The Finish Line

This is our last week on the James Summer Challenge and we hope that it has been a time of growth and insight for you as it has been for us.

As we’ve meditated and memorized our way through this letter to believers from James, we’ve been encouraged by the Lord to step it up in our walk with Him.

Trials are  good for us –they can be used to strengthen our faith (like spinach for our bodies)

Wisdom is the key – ask for it

Be DOERS of the Word – not just hearers

Faith without works is dead – (or in today’s vernacular “talk is cheap”)

Treat all people the same – no partiality

You can’t tame your tongue – you have to have a heart transplant & the tongue will follow

Humility with wisdom is the key to all relationships (but you have to ask!)

Hang in there – Jesus is coming back and will set everything straight.

In the meantime, live together in humility, and meet each others’ needs by faith through prayer.

If we even apply one of these truths we are on our way to living out our faith in an increased reality.

Continue to lead us Lord, in living our faith out loud and for real.

Finish memorizing James this week

For those meditating on the verses in Pastor Jeff's sermon:  James 5:7-11

Wisdom for Life

I have been amazed as we're traveling through James how much more I'm seeing and hearing from the Lord.  I hope the same is true for you.

The thread he weaves about wisdom for real-time living was something I'd missed before.

1:5 - if you lack wisdom, ask

He will give you wisdom - a word that is appropriate for your life and situation

But then, we are responsible to ACT on that word of wisdom

1:22 - But be DOERS of the word and not hearers only.

Then in chapter 2 he speaks about wisdom in all relationships - don't show partiality.  You received wisdom by faith but you must LIVE it out loud.

Wisdom from God for our lives is defined in chapter 3 v. 16 as pure, peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without hypocrisy and without partiality.

And in chapter 4, James tells us, if we don't have this wisdom, it's because we haven't asked for it and we haven't asked for it because we haven't humbled ourselves before Him.

And we still have 1 1/2 chapters to go!  Teach us more, Lord.

This week's memorization verses are:  

James 4:11 - 5:2

For the meditation challenge: 

James 4:1-10

Memorization tip of the week

Write out your verse 5 times and post it in different places around your home or office.

If you have a smart phone...dictate it to yourself and replay it periodically throughout the day.

Don't Waste Your Time

James spends a lot of space in his letter talking about how it's impossible to control our tongue...our mouths.  In fact, he says in 3:8 "No man can tame the tongue."  So why waste our time trying?  What's his real point?

The real point is:  Stop wasting your time treating the symptoms and turn your attention to the root of the problem--your heart.  Jesus said that out of our heart the mouth speaks.  So just trying to clean up our mouth won't work.  In fact, it's hypocritcal.  If we have bitterness and self-seeking in our hearts it will spill out our mouths, according to James 3. 

So, as we meditate on what James says to us in the Word, let's ask the Lord to give us the courage to go to the root...in our hearts...that we may be healed--and it will be evident from our tongue.

Share your journey through James by clicking "comments" below & bog away:)

This week's verses for memorization on track for all of James this summer:

JAMES 4:1-9

For those meditating on the scriptures from this week's sermon:

JAMES 3:11-18

MEMORIZATION TIP OF THE WEEK:

Try using hand motions in active verses.  For example:  James 3:18

Now the fruit of righteousness (act like biting an apple) is sown in peace (act out sowing seeds by hand) by those who make peace (make a "peace" sign with fingers in a "v").

Silly?  Yes  Effective?  You bet!

It Matters

It really does matter what we say...and what others have said.  The old childhood adage "Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me" is a lie.  Our words do hurt and they do matter.

People all around us have been hurt by the words of people who have represented God in their lives:  parents, teachers, pastors, believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

We are being challenged by James not just to walk the talk, but to talk with care - like Jesus - only speaking what we hear the Holy Spirit speak.  Eternity for many people depends upon it.

Memorization verses for this week as we work our way through James:
James 3:10-18.

Meditation from the sermon is once again:  James 3:1-9.

Memorization Tip:
Get a friend to work with you.  You say one verse, they say the next and review all you've learned so far.  Keep it up.  We're more than halfway done!

Talk is Cheap

As we've been making our way through the book of James, the Holy Spirit has "stepped on our toes" once or twice already --and we're only in chapter 2 which ends with the words: "faith without works is dead." Six times in chapter 2 James pairs faith and works together... I think he wanted us to get the point. But what exactly does that mean?

That's where chapter 3 gets even more pointed, as James begins to discuss our faith working through our mouths. Faith at work will bring the fruit of our mouth to maturity as he notes in verse 2 that if we can tame our tongue we can tame the rest of our flesh because "the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity" (v.6).

I don't know about you, but that's a steep challenge for me...bridling my tongue. But, the power of the Holy Spirit is given to us for such challenges. Thank You, Lord.

Our memorization verses for this week (if you're working on the whole book) will be:

                                             James 3:1-9 

For those meditating on the passage used in the weekend message it is:

James 2:20-23

Memorization Tip for the week:
To review verses already memorized, say them backwards (not the verse but the order of verses). For example:

Chapter 1 verse 27

Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

then verse 26

If anyone among you thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one's religion is useless.

then verse 25 (etc.)

