“Trials of Faith” Sunday Worship Service (9:30 AM in the GYM and 9:45 AM Live Stream)

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February 20, 2021

8:45 pm

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Announcements, Sermon Topics

You are invited to experience, view or listen to our Sunday morning sermon in one of 5 ways.
1) Participate in our onsite worship service in the GYM which begins at 9:30 AM, SUNDAY at 3757 Mill Street.
2) Watch live on the church Facebook page at 9:45 AM, SUNDAY by going to: facebook.com/srcmarion  There are announcement slides and music at the start of the stream while we wait for the right time to join the service in progress.  Please “like” our Facebook page for future notifications.
3) Watch the same recording later on Facebook at a time more convenient for you: facebook.com/srcmarion
4) Watch the same recording later on our newly created YouTube channel. Just type in “Second Reformed Church of Marion” when you go to youtube.com  Or you can click on this link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCo3ZNP8OgRarSQXfqzGcn-Q
5) Listen to the audio recording and see sermon outline on our church website: sermons.srcmarion.org

Title: Trials of Faith

Text:  James 1:1-11

Theme: God WILL test your faith in Christ.

  1. What adversity  ____________, vv. 2-4
    1. James calls us to view troubles in terms of the harvest they produce.
    2. We’re to bear in mind God will bring from our adversity a harvest of good.
  2. What adversity  ____________, vv. 5-8.
    1. We often lack discernment and know-how for handling our troubles.
    2. He who authors our tests promises to give answers as many times as we ask, providing we trust Him to answer, trust His answer, and act on it, vv 6-7.
  3. What adversity  ____________, vv. 9-11
    1. It reveals what are true riches and poverty.
    2. Adversity is God’s grace to Christians of worldly means and power.

 

Questions for Further Reflection:

  • Why does adversity seem so counterintuitive to immature Christians?  What do they expect instead?
  • What does James choice of “when” rather than “if” tell us about trials and the Christian life, v. 2?
  • What does James say is the “bright side”, the joyful outcome, of having our faith tested repeatedly?  Vv. 2-4.  Can you give a personal example of this?
  • How does knowing we don’t know how to handle troubles give us an advantage?  How does knowing where to find out the how, advantage us?
  • Unbelief says, I’ll believe it when I see it.  True faith says, I’ll see it when I believe it.  Which of these describes the spiritual posture in which God awards the know-how for bearing up under testing?  Vv. 5-8.
  • What does God promise the humble, which gives them cause to boast in the Lord?  Hint:  Luke 14:11; 18:14; James 4:6; I Peter 5:5-6.  Would James reckon average western Christians be rich or the humble lowly?