Sermon Reflection James 3:3-6

Discovery:  James uses a few different images to describe the power of the tongue.  There is the horse's bit, the ship's rudder, and the small spark.  On the positive end of the ledger, James says that the tongue has the potential to make big and significant changes.  Like a bit's ability to guide a large animal or a rudder's ability to turn a large vessel, the tongue has this ability as well.  On the negative end of the ledger, the tongue can also cause tremendous harm.  Like a small spark of fire that can burn down a whole forest, so too a careless or insensitive word cause tremendous damage to a person or community.  James simply warns us:  Be mindful of the power of the tongue!

Application:  We need to remember that we are all sparks.  The question is whether we are a good one or a bad one.  I have been blessed countless times by people offering up unsolicited words of affirmation.  Often these words have come at the most opportune times.  At the same time, I have also been cut down by the most careless of words.  Often people's criticism or critiques have come at the most inopportune times and the negative impact of these words have caused more damaged then they intended.  This is all to say that words powerful sparks.

It is easy to point out ways that other peoples' words have helped or hurt me.  It is something entirely different to look at the power of my own words.  What kind of spark am I?  I know that when I am tired, hungry, weary, or lazy, my words come out in the wrong way.  Recently, the "filter" that I normally have over my mouth seems to have gone missing and I have said or thought things that have caused me to cringe in hindsight.  What kind of spark am I?

I also think of the imagery of the bit and rudder.  As a leader, how am I leading?  What strikes me about the rudder and bit is that they must first move before anything else follows.  In both examples, the object (bit or rudder) must set a course, not deviate from that course, and continue to hold the course no matter what obstacles arise if the rest of the body (horse, ship, or church) is able to follow suit.  I am really humbled by the fact that it is really hard serving as a leader.  It can't be done on one's own strength.  In this area of life, I need to really grow and learn.

Prayer:  Let me be a good spark this week with my words.  Let me be a faithful bit and rudder at home and at church. 

Sermon Reflection James 3:1-2

Discovery:

James gives us a two-fold exhortation to avoid pride and to strive for humility in these verses. In v. 1 James says, "Not many of you should presume to be teachers, my brothers, because you know that we who teach will be judged more strictly." James is making it clear to leaders and especially those who "presume to be teachers" that they will be held to a different standard. Leaders and teachers are suppose to set a moral and spiritual example for others in both speech and lifestyle. This is one reason why Jesus was so harsh towards Pharisees because they failed in this endeavor. Leaders, aspiring leaders, and all Christians need to constantly check their hearts for pride. Pride blinds us from our own sins. C.S. Lewis writes, "A proud man is always looking down on things and people; and, of course, as long as you're looking down, you can't see something that's above you."

In v. 2, James gives us an honest and heart-felt confession, "We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check." No one is perfect... but we are all being perfected as we follow Jesus Christ. James reminds us that we need to always have a humble posture as we lead others. The apostle Paul echos these words in 2 Corinthians 12:10, "That is why for Christ's sake, I delight in weakness, in insults, in hardships, in persecution, in difficulties. For when I am weak, I am strong." Both James and Paul were great leaders who did great things but their lives were marked by this humility before God.

Application:

There is a leadership principle that is found in these short verses that we need to really take to heart. WHO we are as leaders is far more important than WHAT we do. Unfortunately, we in the church often get this principle backwards. Here are 3 simple applications.

1. Leaders need to be defined by their actions and not merely their words. Unfortunately, we are easily impressed with the spoken word. We can be seduced by the charisma and the power of the spoken word that we are blind to the real issues of integrity in the life of the speaker. The irony is that we are called to be a people of the Word and not merely words. It is best for us to remember the words from 1 John 4:1 "Do not believe every spirit but test the spirits..."

2. Leaders need to be defined by HOW they do things and not WHAT they do. I often judge others by what they have accomplished (ministry experience, educational background, public speaking occurrences, etc.). Because integrity is so hard to gauge, we look to other criteria to judge someone's godliness and effectiveness. At times, I am also tempted to rest on my accomplishments rather than continually to come before God in confession and repentance.

3. Leaders need to be defined by their "personal" devotion rather than their "public" accomplishments. I think of my former pastor Keith Zafren when it comes to a leader with a strong personal devotion. Pastor Keith accomplished quite a bit at an early age in ministry. The initial success of the River Church Community was just one of these impressive public accomplishments. But it was Keith's personal devotional life that I always respected. His early morning devotions before his daily morning workout (both disciplines that I need to grow in) was something that I really looked to emulate. People may look to the fact that he found such a fast growing and vibrant church but I always respected the fact that he had a real devotional life that helped him be a better father, husband, and child of God. This is my aspiration as well.

St. Augustine said, "It was pride that changed angels into devils; it is humility that makes men as angels."

Prayer:

Humble me everyday Lord. Please knock me off my high horse whenever you see fit. Let me see myself and others as I should.

Passion Week Sermon Reflection: "Fickle Faith"

Discovery:

Unfortunately, faith can be very fickle.

In John 12:12-16, we see the crowds showering praise upon Jesus as he enters into Jerusalem. In v. 13 it says:
They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
"Hosanna!"
Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the King of Israel!"

Less then a week later in John 19:14-15 it says,
"It was the day of Preparation of Passover Week, about the sixth hour.
"Here is your king," Pilate said to the Jews.
But they shouted, "Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!"
"Shall I crucify your king?" Pilate asked.
"We have no king but Caesar," the chief priests answered.

Why are we like this? Why are we more like fair weathered fans of Jesus rather than devoted followers of Him?

Application:

The response of the crowds during Passion Week reveals the simple fact that we are an unfaithful people. Too often we allow circumstances and situations to determine our loyalty and fidelity to God rather than our convictions and beliefs. It scares me to think that I could be one of those in the crowd who in one moment could be exalting Jesus as the King and then in a second turning on Him and calling for his death. I know that I am unfaithful to God.

But Passion Week reveals another important truth: God is faithful. Through the ups and downs of people's response to Him during Passion Week, Jesus's focus was always the cross.

In the Garden of Gethsemane, we see Jesus coming to grips with the cross. In Mark 14:36 Jesus says, "My soul is overwhelmed to the point of death" as well as Mark 14:36 "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."

David Platt in his book "Radical" points out that Jesus is not a coward who is afraid to die on the cross. In regards to v. 36 he says: "The "cup" is not a reference to the cross; it is a reference to divine judgement. It is the cup of God's wrath." Later he says, "At the Cross, Christ drank the full cup of the wrath of God, and when he had downed the last drop, he turned the cup over and cried out, "It is finished."

The only reason why we can call it "Good" Friday is because of what Jesus accomplished on the cross. He died for us and demonstrated His faithfulness to the Father and to His people.

This faithfulness needs to be the focus of this week as both Good Friday and Easter approaches.

Prayer:

Help me Lord be faithful and not fickle.