To learn new verses, have some fun with dry erase markers and your bathroom mirror...

(or lipstick but that's harder to wash off). Write your verse on your mirror the night before and work on it in the morning as you get ready for the day. That evening, see if you can say it, erasing one word at a time. Just don't write on the walls...mom gets mad!

Do You Want to Know?

Do you want to know?

That's a good question.  Sometimes we just don't want to know because then we'll be responsible for what we've learned.  James confronts us with this question in chapter 2 verse 20:  "Do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead?"
We have a multitude of examples in scripture and throughout church history that show us the way of true faith.  True faith will compel us to pray like the Psalmist did in Psalm 19 "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O God."
True faith will compel us to share the gospel with the world around us.
True faith acts.

Memory verses for this week's challenge of memorizing the book of James:

James 2:19-26

Verses for meditation on the James Summer Challenge

James 2:14-26



Memorization Tip of the Week:

Write out the verse in pencil.  Read it out loud.

Then erase the first word and read it out loud saying the erased word.

Continue in this manner, erasing a word at a time and repeating the verse (with reference).  By the time you do this, all the words will be erased and you'll have the verse memorized!



The Implanted Word


James is hard-hitting about being transformed by the word through actively and purposefully living our faith and not just sitting back on our "blessed assurance."  What does that mean?  As we've been meditating on what the Lord is saying through this epistle of James it is obvious that there is something expected of those who have been saved by grace through faith - we don't just sit back, live in our old fleshly ways and wait for heaven.  The amazing grace that has saved us is also prepared to transform us.  As we look into the mirror of the word as described in 1:25 it is not so that we see our faults and failures but for us to see who we are called to be in Christ Jesus and continue reflecting that image in the way we live.  As we do, we will be blessed!


For those enjoying the challenge of memorizing James, our verses this week will be:

James 2:10-18

For those of you concentrating on the verses Pastor Jeff preaches weekly for meditation:

James 2:1-9

Memorization Tip of the Week:

Try writing your verse(s) of the day on a 3x5 card or slip of paper that you can easily carry with you throughout your day.  From time to time, try to say the verse without looking at the card; then check yourself (don't forget to say the reference, too).  If you get it right, try saying the previous verse.  If you get it wrong, say the part you missed five times and try the whole verse again.  By reciting the verse in different situations and activities (walking, jogging, sitting, etc.) it will help you with recall in the future.

We'd love to hear more about what you're learning as we spend time in James together.

PC's challenge from the Lord this week came in the area of "partiality."  In our church, everyone is welcomed and accepted readily.  However, the Lord opened my heart to hear from Him that I'm not always like that in other settings.  I often gravitate toward those with whom I easily identify and avoid those with whom conversation may seem difficult.  Partiality isn't just about rich or poor.  It's about personality, looks, life issues and so much more.  God is not swayed by any of these things and never shows partiality.  Holy Spirit, lead me in this transformation process to be more like Jesus.

Focus on the Why

This week, Pastor Jeff & Caitlin Berg shared about what it means to be "doers of the word" and not just hearers from James 1:1-27 (verses for meditation for challenge #3)


Caitlin shared about her work with Metro Ministries in the ghettos of NYC and that there are a lot of things that could cause her to quit doing this work of the Word...drug infested projects...people dropping dead in front of her...gunshots that keep her awake at night...driving a big bus in the city...she calls those the "whats."  "Whats" are things that happen or could happen.  She challenges us to focus on the "whys" of ministering the Word.  The children she reaches with the gospel each week, who have no hope of a better life outside of Christ and whose path is destruction unless they are rescued with the love of Christ.


You may not be called to inner city NY, but you are called to "do" the Word wherever you are.  That's what being a disciple is all about.  Thanks, Catie.


For those memorizing the book of James this summer our verses are:

James 2:1-9

This week's memorization tip:

For retention of the verses you've memorized...try quizzing yourself.  Ask yourself a random verse.  Example:  What is James 1:6?  You may have to think of the preceding verses but you'll get it.  Then, when you move on to another chapter quiz yourself like this:  What is verse 2 in chapter 1?  chapter 2? chapter 3?  etc.  Or, do it with a friend.  This will help you keep what you've committed to memory...and it's fun!  

Be sure to click on the previous postings and read testimonies that have been shared...and share your own!

Baby Steps

     Isn't it great that when we take baby steps toward the Lord that He makes up the distance supernaturally?
     The testimonies we've been hearing from you are so encouraging--and we hope that you're sharing your insights and testimonies with others so that many will be encouraged.
     If you are taking up the challenge to memorize the WHOLE book of James this summer, our next set of verses is:

JAMES 1:19-27.

     If you're meditating on the verses from Pastor Jeff's weekly sermon, this past week he taught on James 1:16-18.


