In short, no.
James is considered to be a slightly controversial epistle because some people interpret the second part of chapter 2 as a proposition of salvation by works. It isn't, it is just a different approach from Paul. Ephesians 2.8-9 says that we are saved by GRACE, through FAITH, for GOOD WORKS, and this is the summary of all the New Testament preaches on the subject of salvation. James, in saying that faith without works is dead, means exactly that, a result of our faith in Jesus is that we will want to do his will. In other words, faith leads to action. A faith without good works is not really a faith because you are not responding to the full impact of what God has done for you. It is lazy and selfish.
Our works will never save us; our salvation was won for us when Jesus took our rubbish upon himself on the cross, thus allowing us to die to our old life and rise to live a new life (2 Cor 5.17) dedicated to him. We simply believe in his death and resurrection on our behalf and trust that he will bring us through death to live with him eternally. But, and it's a fairly big but, the way we SHOW that we have undergone this change is by living in a new way; going out of our way to look after those who may be marginalised by society, not judging people or showing favouritism and watching what we say and the language we use. Christians should stand out from the crowd, and not just because they wear socks and sandals or because they have a fish on the back of their car; you should stand out at school or college because you talk to the new kid, be friendly to everyone and stick up for your less popular classmates, not to mention that your friends should notice that you do not swear or join in with the classroom gossip. Let us start making our communities better places by putting our faith into action.
Wednesday, 12 August 2009
Favouritism God's way
How many of you, if a homeless man walked into church on Sunday, would go and say 'hi' and invite him to sit next to you? Why/not? Would you be scared, or think that someone else would do it, or would it be because you couldn't be bothered? Now would that change if someone who clearly had money to burn walked in looking lost, Alan Shearer maybe, or someone not so famous, but obviously wealthy? It makes you think, doesn't it? I'm ashamed to say that I would be much more likely to be welcoming to someone who seemed more like me, and dare I say it, a bit more respectable and socially aware. But that is all it is, perception.
James tells his readers in no uncertain terms that it is wrong to show favouritism because, quite simply, we are equal as far as God is concerned. The church is a place where sinners saved by grace can get together to build one another up and worship our amazing God. In the kingdom it is not money that matters; James reminds his readers that poor people have amazingly big faith in God and that they too have as much of a share in the kingdom as millionaires. If you want a good rule of thumb, James' advice is to remember the greatest commandment and love our neighbours as ourselves (verse 8). In fact to ignore this and continue to show favouritism is to sin (verse 9). James doesn't mince his words and we need to seriously consider what God is saying to us.
James tells his readers in no uncertain terms that it is wrong to show favouritism because, quite simply, we are equal as far as God is concerned. The church is a place where sinners saved by grace can get together to build one another up and worship our amazing God. In the kingdom it is not money that matters; James reminds his readers that poor people have amazingly big faith in God and that they too have as much of a share in the kingdom as millionaires. If you want a good rule of thumb, James' advice is to remember the greatest commandment and love our neighbours as ourselves (verse 8). In fact to ignore this and continue to show favouritism is to sin (verse 9). James doesn't mince his words and we need to seriously consider what God is saying to us.
Monday, 27 July 2009
James 1
James 1 grounds the rest of the book because people who hear the word should also act on it. We must not be simply hearers, but doers also. Not acting on what we read and hear is like looking in a mirror and forgetting what we look like (1.22-24) Daft, isn't it? God's word is a mirror in our lives, it shows us God's way for living and reveals the difference that knowing God should make to our lives. If we are properly and prayerfully studying God's word, our reaction should be the same as that after we have stood in front of the mirror.
Why do we look at ourselves in mirrors? Partly vanity, but also to check we look presentable and that we have not left toothpaste round our mouths (this is not a comment on your ability to clean your teeth). I think there are two applications from this: forgetting is stupid, pure and simple; revisiting the mirror because you can't remember whether you still had toothpaste round your mouth probably equates to goldfish memory, however we may see the toothpaste but choose to go to out regardless. We need to act on what we've seen, since that was why we looked in the first place. It is the same with faith. If you really want to take your faith seriously you need to be regularly getting stuck into the bible. But simply reading is not enough, we need to respond to what we read and hear explained to us - doing, not just hearing. For example, to read that we should not let any unclean talk be in our mouths (Eph 4.29) but to continue swearing and making rude jokes would be like leaving the house with toothpaste round our mouths even though we purposefully looked in the mirror to check our faces were clean.
