THIS SUNDAY! Join Element at Ferini Park in Los Alamos at 9:00am for ONE Church Service In The Park! All are welcome. Help us Celebrate together with Old Days.
This week launches our 19 week series through the book of James, a book written by Jesus’ own half-brother. James moved from seeing Jesus not just as a family member, but as God and Savior. In his opening verses, James encourages readers to “count it all joy” as we come face to face with trials and suffering. The word “count” (NIV says “consider”) has at its root the idea of being first, meaning when you face trials, before you focus on the trial, think about what it means. He doesn’t say, “Consider your trials joy.” He says, “Count it all joy….when…” James is commending the conscious embrace of a uniquely Christian understanding of every trial: that all things can grow us and glorify God.
There is a long and protracted focus on our faith resulting in works in the book of James. The emphasis on works has caused some people to put the apostle Paul’s view of grace at odds with the views James, but nothing could be further from the truth. James is most likely the earliest letter written in the New Testament and as such show a strong pastoral care for how to live out our faith in Jesus in practical ways.
