did the snail get on the ark? Paul Faulkner encourages us to press on and persevere.

Why intentionally face hard opponents? Phil Ware shares insight on the challenges of trials and sufferings and also on the desire and passion to have God's character produced in our lives through perseverance in times that are hard and facing opponents that are challenging.

In an age that has lost any sense of sin, why worry about temptation? Brian McCutchen reminds us that dealing with temptation is not easy for the Christian and must be dealt with seriously.

Does he really care about all this mess? When bad things happen, we need to realize that God does see and care and will remember.

What are you chasing that is destructive to you? A self-destructive meal at a mud hole reminds us of how our own desires can blind us to the dangers of our own greed and lust for power.

Can you tell if the imperfections have been cleansed? Rubel Shelly visits a kiln that fires ceramics and helps us think through the importance of purifying our imperfections.

Joy in trials and the expansion of influence in times like these? YES! Alan Garner describes a prayer and exhortation he gave at the Volunteers of America meeting and how wisdom and opportunity can be found in caring for the trials and troubles of those around us.

Bet you couldn't get the wrinkles out of these pants! Some people give crazy gifts, but God gives great gifts, but do we stop and thank Him for them?

Can you be as faithful at the foot of the mountain as you are at the summit? We can't always be on the mountain top, sometimes we face the valleys and must be faithful at the foot of the mountain.

How clear is your thinking? Mike Barres reminds us that we often confuse our muddled thinking, our inability to decide what to do, not because the decision is difficult, but because we don't want to obey.

What do your ears want to hear? Some folks only want to hear the cheery stuff from God, not the hard stuff, too.

When we have to do it, it isn't a game! Rubel Shelly reminds us to play through pain and go on to victory.

What do you do when you mess up? I messed up by assigning the wrong author to the article, but I'm not going to rationalize my mistake away!

Most important things require us to hang in and hang touch to get to our destination! So often we look for short cuts or ways to cut corners to get to a goal that can only be reached by hard work, perserverance, and a willingness to keep on working over time.

Have you been slicked lately by the ads? Just like the fast food ads decieve us by making their product look too good to be true, so also satan deceives and tempts us.

What can a giver hope to find in giving? The greatest joy a gift giver can give is when someone uses the gift he or she has been given.

Let's live out God's gift of grace by celebrating God's goodness, loving Jesus, and obeying what the Lord taught as we love, serve, and treat others as our Savior did! Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in an online, virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos to remind us and help us celebrate and live in appreciation to the grace of God.

Can you stop the tides? Life is constantly changing and we can't stop it, but we can determine how we will react to it.

So which is it really with our world? Rubel Shelly writes to put things in perspective with our world.

Why do some people think Jesus is like a cell phone? Cell phones that don't work validate all your fears about technology. Some people have that same thought about Jesus when eveything in life does not work like they want.

Prayer that the Father hears is directed to him in faith with an unselfish attitude, seeking to bless and honor God's will because of our love for the Father. Bill Sherrill reminds us about the importance of prayer and how we should pray to honor God.

Will you finish even if the going gets really tough? Hanging in there and persevering during tough times is not easy, but it is necessary and will develop our character.

Our lesson elaborates on this promise from God. We know that our Father does not withhold sharing his grace and every gift that is for our best good. Demetrius Collins and Phil Ware lead us in virtual worship through words and music using YouTube videos encouraging us to recognize that God is our Father who does not withhold from us good things, especially the best things in this life and the life to c

How well do you understand the whole situation? We are often critical of others and can't understand God because we don't see the big picture of what is happening.

Can you find that light that chases away the shadows? Phil Ware continues his series on When Spirit Becomes Flesh and talks about Jesus as heaven's light.

In the world of chaotic change, is there anything predictable and dependable? Pat Mingarelli shares photos of geese on a frozen lake and reminds us of the constants of unchanging nature and the God who is faithful and dependable and unchanging and just.

These three lurk in the shadows seeking to derail us and do us in. Russ Lawson talks about fear, uncertainty, and doubt, or FUD, and how God's word and God speaks into each of these to give us life.

What's shining in that darkness? Rubel Shelly talks about how important it is for us to be light for the dark places of our world.

Why would God lead us into temptation? Doesn't God want us victorious over temptation? Phil Ware and Andy Johnson help us look at our prayer for deliverance from temptation and the evil one.

What in the world is that sound? Phil Ware looks back on an old reel-to-reel recording and editing session and reflects how he could sure use that same kind of thing in his life!

Why is there so much fussing and fighting over spiritual gifts? Phil Ware continues his series on the Holy Spirit called SpiritFire and focuses on the issue of spiritual gifts.

Are we looking in the right places to find happiness for ourselves? Teresa Bell Kindred reminds us that what we define as happiness is nearly always temporary pleasure that is soon gone and leaves us unhappy; happiness is really on our own shoulders.

Why eat a strawberry when pursued by a cougar? God is in control and our job is to make the most of the life we are given.

Will you really make it home for Christmas? The message for singles this Christmas is that there IS a home for you, and there IS someone there for you.

What can we learn from a puppy in the snow? I'm convinced that God must know how to smile -- maybe even laugh right out loud. I think that's one of the reasons he gave us puppies.

Are you ready? Alan Smith reminds us that we are all vanishing away, our bodies grow older and we face challenges, but understanding this and what it means to us is dependent upon our relationship with Christ.