The Christian life is about becoming more like Jesus. We urge you to take seriously what you read in the bible and what you hear at church and from other sources. Please do not be people who don't apply the bible's teaching to their lives; if you're not going to apply it, don't bother. If you don't want toothpaste on your face when you go to school, look in the mirror and wash it off. If you want to become more like Jesus, compare your life to how life is described in the bible and then make changes as the Holy Spirit convicts you.
Why do we look at ourselves in mirrors? Partly vanity, but also to check we look presentable and that we have not left toothpaste round our mouths (this is not a comment on your ability to clean your teeth). I think there are two applications from this: forgetting is stupid, pure and simple; revisiting the mirror because you can't remember whether you still had toothpaste round your mouth probably equates to goldfish memory, however we may see the toothpaste but choose to go to out regardless. We need to act on what we've seen, since that was why we looked in the first place. It is the same with faith. If you really want to take your faith seriously you need to be regularly getting stuck into the bible. But simply reading is not enough, we need to respond to what we read and hear explained to us - doing, not just hearing. For example, to read that we should not let any unclean talk be in our mouths (Eph 4.29) but to continue swearing and making rude jokes would be like leaving the house with toothpaste round our mouths even though we purposefully looked in the mirror to check our faces were clean.
The Christian life is about becoming more like Jesus. We urge you to take seriously what you read in the bible and what you hear at church and from other sources. Please do not be people who don't apply the bible's teaching to their lives; if you're not going to apply it, don't bother. If you don't want toothpaste on your face when you go to school, look in the mirror and wash it off. If you want to become more like Jesus, compare your life to how life is described in the bible and then make changes as the Holy Spirit convicts you.
It may be summer, but we're still here to inspire...
Sunday youth as we know it may have been put on hold for the next few weeks, but God still wants to speak to you, and, in fact, the lack of school in your lives gives you more time to spend with him. So we are going to blog regularly to keep you inspired and give you something to think about. We shall consider the practical wisdom contained in the book of James (you can find it after Hebrews, which comes after all the books beginning with 'T'.) Here's a brief intro, so you know what we're dealing with.
James was most probably written by Jesus' brother to the members of the churches which had scattered across the Roman Empire after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 11.19). From the themes James covers, we can tell that the church was struggling with keeping Jesus its number one priority; there was a love of money (chapters 2 and 5), hurtful words were being said (chapter 3) and backbiting and arguments were taking control (chapter 4). James wants to encourage the readers of his letter to live a life in which they become more mature and complete in Jesus (1.4).
We pray that as we take you through this book you would learn how to work out your faith. Do use the summer to get into God's word and seek to apply it to your life (more of this in the next blog). Let's use this blog as a way of keeping in touch over the summer and encouraging each other with what God is doing in our lives and how he is speaking to us. And then we can reconvene in September more mature and complete in Jesus.
James was most probably written by Jesus' brother to the members of the churches which had scattered across the Roman Empire after the stoning of Stephen (Acts 11.19). From the themes James covers, we can tell that the church was struggling with keeping Jesus its number one priority; there was a love of money (chapters 2 and 5), hurtful words were being said (chapter 3) and backbiting and arguments were taking control (chapter 4). James wants to encourage the readers of his letter to live a life in which they become more mature and complete in Jesus (1.4).
We pray that as we take you through this book you would learn how to work out your faith. Do use the summer to get into God's word and seek to apply it to your life (more of this in the next blog). Let's use this blog as a way of keeping in touch over the summer and encouraging each other with what God is doing in our lives and how he is speaking to us. And then we can reconvene in September more mature and complete in Jesus.
Sunday, 12 July 2009
Jesus is my boyfriend?
Last week the Spring Harvest Live 2009 CD dropped through our door, and we've had a nice time listening to what passes for new worship music in church these days.
The bonus track on CD 2 is 'Jesus Is My Best Friend' by Vicky Beeching, which Jessica wittily mocks by singing "Jesus is my boyfriend" - now it is pretty cheesy - take verse 1: 'When the sun is shining and I go out to play, I'm so glad that Jesus walks with me all day'.
Now excuse me while I clean up my vomit.
That done, I think there's a more important message in here - for those of you who have been (un)lucky enough to have a boyfriend / girlfriend, you'll know that in the first few weeks of your relationship, you don't ever want to be apart from them, and that nothing else in the world matters - not even Geography coursework.
So you know where I'm going from here - having this view of Jesus would be utterly amazing, if we could sustain through the years. If we all wanted to spend as much time as possible with Jesus, and pored over every word he wrote for us, we would be true imitators of Christ - but how does this work out in real life?
