The story goes of a preacher who got on a bus one day and he gave the bus driver the fare. The bus driver in return gave him his change, but the driver gave him too much money. The preacher went and sat down until his stop arrived. When the preacher had come back down the aisle to where the bus driver was he stopped and said, “You gave me too much change back earlier,” and gave the driver the extra back. The driver in return replied, “Pastor, I really appreciate this, because I was in your church yesterday, and I heard your sermon on honesty. I intentionally gave you too much change to see whether or not you live according to what you preach.”
I am convinced that one of the key reasons that more people are not coming to our churches today is because they have been put off by the speech and actions of those who are “members.” Far too often those who claim to be followers of Jesus exhibit a lifestyle before the eyes of the lost and impressionable around us that is anything but the way that Jesus would want us to act. Our society today, especially older children and teens are looking for something that’s real. They are tired of being lied to and sold the mantra of, “this works (the Christian life); trust me,” and then not seeing us living it out in a real day by day manner. It is as old, tired, and worthless as the ‘do as I say, NOT as I do’ jargon. When they see us with joy when it’s not a joyful time in the midst of pain, when they see us at peace when it’s anything but peaceful, and love when the object of our affection is anything but deserving; that’s when they’ll start believing our rhetoric and come to see what it is that we claim is so great about being a Christian.
Therefore, I’m excited to be starting a brand new series through the book of James. It has often been remarked by its readers as the most practical book of the Bible. While that is true, the underlying theme throughout this letter implores its readers to STOP compromising and practice what is it that you say you believe! There’s not a more crucial wakeup call for the church at large today if we want seriously to reach those around us who don’t know Christ. Again they are looking for something that is REAL! Perhaps you will recall the summarizing verse in James 2:17, “Faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.” He would also say just a few chapters later, “Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins!”
This is a new year, and now is the time that our church has committed to serve Him as we never have before. This is the day that we have been preparing for with our joy teams in order that there WILL BE joy in Travelers Rest, SC because our church is fleshing out, being real, living what we say we BELIEVE! Come join us on Sunday mornings as we embark on a journey through James.
