Sunday 10/18/26 – Adams Village Baptist Church
Sermon Title: “Joy in the Trials” - How to navigate tough times with faith” - James 1:1-18 - “The Book of James” – Sermon Series – (Part 1 of 6)
(Cover Picture – “Joy in the Trials: How to Navigate Tough Times with Faith” – “The Book of James” – James 1:1-18- Picture)
This morning, we are beginning a six-week learning and
preaching series on the Book of James, in the Bible. James is not only a book
in the Bible, but James was also the brother of Jesus. Sometimes James has been
referred to as, “Jesus, brother of the Lord.” James and the Apostle Paul also
knew each other, and James was the first leader of the church in Jerusalem. According
to the Roman Jewish historian Flavius Josephus, James was stoned to death for
his faith in Christ in 62 AD. Another account claims that James was killed or martyred
in 69 AD by being thrown off the great Jewish Temple in Jerusalem and then being
clubbed to death. And you thought you had a hard week! Some claim that James
was not a biological brother of Jesus, that he was one of Jesus’ cousins, a stepbrother
of Jesus, or the son of Joseph and Jesus’s mother Mary. I personally believe that
James was Jesus’s biological brother, but we may never know the truth on this
side of heaven.
Within the five chapters within the Book of James in the
New Testament, we find a treasure trove of faith teachings, moral teachings,
and us being challenged to be more and more like Jesus. The Book of James is
not a passive book of scripture, because if we read it very carefully then we
should be convicted in our hearts around areas of our own lives that we can
improve for Jesus. Through out this six-week sermon series, we will be
challenged, uplifted, and called to deeper love and relationship with Jesus
Christ. Maybe, just maybe this is the perfect sermon series to preach through a
critical election cycle in our country.
Today’s sermon, in this first of six on the Book of James
is called “Joy in the Trials: How to Navigate Tough Times with Faith.” In our
reading this morning from the Book of James chapter 1:1-18 we hear how we can
grow and rely on God during challenging and tough times. In going through our
reading from the Book of James 1:1-18 for this morning, let us look again at what
we just read together a few minutes ago. Starting in James 1:1, we hear once again:
Salutation
1 James, a servant of God and
of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greeting. Faith and Wisdom (Jas. 1:1, RSV).
James, is writing this letter to the Christians outside of
Jerusalem or Palestine. These are the Christians that are dispersed, the way
the twelve tribes of Jews are still dispersed around the world. Since Jesus had
twelve disciples, and since Jesus is the New Covenant or new agreement between
us and God, in a way we can consider the twelve disciples the patriarch of a
new twelve tribes. James however, as this very early stage of the Christian
faith is writing to Jews that have become Christians. So, these Jew of the twelve
tribes of Israel that now believe in Jesus are believing in Christ whom he is addressing
in this book or letter of James. James greets the dispersed Jews who are following
“The Way” of Jesus and offers them faith and wisdom.
(#1 – James
1:2-3 – Picture)
Knowing that these Jewish converts to Christianity were largely
being persecuted, James speaks into this reality. There are millions of
Christians today in 2026 that are still being persecuted for their faith in Christ.
Yet in James 1:2-3, James tells the various Jews who have converted to
Christianity, and other Christian converts, this, once again:
2 Count it all joy, my brethren, when you meet various trials, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
As I said, the Book of James touches on various
things, including suffering, sacrifice, and enduring in faith. The Book of
James was written about 40-50 AD, which was about ten or more years after Jesus’
crucifixion and resurrection. Most believes within the first 10-20 of Christian
were converted Jews. In going this new religion of Christianity and leaving
Judaism, they were often a big price to pay for this. Yet. James is telling these
mostly Jewish converts to Christian, I know you are struggling and often being
mistreated. Within this though, James is saying have joy through these
struggles and various trials, as this testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
For many of us, we have grown as people and in faith through time of great trials,
struggles, and hardships.
For example, Melissa and I have always loved watching as
much of the Olympics that we can. Whether it is the summer or the winter Olympics,
these are best athletes in world competing in various sports and events. What
some people might not know though, is that these athletes are constantly training.