Paul says, in his first letter to the Thessalonians, that we "have been taught by God to love each other". Does the love we profess for Jesus spill out of us for all to see, or do we keep it bottled up, rationing it for those we really like, or for that boy / girl you rather like...?
So here's the challenge - love Jesus, and his word, like you would a new boy/girlfriend, and see just how deep your relationship with him becomes.
The bonus track on CD 2 is 'Jesus Is My Best Friend' by Vicky Beeching, which Jessica wittily mocks by singing "Jesus is my boyfriend" - now it is pretty cheesy - take verse 1: 'When the sun is shining and I go out to play, I'm so glad that Jesus walks with me all day'.
Now excuse me while I clean up my vomit.
That done, I think there's a more important message in here - for those of you who have been (un)lucky enough to have a boyfriend / girlfriend, you'll know that in the first few weeks of your relationship, you don't ever want to be apart from them, and that nothing else in the world matters - not even Geography coursework.
So you know where I'm going from here - having this view of Jesus would be utterly amazing, if we could sustain through the years. If we all wanted to spend as much time as possible with Jesus, and pored over every word he wrote for us, we would be true imitators of Christ - but how does this work out in real life?
Paul says, in his first letter to the Thessalonians, that we "have been taught by God to love each other". Does the love we profess for Jesus spill out of us for all to see, or do we keep it bottled up, rationing it for those we really like, or for that boy / girl you rather like...?
So here's the challenge - love Jesus, and his word, like you would a new boy/girlfriend, and see just how deep your relationship with him becomes.
Friday, 10 July 2009
Psalm 78
A couple of weeks ago in lifegroup we looked at Psalm 78, the last in our series on the Psalms. We learnt how important it is to remember the faithfulness of God to previous generations and remember that he is exactly the same now as he was then. We looked at the Psalmist's model of disbodience (often) followed by discipline and then deliverance and we then took this model to come up with our own examples of what we would "tell the coming generation" about our amazing, forgiving God.
Here are some examples: Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit; God banished them from the Garden (discipline), but he also made garments for them (Gen 3:21) and did not leave them on their own (deliverance). Jonah disobeyed God's call to go to Ninevah and, as a result, ended up having a three day trip to the stomach of a large fish. On 'escaping' the fish, he went to Ninevah and as a result of his message 120,000 people turned to God. Amazing.
We also looked at some post-bible examples: John Newton, the reformed slave trader and author of Amazing Grace. Having traded slaves for a number of years, he was convicted that he was doing wrong and joined William Wilberforce in campaigning for the abolition of the slave trade. Through that campaigning the slave trade came to an end, bringing deliverance to Newton and thousands of slaves. And Hilter - controversial? - he committed many atrocities but he lost power, the war and his life. Delivery? As a result of his actions against minority groups, legislation for human rights has been established; the world was so disturbed by what had been able to happen in Germany, that they wanted to make sure it never happened again.
Remember this summary: Romans 3:23-25. This is the big picture of how this works. We've all sinned (3:23), but God enables forgiveness (verse 24), through Jesus taking the punishment that was rightly ours (verse 25). Praise God that if we are in Jesus we will not have to face the punishment for all the wrong we have ever done because he took it, and not just ours, he took Adam and Eve's disobedience, he took Jonah's disobedience, he took the punishment for John Newton's transportation of thousands of slaves, and he took the punishment for the murder of every single person who went the gas chambers of the Nazi concentration camps. That is grace, simply the best example of what it means to be delivered from disobedience. Have you experienced it?
Here are some examples: Adam and Eve disobeyed God by eating the forbidden fruit; God banished them from the Garden (discipline), but he also made garments for them (Gen 3:21) and did not leave them on their own (deliverance). Jonah disobeyed God's call to go to Ninevah and, as a result, ended up having a three day trip to the stomach of a large fish. On 'escaping' the fish, he went to Ninevah and as a result of his message 120,000 people turned to God. Amazing.
We also looked at some post-bible examples: John Newton, the reformed slave trader and author of Amazing Grace. Having traded slaves for a number of years, he was convicted that he was doing wrong and joined William Wilberforce in campaigning for the abolition of the slave trade. Through that campaigning the slave trade came to an end, bringing deliverance to Newton and thousands of slaves. And Hilter - controversial? - he committed many atrocities but he lost power, the war and his life. Delivery? As a result of his actions against minority groups, legislation for human rights has been established; the world was so disturbed by what had been able to happen in Germany, that they wanted to make sure it never happened again.
