Hope Church (Dubuque, IA‪)‬ Ross Harrison

The sermon, part of the "Faith in Action" series from the book of James, emphasizes that faith in Jesus should influence every aspect of our lives, not just be a one-time acceptance of His sacrifice and resurrection. It calls believers to let Jesus' presence transform their relationships, decision-making, and finances. In relationships, avoid slander and judgment, showing Christ’s compassion instead.

Today's sermon emphasizes that true faith should impact every part of our lives. It contrasts the destructive nature of worldly wisdom, characterized by selfish ambition and bitter envy, with the pure and peace-loving wisdom from heaven. Focusing on James 4:1-10, the sermon explains how selfishness causes internal, external, and spiritual conflict, described as spiritual adultery against God. James calls for submission to God, which brings internal nearness, external peace, and spiritual humility.

This morning's sermon continues the "Faith in Action" series, focusing on James 3:13-18. It contrasts two types of wisdom: the worldly, marked by bitter envy and selfish ambition, and the heavenly, characterized by purity, peace, and mercy. The sermon emphasizes that true wisdom is not just intellectual but demonstrated through humble and godly actions. When off the right path, believers are encouraged to seek God's wisdom, which is accessible through a relationship with Jesus. By relying on Jesus, we can transform our lives from worldly folly to divine wisdom.

Today Pastor Mark discusses James 3:1-12, emphasizing the profound impact and potential destructiveness of our words. He highlights the hypocrisy of using the same tongue to both praise and curse, stressing that true control over our words requires a heart transformation through Christ, rather than mere behavior modification.

Pastor Ross spoke today on how a genuine faith transforms how we live each and every day. He walks us through three main points of how genuine faith transforms who we are and questions us to look inside to see how our faith has transformed us.

Pastor Marty spoke to how favoritism is inconsistent with our faith in Jesus. He speaks on James 2:1-13 showing the command James gives us to show no favoritism as all are equal in God's eyes. He then gives us four different ways to apply this to our lives.