Wordeed 1: Faithworks

Feb 10

Scripture: James 2:14-26 (MSG)

- "‘Misión integral’ that expression has been used in Latin America for a long time. And I am very pleased to see that it's really beginning to be well known in the English-speaking world. Integral mission: When you talk about integral mission you are talking about the inseparability of evangelism and social responsibility. The church is supposed to witness to Jesus Christ not only in terms of the proclamation of the gospel, but also in terms of the demonstration of the gospel in practical terms. And I'm very thankful for the way in which churches all over the world are catching this vision. The kingdom of God has to do with the totality of life. Jesus Christ is Lord over the totality of God's creation, and we are to participate in what God's wants to do in transforming human life in every aspect. This is the great privilege and responsibility of the church and every disciple of Jesus Christ is to participate in what God wants to do in the world." ~ C. René Padilla

- As we rethink God's mission and vision for us, we need go on this journey over the next several weeks through Wordeed together.

- Wordeed will help us to explore why I'm convinced it's time for us to have a renewed sense of mission and a new vision from God for today.

- It's very important that we hold both God's mission, and God's vision before us, so here they are:

-    Our mission is to be the hands, feet, and voice of Jesus in, and for, our community until the light of Christ shines in every home.

-    As a church, each member will be involved in ministries that reach out to each other, our families and community with fervent commitment, focussed compassion, and fruitful teamwork as we strive to meet needs and grow through evangelism, discipleship, and social action.

-    As we think about our Scripture for today, the apostle James has a very blunt word for his readers that the Message conveys with a graphic image: Cutting faith and works apart leaves a corpse.

-    I recall an illustration from a sermon on this passage by a friend of mine from one of the first preaching classes I ever took.

-    He described faith and works like the two oars of a rowboat.

-    The moment he began talking about faith and works like a rowboat, he had my full attention.

-    As a child, my grandparents had a cottage on Aylesford Lake in the Annapolis Valley.

-    Many times growing up I remember going fishing with my grandmother or my grandfather in the little rowboat that was just big enough for two.

-    I remember learning how to row and I remember when I was old enough I was allowed to go by myself in the rowboat, as long as I wore a life jacket, and stayed within sight of our cottage beach to row about on the lake.

-    If you row with just your left oar you end up going in circles if you row with just your right oar the same thing happens.

-    If you don't know how to row, then you're dead in the water.

-    The same is true of faith without works.

-    James makes it abundantly clear that genuine Christian faith includes two basic elements: trusting in God and acting in the world.

-    Good works without trusting in God leads to a lifeless corpse.

-    Many people do good works for their own selfish reasons.

-    Perhaps it's in an effort to make amends for all the wrong things they've done or perhaps it's because of how good it makes them feel.

-    It may appear good on the outside, but what looks good to human beings in the end leads only to death.

-    The truth is we cannot put to rights the wrong things we have done in the past by doing good deeds today.

-    Today's good deed cannot fix yesterday's sin. After all, "the wages of sin is death."

-    "The wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."

-    There are plenty of people in the world that believe in the value of good works, but whose lives are completely devoid of a relationship with Jesus Christ.

-    What are good works without trust in Jesus Christ? In the end, what's left but a corpse?

-    Claiming to trust God without obedience to Christ leads to a lifeless corpse.

-    It's not enough to say we agree with creeds, doctrines, or statements of faith. It's not enough!

-    True belief leads to action. In fact, we could say, our actions reveal what we really believe.

-    Good works display a living faith, whereas, a claim of faith without good works is simply a corpse.

-    What is faith without obedience? Faith without obedience is just an idea and ideas only have life when they are put into action.

-    What good is an idea that is never acted upon? Isn't it really just a useless idea?

-    Faith without obedience is lifeless faith.

-    As James says, 'The very moment you separate body and spirit, you end up with a corpse. Separate faith and works, and you get the same thing: a corpse.'

-    The Holy Spirit gives the spiritual gifts, so that the church, God's people, Christ's body, will glorify God through good works.

-    The Holy Spirit enables us to grow in the fruit of the Spirit so that godly character may be displayed to the world in our being and in our doing.

-    Thinking about our new vision statement, real commitment is fervent commitment, real compassion is focused compassion, and real teamwork is fruitful teamwork.

-    Fervent commitment, focused compassion, and fruitful teamwork are true indicators of a lived faith, a faith that works.

-    It is impossible to have a fervent commitment and not act. When we are fervent, enthusiastic, zealous, we act. Real faith is committed to obedience to Christ.

-    Real compassion is not just an emotional response. Real compassion moves us out of our comfort zones into where God is acting. Real compassion is focused compassion because it moves us to act.

-    Real teamwork is fruitful teamwork because it is the work of the Holy Spirit to empower God's people to bear fruit. Real teamwork presumes that bearing fruit, being fruitful requires action.

-    Cutting faith and works apart leaves a corpse.

-    Sam Chaise, general secretary of Canadian Baptist ministries has this to say about faith, good works, and Wordeed: "'That which God has joined together, let no one separate.' Those words are usually spoken at a wedding, reflecting the truth of what marriage is meant to be. But maybe these words should be spoken about mission. God's mission on planet Earth has always involved words and deeds. Both, together. Jesus did both – he "did" the Kingdom and he taught about the Kingdom. Unfortunately, too often in our world we separate what God has joined together – some people or organizations focus on words (e.g. proclaiming, teaching, evangelizing) , while others focus on deeds (e.g. feeding the hungry, dealing with injustice). Wordeed is about mission that is integral and whole. It's about keeping together what God has joined together."

-    Cutting faith and works apart leaves a corpse.

-    To keep your faith alive, put it to work!