Remember this summary: Romans 3:23-25. This is the big picture of how this works. We've all sinned (3:23), but God enables forgiveness (verse 24), through Jesus taking the punishment that was rightly ours (verse 25). Praise God that if we are in Jesus we will not have to face the punishment for all the wrong we have ever done because he took it, and not just ours, he took Adam and Eve's disobedience, he took Jonah's disobedience, he took the punishment for John Newton's transportation of thousands of slaves, and he took the punishment for the murder of every single person who went the gas chambers of the Nazi concentration camps. That is grace, simply the best example of what it means to be delivered from disobedience. Have you experienced it?
Monday, 25 May 2009
Baptism
So for those of you who weren't there (you bunch of losers), Andy got baptised yesterday.
Not just any baptism - the first baptism in our new, solar-powered baptistry. Wow.
But what does it mean for you? For those of us who have already been baptised, it probably brings back memories - it certainly did for me - of a cold, rainy day last July, getting dunked in the North Sea. For those of you who haven't been baptised yet, I'm hoping yesterday's baptism challenged you, and maybe brought up the questions - why bother, and / or how can I get baptised?
For the former question, there are many answers. Firstly, Jesus did it, and commanded it. If it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me [Read John 1:19-34]. Andy's testimony mentioned this - it is a step of obedience, through which we acknowledge our death to sin, and rising in new life, free from the old. That doesn't mean we don't sin any more - don't be surprised when Andy next swears, or covets your donkey [Read Exodus 20:17 if confused!] - but that sin no longer has power over us, Jesus becomes the boss.
For the second question - see your mentor. The church runs baptism courses, and will take you through what it means to be baptised, and ensure that you are ready for it. If you don't have a mentor, just speak to one of the youth leaders.
Be certain of one thing though - baptism isn't something expected of you when you reach a certain age. Some people are baptised in their early teens, others in their twenties (like myself), others much later - you should get baptised when you are in the right place in your walk with God: I desire above most things that people who get baptised truly want to.
Sermon over - plus it's a lovely sunny day, and I'm off to the beach.
Not just any baptism - the first baptism in our new, solar-powered baptistry. Wow.
But what does it mean for you? For those of us who have already been baptised, it probably brings back memories - it certainly did for me - of a cold, rainy day last July, getting dunked in the North Sea. For those of you who haven't been baptised yet, I'm hoping yesterday's baptism challenged you, and maybe brought up the questions - why bother, and / or how can I get baptised?
For the former question, there are many answers. Firstly, Jesus did it, and commanded it. If it's good enough for Jesus, it's good enough for me [Read John 1:19-34]. Andy's testimony mentioned this - it is a step of obedience, through which we acknowledge our death to sin, and rising in new life, free from the old. That doesn't mean we don't sin any more - don't be surprised when Andy next swears, or covets your donkey [Read Exodus 20:17 if confused!] - but that sin no longer has power over us, Jesus becomes the boss.
For the second question - see your mentor. The church runs baptism courses, and will take you through what it means to be baptised, and ensure that you are ready for it. If you don't have a mentor, just speak to one of the youth leaders.
Be certain of one thing though - baptism isn't something expected of you when you reach a certain age. Some people are baptised in their early teens, others in their twenties (like myself), others much later - you should get baptised when you are in the right place in your walk with God: I desire above most things that people who get baptised truly want to.
Sermon over - plus it's a lovely sunny day, and I'm off to the beach.
Saturday, 9 May 2009
Latest updates, Life Centre opening
New on the youth resources page:
http://sites.google.com/site/genericyouthsite/Home
Why not have a look!?
After our first day in the HBC Life Centre, today we witnessed the grand opening.
For those who were there, we hope you got a taster of what the building could be used for - and the sorts of things the youth space could host - Guitar Hero certainly seemed popular!
What was your favourite thing of the day?
- Mentoring resources, for those wanting to go deeper in mentoring sessions.
- Sunday's flyer handout in poster form, with all the lifegroup dates for the term.
- Plus other resources from previous lifegroup and ID sessions.
http://sites.google.com/site/genericyouthsite/Home
Why not have a look!?
After our first day in the HBC Life Centre, today we witnessed the grand opening.
For those who were there, we hope you got a taster of what the building could be used for - and the sorts of things the youth space could host - Guitar Hero certainly seemed popular!
What was your favourite thing of the day?
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Horseradish and haroset
Well, we had great fun learning about Passover yesterday at youth lifegroup, even if some of the food (well, most of it) wasn't to our tastes. I think it's good to look at the old testament and see how it is still relevant to us; wasn't it good to see the parallels between Jesus and the Passover Lamb and how Jesus instituted communion at Passover.
