Living Stones Sparks Living Stones Sparks

Pastor Mark delivers a powerful sermon on James 3, emphasizing the responsibility and potential peril of the tongue. Drawing on vivid metaphors like small rudders steering large ships and bits controlling horses, he illustrates how our words can steer our lives and impact our faith. Pastor Mark reflects on the personal conviction he felt while preparing the sermon and the transformative power of grace through Jesus Christ in taming the tongue. The message calls for conscious speech that aligns with the kingdom of God and encourages believers to be mindful of their words as a true test of their faith and spiritual maturity.

02:49 Introduction
03:20 Faith and Trials
05:48 The Struggle with Words
07:25 Personal Convictions
11:02 Teaching and Accountability
13:39 The Impact of Words
23:04 The Destructive Nature of the Tongue
25:14 The Power of Words: Setting Relationships on Fire
26:18 The Tongue: A World of Unrighteousness
28:24 Fluency in the Language of Hell vs. Heaven
30:26 Peter's Rebuke: Speaking Like a Demon
32:21 Taming the Untamable Tongue
36:08 Blessing and Cursing: The Dual Nature of the Tongue
39:13 The Need for Divine Intervention
42:54 A Personal Anecdote: God's Silliest Goose
45:12 A Prayer for a Tamed Tongue

In this sermon, Pastor Jim explores the relationship between faith and works, as discussed in James 2:14-26. He emphasizes that true faith is evidenced by deeds, illustrating this with biblical examples such as Abraham and Rahab. Pastor Jim also addresses the societal and spiritual challenges of living out this kind of active faith, calling on the church community to support one another in tangible ways. The sermon concludes with a call to let faith be evident in daily life, aligning actions with beliefs, and emphasizes the importance of community groups in fostering genuine, supportive relationships.

In this sermon we explore the blessings and trials of faith. It underscores the promise of the crown of life to those who remain steadfast under trial, reiterating that God tests but does not tempt with evil, aiming to build endurance in faith rather than lead believers into sin. The sermon emphasizes that temptations arise from personal desires rather than God's will, cautioning against deceiving oneself into blaming God for personal failures. It highlights the distinction between trials intended to strengthen faith and temptations that lead to sin and death. Concluding with an encouragement, the sermon reassures the congregation of God's unchanging nature in giving good and perfect gifts, which include trials that ultimately lead to spiritual growth and completeness. It serves as a reminder that what may seem challenging or undesirable at the moment can be God's perfect gift tailored for the individual's growth in faith.

00:00 Scripture reading
02:25 Celebrating Mother's Day with Humor and Reflection
03:05 The Essence of True Gifts and Motherhood
05:18 Navigating Trials with Faith and Joy
10:30 Understanding the Depth of Being 'Blessed'
18:34 The Journey Towards a Crown of Life
22:37 Distinguishing Between Testing and Temptation
26:47 Exploring the Nature of God's Tests
27:47 The Difference Between Testing and Temptation
31:51 Understanding Our Own Temptations
34:01 The Consequences of Yielding to Temptation
40:50 Embracing God's Perfect Gifts
46:07 The Ultimate Gift: The Crown of Life