Memorization tip of the week:
Create an outlandish picture in your mind about the verse and picture it as a video when you say the verse.  Example:  James 1:11
For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat (picture a huge, cartoonish sun that's throwing flames to the earth)
than it withers the grass (picture grass withering & whining)
its flower falls & its beautiful appearance perishes (picture a flower falling off a cliff and a crumpled heap as it hits the ground and perishes)
So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits (picture extravagantly dressed "Austin Powers" type guy who fades away like the invisible man as he pursues more riches)


It seems silly, but using outlandish, visual imagery will help verses and concepts stick with you.  Just think about the pictures you create in your mind and the words will come!


     Wherever you are engaging The James Summer Challenge, please take a moment and write a quick comment to share about how you're doing and spur each other on to growth.


The Lord got my attention in verse 14 this week.  It says:  But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desire and enticed.  I have been asking the Lord this question:  "What desires do I have in my heart that would draw me away to be enticed?"
Oooh...keep working with me, Lord.

Great Start!

Here we are in week two of The James Summer Challenge.  We've had a great beginning and we're excited about how the Lord is using this in our development as disciples.


For those engaging in the memorization of the book of James, our memorization/meditation verses for this week are:

James 1:9-18

Memorization tip of the week:

1. Read each phrase of the verse out loud 5 times along with the "address" (e.g. James 1:9)
2. Say that phrase 7 times without looking (if you stumble, re-read the verse, and repeat the second step)
3. Go the the next phrase & repeat steps 1 & 2
4. Say the phrases together with "address" 5 times without looking
5. Continue adding phrases until you can say the whole verse.  
6. Try saying the verse throughout the day

Here's something the Lord spoke to me about as I was meditating through the first 8 verses this week.  We never really know who we are, what we know, or what's really in us until it's tested.  When I've gone through difficult trials in the past I had to come face to face with faith vs. flesh within myself.  My faith was tested...what I truly believed about God and His purposes and power.  I intellectually believed but faith was put to the test as I had to speak and act in accordance with the truth of His word when all circumstances seemed to point in another direction.  But each time faith won over flesh, my faith was strengthened so that I would be able to have endurance to stand.  Thank You, Lord! 

You can go back to previous posts at any time by clicking a link on the right.  We'd love to hear how it's going for you so be sure to add your comments below.

You Can Do It!

     This summer as we go through the book of James it is our hope and goal to be transformed by His Word not just filled with more information.  So, how can this happen? Glad you asked!
     Our challenge this summer is to go beyond hearing and reading and engage in meditation and memorization of the Word.

                 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall 

                 meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all 

                 that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then 

                 you will have good success.  Josh 1:8    NKJV

     To meditate on scripture means to:

           *think about it - what's being said?
           *reflect upon it - what does it mean to me?
           *invite the Holy Spirit to give insight for application to life

     Memorizing scripture is a tool for meditating on it as it gives the Holy Spirit opportunity to speak to us personally.

          Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You.  Ps 119:11 NKJV

     You can do it!  Yes, you --no matter how old you are.  Is it hard?  No.  It just takes some effort.  But as you embark on it, you will find that it gets easier and helps you in other areas.

Psalm 1:1-3 (selections)

                    Blessed is the man...who's delight is in the law (Word) of the Lord,

                    and in His law (word) he meditates day and night.  He shall be like a

                    tree planted by the rivers of waters...and whatever he does shall prosper.

     Along with meditation and memorization through the book of James, we'll also be sharing with each other the things we're learning from this practice.  For example:

James 1:1 begins with "James, a bondservant of God & of the Lord Jesus Christ."

This verse tells me that James knew who he was and what he was all about.  The Lord wants that same thing for me.

We have 3 different ways for you to participate in this challenge together:

1.  Meditate on & memorize the complete book of James.  Starting June 18 we will memorize 1 1/3  verses each day throughout the summer series starting with James 1:1 (many of the verses are very short).  By doing this we will have the whole book of James memorized by the end of the series on Sept. 9.  Then, blog your insights and share with others what you are learning from the Lord.

2.  Meditate on & memorize one chapter of your choosing from James throughout the summer.  If this is your choice you would memorize about 1/3 of a verse each day (with time for review!). Be sure to blog your insights that others will be encouraged.

3.  Daily read the passage of James that Pastor Jeff preaches for the week and meditate on it. As the Lord speaks to you, blog so that others can learn through you and be built up.

Each week, you will find a new posting of the scriptures we're focusing on as well as some tips and helps for memorization.  Take time to read what others post --we will learn great things from each other as well as receive encouragement.

Sign in and let us know which challenge you're reaching for this summer.  Let the fun begin!

Week 1:  June 18-24        James 1:1-8

      Tip:  read the verse out loud in "phrases" & memorize a phrase at a time.

      Ex:  James, a bondservant of God (1st phrase)

               and of the Lord Jesus Christ (2nd phrase)

               To the 12 tribes (3rd phrase)

               which are scattered abroad.  (4th phrase)

               Greetings.  (5th phrase)

Transformation is on the way!