Some of these athletes start as small children, and every day they are committed
to getting better and their sport or events. There are certainly other large
competitions, other than the Olympics, but image days, weeks, months, and
years, to prepare for such little window of competition time? To be an Olympic
athlete, or an athlete in general requires great sacrifice, and sometimes so
does our faith in Christ. Some of us might go to a South Jeff football game or
lacrosse, or to see the cheerleaders leading the charge, and etc. Yet, what we
do not see is the countless hours of preparation and training. The player that
hit the turf or the grass in pain, yet finally get up to clapping as they hope
off the field. The special diets, the weightlifting, the practices, muscle pains.
Etc. If you really love your sport or event though, like James is saying to the
Jews that converted to Christianity all over the Roman Empire, have joy. For
when you succeed in your sport, your event, in your faith in Christ, you have
steadfastness, hope, and joy.
Our faith in Christ, our commitment to each other, allows
us to go through whatever we go through in this life with joy, hope, support,
love, and the ability to grow through it all. This is why James tells us in 1:4:
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Pursing our faith, staying grounded in the scripture,
loving each other serving our neighbor, helping those who cannot help themselves,
and growing stronger, know that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by God.
We stay the course whether in sports or in our faith, because we believe in God
and what He can do through us. That moment that you catch the pass and score the
touchdown. The moment you kick the game winning field goal. Also though, the
moment you fumble the football, or mess up a throw, miss that goal, drop your
Lacrosse stick, trip, etc. In order to grown strong in Christ and in whatever
we pursue, with gain, excitement, and joy, we will also always have struggle.
We will always have naysayers, who tell us we cannot, we should not, etc. James
says, brother and sisters, this, endure, and have steadfastness. This moment
will not last, but the love of Christ will outlive everything! Our future is
not just right now, for many things are always changing. Stay the course, and
do not allow anyone to tear you down or to discourage you. Continue to be like
Jesus, continue to pursue hope, mercy, and justice for a world that needs it now
more than ever.
You might be saying to this, “well Pastor Paul, that is easy
to say from the pulpit!” This is true, but as a reminded James says this, once
again in 1:5:
(#2 – James 1:5 – Picture)
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives to all men generously and without reproaching, and it will be given him.
Friends, we are following Christ, we are the side of
holiness, mercy, and the side of angels. Never stop being what God has called
you to be and never let anyone tear you down. You are fearfully and wonderfully
made according to the scripture, and God is faithful. I am grateful for this
church, because I get to live out my faith a whole bunch of people that want to
see me grow closer to Christ. We are here for each other, and I am here for
you. We are strong together, and even when we suffer, even when we struggle,
God is with us.
(#3 – James
1:4-8 – Picture)
6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7, 8 For that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.
Ask God with a sincere heart,
lean into your brothers and sisters, and together God will use us, and God will
do amazing things.
We are reminded in James 1:9-11, this, once again:
(#4 – James
1:9-11 – Picture)
Poverty
and Riches
9 Let the lowly
brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his
humiliation, because like the flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For
the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls,
and its beauty perishes. So will the rich man fade away in the midst of his
pursuits.
This reading from James 1:12-18 for
this morning ends once again, saying this:
(#5 – James
1:12-18 – Picture)
Trial
and Temptation
12 Blessed is the man
who endures trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of
life which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no
one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted
with evil and he himself tempts no one; 14 but each person is
tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then
desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown
brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good endowment and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.
What if a trial that some are enduring is the trial of training and working hard for a sport, cheerleading, or something else like this? Whatever our current situation is, or our current stress, worry, etc., in the end is God. God was before us, and God will be God when we are no longer on this earth. Whatever we have for wealth and possessions, we cannot take it with us, and we will one day no longer be on this earth. We all do need to have food, clothing, shelter, etc., but the things of this world will not save us. Due to this, we should strive live like Jesus and work to make our communities and the world more like Jesus. Even though this life is temporary, we should still strive to be like Jesus and to create a world that not only looks like Jesus, but that Jesus would be proud of.
