Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North Sermons — Harvest Bible Chapel Pittsburgh North

James

Intentional Faith: A "How To" Guide - How to Get the Most Out of Church

Introduction:

How to Get the Most Out of Church (James 1:19-27)

  1. Come ready to Hear God's Word. (Jas 1:19-21)
  2. Leave ready to Apply God's Word. (Jas 1:22-27)

    Deuteronomy 6:24 - And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.

    John 13:17 - If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.

    Matthew 12:34 - For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.

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Intentional Faith: A "How To" Guide - How to Get the Most Out of Church
Jeff Miller
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Small Group Discussion
Read James 1:19-27

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. Explain James’ mirror illustration in Jas 1:23-24.

  3. Why is the tongue a good indicator on where your faith is (Jas 1:26)? See Matthew 12:34.

  4. What do you personally need to do to better prepare yourself for church next Sunday?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Intentional Faith: A "How To" Guide - How to Beat Temptation

Introduction:

My Temptation: --------------------------------------------------

How to Beat Temptation: (James 1:13-18)

  1. Blame the right person. (Jas 1:13-14)

    Genesis 3:12 - The man said, "The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate."

    Proverbs 19:3 - When a man’s folly brings his way to ruin, his heart rages against the LORD.

    Isaiah 63:17 - O LORD, why do you make us wander from your ways and harden our heart, so that we fear you not?

  2. Say No early. (Jas 1:15-16)

    Romans 13:14 - But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.

  3. Focus on God's Gifts . (Jas 1:17)
  4. Remind yourself of your Identity . (Jas 1:18)

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Intentional Faith: A "How To" Guide - How to Beat Temptation
Jeff Miller
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Small Group Discussion
Read James 1:13-18

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. What excuses have you made - or heard - for giving into temptation? What does James say about who is responsible for our sin?

  3. Why do you think people tend to blame God for their failures?

  4. Are all desires bad (Jas 1:14)? How do you know what is a good desire and what is a sinful desire?

  5. What gifts from God can you focus on when you are tempted to sin?

Breakout
Pray for one another - to resist temptation the way James lays out for us.

Intentional Faith: A "How To" Guide - How to Profit from Trials

Introduction:

My Trial: --------------------------------------------------

How to Profit from Trials: Change The Way You See Them (James 1:1-12)

  1. See trials as Strengthening you. (Jas 1:3-4)
  2. See trials as Teaching you. (Jas 1:5-8)
  3. See trials as Humbling you. (Jas 1:9-11)
  4. See trials as Testing you. (Jas 1:12)

    Hebrews 12:2 - looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

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Intentional Faith: A "How To" Guide - How to Profit from Trials
Jeff Miller
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Small Group Discussion
Read James 1:1-12

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. How are trials a “test” (Jas 1:3, 12)? What do they reveal?

  3. James 1:4 says to let steadfastness have its full effect. What are ways people refuse to obey this and resist what God wants to accomplish in trials?

  4. What does it mean that steadfastness makes us “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (Jas 1:4)?

  5. Share a time when you asked God for wisdom in a trial, and He clearly answered (Jas 1:5).

Breakout
Pray for one another - to see trials according to God’s purposes.

When Change Is Overwhelming

Introduction:

When we're rocked by change, God steadies us because (James 1:17-18)...

  1. He is Good . (Jas 1:17a)

    Numbers 23:19 - "God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind."

    Deuteronomy 32:4 - "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he."

  1. He is Unchanging . (Jas 1:17b)

    Romans 8:28 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

When we're rocked by change, God steadies us because...

  1. He Chose you. (Jas 1:18)

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When Change Is Overwhelming - Guest Speaker - Matt Koll
Jeff Miller / Matt Koll
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Small Group Discussion
Read James 1:17-18

  1. What was your big take-away from this passage / message?

  2. How have you handled unexpected change in the past? How can you handle it in light of your relationship with Jesus?

  3. Why is it so important that we serve and know an unchanging God?

  4. What are some ways you can avoid being overwhelmed or anxious about change in life?

Breakout
Pray for one another.

Watch Your Mouth

Introduction:

Our Tongues (James 3:1-12):

  1. Are the most Dominant part of our bodies. (Jas 3:1-5a)

    Acts 20:28 - "Pay careful attention to yourselves and to all the flock, in which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to care for the church of God, which he obtained with his own blood."

  2. Are able to Wreak Havoc. (Jas 3:5b-6)
  3. Are Untamable. (Jas 3:7-10a)
  1. Are *Untamable...without the Holy Spirit. (Jas 3:10b-12)

    Luke 6:43-45 - For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit, for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush. The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

Practical Ways to Watch Your Mouth:

  1. Watch Your Media.

    Proverbs 4:25 - "Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you."

  2. Watch Your Company.

    Proverbs 24:1-2 - "Be not envious of evil men, nor desire to be with them, for their hearts devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble."

  3. Watch Your Walk.

    Proverbs 8:20-21 - "I walk in the way of righteousness, in the paths of justice, granting an inheritance to those who love me, and filling their treasuries."

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Watch Your Mouth - Guest Speaker
Michael Wolski
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Small Group Discussion

Read James 3:1-12

GROUP

Why does the tongue hold so much power?

  1. How can we overcome our tongues?

  2. What ways can we ensure we are storing treasure of good rather than treasures of evil? (Luke 6:43-45)

  3. Has your media, company and walk changed since becoming a Christian? In what ways?

BREAKOUT

What media or company is holding you spiritually hostage? What can you do to remove it along with its ‘treasures of evil’?