In a Christian context, I think there are still things we can learn from the elements we tasted yesterday. The horseradish, which was ever so popular yesterday, reminds the Jews of the bitterness of their slavery in Egypt, but maybe it could remind us of a far greater bitterness, that of our slavery to sin. The sweetness of the freedom from sin is far greater than the freedom the Israelites felt upon leaving Egypt, so every time you remember the bitterness of the horseradish (or next time we force you to eat it again), thank God that you are truly free and that the debt of your sin has been repaid.
We covered the parallels between Jesus and the Passover Lamb (check out our website for the sheet with more info on this), but continue to be amazed at how God planned both Jesus' death and the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb to be so similar. Also thank him that Jesus' death established much more than that of the lambs in Exodus 12.
Paul draws some good application points from Passover in 1 Corinthians 5. At Passover, Jews cast out all yeast and leavened products from their homes, but Paul urges us to cast out the "yeast of malice and wickedness" and act as if we were unleavened. The freedom we find in Christ is wonderful, but it comes with a complete life change. If we read on in Exodus, we find that the Israelites soon begin to grumble and wish they were back in Egypt, but the freedom we have in Christ is a new life; as Jesus has dealt with our sin once and for all and no longer has any power over us, we must begin to show that change. With the Holy Spirit inside us, we begin to see the yeast of the 'old life' and we then need to get rid of it and remain 'unleavened'. Let's live in our new found freedom and live a life that reflects the change that has taken place in us.
In a Christian context, I think there are still things we can learn from the elements we tasted yesterday. The horseradish, which was ever so popular yesterday, reminds the Jews of the bitterness of their slavery in Egypt, but maybe it could remind us of a far greater bitterness, that of our slavery to sin. The sweetness of the freedom from sin is far greater than the freedom the Israelites felt upon leaving Egypt, so every time you remember the bitterness of the horseradish (or next time we force you to eat it again), thank God that you are truly free and that the debt of your sin has been repaid.
We covered the parallels between Jesus and the Passover Lamb (check out our website for the sheet with more info on this), but continue to be amazed at how God planned both Jesus' death and the sacrifice of the Passover Lamb to be so similar. Also thank him that Jesus' death established much more than that of the lambs in Exodus 12.
Paul draws some good application points from Passover in 1 Corinthians 5. At Passover, Jews cast out all yeast and leavened products from their homes, but Paul urges us to cast out the "yeast of malice and wickedness" and act as if we were unleavened. The freedom we find in Christ is wonderful, but it comes with a complete life change. If we read on in Exodus, we find that the Israelites soon begin to grumble and wish they were back in Egypt, but the freedom we have in Christ is a new life; as Jesus has dealt with our sin once and for all and no longer has any power over us, we must begin to show that change. With the Holy Spirit inside us, we begin to see the yeast of the 'old life' and we then need to get rid of it and remain 'unleavened'. Let's live in our new found freedom and live a life that reflects the change that has taken place in us.
Sunday, 26 April 2009
New building - same God
Welcome to the new HBC youth blog. Please feel free to comment on posts, and send in suggstions of posts if something's on your mind.
So we're in our shiny new building - what do you think?
It was interesting to hear everyone's favourite thing about the new building - from the comfy sofas in the ID room, the giant plasma TV, giant window and table football (when it was eventually set up).
Now the important thing is what we do with it - I'm looking forward to Youth Lifegroup on Wednesday - we've been planning it this weekend, and it's going to be mighty tasty: Jessica recommends the haroset.
The best thing about the new building will be the great things we can do there. If you're in the Grid, how about inviting friends along to the Lab, which is happening twice a month. There'll be plenty of opportunities for those in ID as well - the beach BBQ in July being my favourite.
So be challenged by the new place. Sure, it's nice to have a giant TV & Wii, and a place that's yours. But God still wants you to tell your friends about him, and what better way could you ask for?
So we're in our shiny new building - what do you think?
It was interesting to hear everyone's favourite thing about the new building - from the comfy sofas in the ID room, the giant plasma TV, giant window and table football (when it was eventually set up).
Now the important thing is what we do with it - I'm looking forward to Youth Lifegroup on Wednesday - we've been planning it this weekend, and it's going to be mighty tasty: Jessica recommends the haroset.
The best thing about the new building will be the great things we can do there. If you're in the Grid, how about inviting friends along to the Lab, which is happening twice a month. There'll be plenty of opportunities for those in ID as well - the beach BBQ in July being my favourite.
So be challenged by the new place. Sure, it's nice to have a giant TV & Wii, and a place that's yours. But God still wants you to tell your friends about him, and what better way could you ask for?
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