(#6 – James
1:12 – Graphic Picture)
Wherever you are this
morning then, know that you are welcome here. Know that you are loved. Know
that in this place you can be who God has called you to be, and that we will
love you. If the world around sometimes feels like a war, then come here to
train, equip, strap on the spiritual army, and grow, so that in the world you
can do battle against evil and stay grounded in Christ. As a pastor, sometimes
I council and listen to people that feel so alone and so lonely, and because of
that, I want this church to be a place where are excited to come to. That this
place is your spiritual home. That this place is as a book title written by one
of my seminary teachers a “Church Worth Getting Up For.” In a world that
sometimes can seem like sinking ship, may this place be a lifeboat. In a world
of spiritual suffering and suffering in general, may this place be a hospital
for those who are spiritually sick and or suffering in general. A church where
you are always welcome, where we are family, where we love each other with reckless
abandon, and where stand together, laugh together, cry together, and seek
Christ together.
In closing then, here is a question for us all to consider
as we will renter Adams in the world when this service and coffee hour is over:
(#7 – How
do you Navigate Tough Times with Faith? James 1:1-18 – Picture)
Is your life just you,
yourself, and no one else? Or do you have God, family, friends, and church that
will love you, support you, and be in your corner, no matter what? I am
grateful to lead and have a church that is all of those things, and more.
To make this a message that walks out of the door with us,
encourages us, and sticks with us all week, here are some application points to
consider for this morning:
James 1:1–18 written by James
(Jesus's half-brother) to dispersed Jewish-Christian believers explains how to
view and handle trials, seek godly wisdom, resist internal temptation, and
trust God's unchanging goodness.
Overview
of James 1:1–18
·
Salutation & Identity (v. 1): James introduces
himself humbly as a "servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ"
writing to the "twelve tribes scattered abroad" (Jewish Christians
living outside Palestine).
·
Joy in Trials (vv. 2–4): Believers are
instructed to count facing various trials as "pure joy" because
testing produces steadfastness (perseverance), which leads to spiritual
maturity and completion.
·
Asking for Wisdom (vv. 5–8): Anyone lacking
wisdom can ask God—who gives generously without finding fault—provided they ask
in faith without doubting. Doubt creates an unstable, double-minded
person.
·
Perspective on Wealth (vv. 9–11): The lowly/poor
believer rejoices in spiritual exaltation, while the rich believer rejoices in
being humbled (realizing worldly wealth is transient like grass).
·
Endurance and the Crown of Life (v. 12): Blessed is the
person who remains steadfast under trial; they will receive the crown of
life promised to those who love God.
·
Temptation vs. God’s Character (vv. 13–15): God never tempts
anyone with evil. Temptation comes from a person's own internal evil desires,
which give birth to sin, and sin—when fully grown—gives birth to death.
·
God’s Unchanging Goodness (vv. 16–18): Every good and
perfect gift comes from the Father of lights, who does not change like
shifting shadows. He brought believers to birth by the word of truth to be a
kind of "first fruits" of His creation.
Practical
Application Points
·
Shift Your Perspective in Hardships: Do not expect a
pain-free life; instead, view inevitable trials as a training ground.
Anchor your joy not in the difficulty itself, but in the character and maturity
God builds through it.
·
Trade Panic for Prayer (and Wisdom): When facing
complex or confusing struggles, stop leaning solely on your own problem-solving
or coping mechanisms. Immediately ask God for discernment and wisdom to
navigate the situation honorably.
·
Reject Double-Mindedness: Examine where you
split your loyalty between trusting God and hedging your bets with worldly
comforts, control, or anxiety. Commit to a single-minded trust in God’s
character.
·
Own Your Temptations: Stop blaming God,
your circumstances, or other people when you are tempted to sin. Recognize that
temptation starts internally; nip destructive desires in the bud before they
give birth to sin.
· Count on God’s Consistency: Remind yourself during dark or changing seasons that God never changes. Because He is a good Father who gives good gifts, you can trust His heart even when you cannot trace His hand.
May we all have joy in our trials, and we seek Christ
and seek Him together. Amen.
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