The Word for Everyday Disciples with Dave DeSelm Dave DeSelm

God’s Word is timeless and transformational. Through its inspired words, the Holy Spirit will mark those of us who live in the 21st century just as He did those disciples who lived in the 1st century.However, that will only happen if we are not only hearers of the Word, but we are also doers of the Word. In other words: it’s one thing to be open to what the Bible has to say, it’s another thing to be obedient to what the Bible has to say. James uses the illustration of a mirror. The pers...

This message is about divorce. Not the kind that separates husbands and wives. Rather, it’s the divorce between hearing the Word of God and doing it. Between believing and behaving. Putting our faith into practice is at the heart of the Book of James. In 1:19, James says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.” Though this is great relational advice, the context makes it clear that James is talking about how we relate to the Word of God. Verse 21 has the...

Our culture tends to believe that a person is lucky if they’re wealthy and unlucky if they’re not.But in these verses, James is saying that the true status of God’s people cannot be determined simply by their finances. The poor are richer than they think if they trust Christ and the rich are poorer than they think if they trust anything elseJames first addresses “the brother in humble circumstances” (1:9) – the poor man. There are two kinds of poverty: generational poverty and situationa...

There’s a big difference between faith and foolishness. That is why we need wisdom. How do we get wisdom? James says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all…” (vs. 5) Of course, the primary source of wisdom is God’s Word. But God can also lead and guide His children by giving them direct insight regarding situations that they are facing. He can impart wisdom to us apart from His written Word but never at variance with His written Word.But Jame...

The book of James was written to followers of Jesus who had been “scattered” by the threat of persecution. They were facing tough times and James knew that unless he helped these young believers gain a different perspective on their trials and tribulations, they might very well compromise their commitment if not bail out altogether. That’s why he begins his letter with this striking statement: “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (vs. 2) From these words, w...

Our world is weary of “noun” Christians. It’s looking for “verb” Christians – people who will walk the walk, not just talk the talk. But how can you move to a life that goes beyond belief? The Bible is filled with counsel toward that end, but one of the most practical texts is the N.T. book of James. We were made for more than “easy chair living.” We were called to a life “beyond belief.” And that is what James addresses in his remarkable epistle. 1. WHO was James? Most bib...