“The Toxin of Worldliness” Sunday Sermon (9:30 AM in the GYM and 9:45 AM Live Stream)

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July 24, 2021

11:59 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: The Toxin of Worldliness

Scripture: James 4:1-6

Theme: God warns us about our worldliness and selfishness

  1. Some _______________ of selfishness, of me-worship.
    1. Some of James’ hearers seem chronic scrappers, some occasional.
    2. V. 3 implies the self-centered will do what it takes to get what they want
  2. The ________________of selfishness, of me-worship.
    1. It’s spiritual adultery, spiritual marriage infidelity.
    2. To seek elsewhere than Christ for our deepest needs & satisfaction is spiritual adultery.
  3. The _______________from worldliness, selfishness, me-worship.
    1. Look on and look to God’s gracious character. He’s the giving God.
    2. He gives grace to those who humble themselves & come home to Him.

 

Questions for Study:

  • Name some historic conflicts which arose from a clash of wills.
  • Name some conflicts in OT Israel, NT Church which arose from the same.
  • Why is it so easy to fall into worldliness? Why is it so hard to get free of it? Will we ever be free of it? What are some of the connections between James 4:1-6 and II Corinthians 6:14-7:1?
  • How does Jesus’ prescription in Luke 9:23 get at the heart of the matter?
  • How does this invariably involve a conflict of wills both within the believer, (Romans 7:13-25), and around the believer, Luke 12:49-53?
  • Are all of our desires & longings, hungers & thirsts sinful? (Psalm 25:1ff; 26:1ff; Matthew 5:6; 6:31-34; I Corinthians 7:8; 12:31).
  • How does God change our desires & longings? See Romans 12:2; Ephesians 4:20-24; Philippians 4:4-8; I Thessalonians 5:11, 16-18; Hebrews 10:24; Revelation 2:4-5.
  • Will we have desires & longings in the New Heavens & Earth? See Revelation 5:6-14; 22:3-5.