James begins to address the definition of faith in this section of his letter. From our perspective here in 2025, we have a well-rounded understanding of faith drawn from all the New Testament writers, most notably Paul. Yet James was laying some of the very first groundwork for defining faith to an infant church—well before Paul came on the scene. So, hear James’ teaching on faith as some of the earliest instructions given to the New Testament Church.

This Easter message focuses on the type and shadow found in Numbers 21, where the people of Israel are bitten by venomous snakes—a representation of judgment and curse. In response, God provides a way of deliverance: by looking upon a bronze serpent lifted on a pole, they would live. This Old Testament account points us to the cross of Calvary and to our Savior, who took our judgment upon Himself.

The phrase “in view of God’s mercy” from Romans 12 invites us to gaze upon the cross and become living sacrifices. This message takes us back through the first eleven chapters of Romans, where Paul proclaims the heart of the gospel. As Passion Week begins, may we keep our hearts fixed—in view of God’s mercy.

James begins the second chapter with a discussion on favoritism, specifically toward those with wealth. The abject poverty of the early church created a strong temptation to cater to the rich—even when they were treating believers poorly. Financial strain can lead us to make unwise judgments, even within the church. James' wisdom is clear: show no favoritism.

One of our faithfull and older members, Keith Nutt, preached to us a message about the word of God. Encouraging us with the word to “settle” ourselves in it, “until” it does its perfect work in our hearts. Listen to the stories and exhortation of this man’s history with the word of God.

In the final verses of chapter one, James emphatically exhorts the church to do the word. Twice, he warns that hearing the word without living it out leads to self-deception. This highlights a prevalent issue among believers: some assume they are spiritual simply by being around church, scripture, or other spiritual activities, yet they remain unchanged because they do not practice what they hear.

James writes, “Human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.” Here, he is teaching an infant church how to handle the anger that was “prevalent” among them. In this lesson, I explore why they were angry and how James instructs them to deal with it.

William Barclay, a 20th-century scholar, once described the Book of James as “the most practical book in the New Testament,” and he wasn’t wrong. James’s letter to the twelve tribes of Israel is straightforward enough to understand, yet challenging to live out. This message marks the start of a verse-by-verse series on James. In this first installment, James urges the infant church: it’s time to grow up.

There is a fascinating story in 1 Samuel about the Ark of God being captured and a head-to-head—quite literally—battle between the God of Israel and Dagon, one of the Philistine gods. It serves as a powerful reminder that God is sovereign, full of authority, and glorious all on His own.

Continuing with the theme of “testimonies,” the story of Rahab offers a profound example of how God used the testimony of Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage to transform her life—and ultimately include her in the Messiah’s bloodline. Her words, “We have heard,” show how what she heard became genuine faith.