Chandler Heights Community Church
Communion Sunday January 4
  • Come Now Is The Time To Worship
  • Holy Is The Lord

      • 1 Corinthians 11:27ESV

  • Sweet by and by
  • Goodness Of God
  • James 1:1–8
    Joy, Wisdom, and Faith in the Midst of Trials
    Who Was James?
    James was a remarkable leader in the early church.
    He was the brother of Jesus, the son of Joseph and Mary, likely the second oldest son in the family.
    His name, James, is the Greek form of Jacob, linking him to Israel’s patriarchal heritage.
    Though he did not initially believe in Jesus during His earthly ministry, James became a follower after the resurrection. Paul tells us that the risen Christ appeared to James personally (1 Corinthians 15:7).
    James emerged as the leading elder of the Jerusalem church. In Acts 15, during the heated debate over Gentile believers and the Jewish Law, it is James who offers the decisive pastoral judgment: “It is my judgment…” (Acts 15:13–21).
    The Jewish historian Josephus records that James was widely respected—not only by Christians, but also by Jewish leaders, the people of Jerusalem, and even the Romans.
    Paul acknowledges James’ authority by listing him alongside Peter and John as a “pillar” of the church (Galatians 2:9). Notably, the New Testament canon reflects this order: James comes before Peter, who comes before John.
    James believed Jewish Christians should continue observing Jewish customs, but he did not impose those practices on Gentile believers.
    James was both deeply Jewish and deeply Christ-centered—a shepherd who cared about how faith was lived out in real life.
    To Whom Did James Write?
    James writes “to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion.”
    This letter is pastoral in nature. James is writing from Jerusalem to believers who had once been part of his congregation but were scattered due to persecution, beginning with the martyrdom of Stephen. Many had relocated to Syria and the northeastern Mediterranean region.
    These believers were trying to live faithfully in unfamiliar places, under pressure, and often in poverty. James writes as a concerned shepherd, addressing real-life struggles faced by displaced Christians.
    Major Themes in James
    James focuses less on abstract theology and more on Christian living:
    Enduring through trials
    Godly behavior versus worldly desires
    Guarding the tongue
    Effective prayer
    Faith, for James, is always visible. What we believe shows up in how we live.
    James 1:1–8 (ESV)
    1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings. 2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.
    5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
    James opens his letter without wasting words. He goes straight to the heart of the Christian life.
    “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds…”
    Trials are not an if but a when. Life will bring hardship.
    Understanding Trials
    The word translated “trial” (πειρασμός) can also mean test or temptation. All three ideas are connected in this word:
    A trial puts pressure on us.
    That pressure becomes a test, a challenge put in front of us with the intent of having us fail.
    And often, it includes a temptation to respond wrongly.
    James later explains that these temptations are fueled by our own desires (James 1:14). As an example of this, Paul warns in 1 Timothy 6:9, the desire for wealth can lead people into temptation and ruin.
    Scripture is clear:
    Satan seeks to entice us to do wrong (Mark 1:13; 1 Corinthians 7:5).
    God does not tempt us to sin.
    Yet God uses trials to refine our character and grow us in holiness.
    James 1:12 reminds us that endurance under trial results in the “crown of life.” Holding fast to God when tempted reveals that we love Him more than the things of this world. And we are never left without help—God is faithful to provide a way through the temptation (1 Corinthians 10:13).
    Joy and Steadfastness
    James calls us to “count it all joy” when we encounter trials—not because trials are pleasant, but because of what God produces through them.
    The “testing” of our faith refers to a proving that leads to approval. God is present in the trial, working for our good.
    That testing produces steadfastness—a word that literally means to remain firmly in place. Steadfastness describes someone who is loyal, faithful, and unmovable in truth.
    This is the heart of Christian endurance. The steadfast believer clings to what is right, even when it would be easier to compromise. This same call echoes through Revelation 2–3, where Jesus promises blessings “to the one who overcomes.”
    Wisdom for the Trial
    5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.
    At first glance, verse 5 may seem like a new topic, but it is deeply connected.
    Wisdom is the ability to live in harmony with God’s truth. Trials reveal how much we lack wisdom.
    When pressure mounts, we often know what we want to do—but not what we should do. Wisdom bridges that gap.
    James tells us to ask God for wisdom, trusting His character:
    God gives generously.
    He gives without reproach.
    He does not mock us for our need.
    Wisdom brings clarity, perspective, and direction. It helps us respond rightly rather than react emotionally.
    Faith, Not Doubt
    We are to ask for wisdom in faith, without doubting.
    Doubt weakens resolve. It leaves us unstable—like waves driven by the wind. A doubting person is pulled by circumstances rather than anchored in trust.
    James calls this condition double-mindedness.
    In Greek, the term means being divided in loyalty and uncertain about the truth. Such a person vacillates—trusting God one moment, taking matters into their own hands the next.
    A divided heart leads to an inconsistent life.
    James’ counsel is simple and challenging:
    Go with the truth you know.
    Be patient.
    Trust God’s work.
    Wait upon the Lord.
    Application for Today
    1. Expect Trials—Don’t Be Surprised by Them
    Hardship is not a sign of weak faith. It is part of the Christian life. When trials come, ask not only “How do I get out?”but also “What is God forming in me?”
    2. Reframe Hardship with Joy
    Joy is not denial—it is perspective. We rejoice not in pain, but in God’s purpose. Trials are tools God uses to produce endurance, maturity, and spiritual depth.
    3. Ask God for Wisdom Before You Act
    In moments of pressure, pause and pray. Ask God for wisdom before responding, speaking, or deciding. Wisdom helps us do what honors God, not merely what feels right.
    4. Commit Fully to Trusting God
    Partial trust leads to instability. Choose to rely fully on God’s Word, even when outcomes are uncertain. A settled faith produces a steady life.
    5. Let God Finish His Work
    Steadfastness must “have its full effect.” Don’t rush the process. Growth takes time. Waiting on the Lord is not inactivity—it is faithful endurance.
    James reminds us: faith that endures, trusts, and seeks wisdom becomes faith that matures. And God is faithful to complete what He begins in us.

      • James 1:12NASB2020

      • James 1:5NASB2020

  • How Great Thou Art
Chandler Heights Community Church
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