Genuine Faith: Sermons From the Book of James

Ever get tired of Christians who seem to talk a good talk, but when you peel back the layers of how they’re actually living, there’s a lot lacking? Most of us would agree that hypocrisy isn’t a good look. It erodes trust in Christians and as a result, in Christ Himself.   

Enter James. This little book packs a big punch! James isn’t aiming to teach complex theological concepts so much as he urges us to live out the basics of our faith. His phrase in 1:22 could in fact serve as the title of his book, “Be doers of the Word, not hearers only.” His goal is to see our lives conform to our beliefs. To practice what we preach.

James was the head of the Mother Church in Jerusalem, the leader of one of the earliest Christian communities. He was a preacher, and you can tell from this book. He relies heavily on the language of exhortation. His book is like a compilation of sermons for a wider audience, a  group of Jewish Christians enduring persecution for their faith. And it turns out that genuine faith gets lived out not in what we say, but in how we live: in everything from how we handle suffering, to how we view wealth and poverty, to how we speak and get along with others in the community, to how we pray.

James’ sermons are heavily influenced by both Jesus’ teaching in the Sermon on the Mount and by the Proverbs in the Old Testament, standard reading for all Jewish boys. You can imagine this preacher-boy reveling in the vivid images and memorable, pithy sayings of the Proverbs; he uses them throughout his letter. But he’s not only emphasizing personal integrity with what we say we believe. He’s a pastor. His burden is that this church—and all of these little Jesus-shaped communities—genuinely live out their faith in how they live together.

But such a message can only come from someone who is living it himself! James has real street cred with me. For starters, he was Jesus’ half-brother. Unlike most of the other New Testament writers, he had not only three years of Jesus’ public ministry to draw from, but nearly all of Jesus’ entire thirty-three years of life, and it shows with numerous references to Jesus’ teaching sprinkled throughout. Apparently, it took a little while for him to come to understand Jesus as Messiah, but once he did, he was unwavering in his commitment, resulting even in his martyrdom. He demonstrated remarkable wisdom and leadership at a critical moment in the church’s history. His genuine faith was practiced—not simply preached.

So if you’re somebody who cares that Christians are “the real deal”, join us for this series of James’ provocative and memorable sermons. Then go and live them! For a genuine faith is a lived faith.

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