This is awesome. Watch this and I challenge you not to be moved… a few simple words on a piece of cardboard, but so powerful.

Cheers Dan Green.

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Check out the new promo video for Bible by the Beach.

1st-4th May 2009   -   £50 adult, £1 children   -   in Eastbourne

Speakers include:   Wallace Benn, Terry Virgo, Paul Williams, Kent & Barbara Hughes, Ben Kwashi, Phil Moon, Mike Ovey, Andrew Baughen, Stef Liston

Music by:   Stuart Townend, Phatfish and Simon Brading

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So starting today I am introdcing a new feature to this website… guest blogging, hopefully more of this to come. My good friend “Xander Coomber”, that’s his real name, not an alias asked if he could contribute to this website and here is his first post… his thoughts in light of last week’s Gay Debate.

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Tuesday 27th January saw this debate take place, organised by the LGCM (Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement) at St. Nicholas in Brighton. Throughout the course of the night the different view points on homosexual sex were debated, having reflected upon the debate I would like to make a few observations.

Firstly, Clive Gardner, speaking on behalf of the LGCM was arguing from silence. He was not trying to say that the Bible condones gay sex, rather he was trying to say that the Bible never actually condemns it, which is inevitably going to be a weak argument. I believe that with an issue as serious as this, one that we’re told has eternal consequences (1 Cor 6:9-10), that not being able to prove convincingly that the Bible doesn’t condemn homosexual sex is very dangerous.

Secondly, after the debate I chatted to Clive about celibacy outside of marriage or a civil partnership. His response was to say that he would not confront a couple in his church that were sleeping together before marriage/civil partnership, because given our culture it’s an unrealistic to ask people to be celibate. But the Bible wouldn’t agree with this position, rather we are shown that in intercourse and marriage a man and a woman become ‘one flesh’ (Gen 2:24). Clive told me that he would however confront incest, or underage sex because these acts are illegal. Surely we cannot say that God’s standards for holiness change with our culture or are dependant on the laws of the land. The culture in Corinth said that sexual impurity was great, but God, through the Apostle Paul told them otherwise. To say that sex outside of marriage is acceptable because the culture says it’s acceptable is a typical post-modern perspective and goes against what the Bible says, it is to say that the perfection we see in Eden and God’s order within creation is no longer relevant to us now.

So I would like to ask Mr. Gardner in response, if creation is how God intended this world to be then why did He create Adam and Eve, and not Adam and Steve? Why did God create His perfect world with females as the males’ companion? (Gen 2:18-24) If God had meant for Adam and Steve, then why would He not have made it this way? So why Adam and Eve, and not Adam and Steve?

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In the news…

JK Rowling earns £5 every second (£170 m a year)

We love hearing about the rich… fantasy? Idol? Hero? Respect?

And money talks… in the club, got the car, the house, the holiday… sorted!

Why do we never hear about the poor man?

God cares about the poor… and so should we!!

v.1 Don’t show favouritism… because you’re followers of Jesus

James’ example v.2-4 Give the rich man a seat

Discriminated among yourselves – the poor man is part of the body too!!

A special chair for the Bishop!!

Who do we make time for: the business man or the homeless…

…doctor or Mill view patient…

v.5 Don’t show favouritism… because God doesn’t

God’s economy… an upside down worldview!

v.6-7 Don’t show favouritism… because it makes no sense

Context – it’s the rich who are; exploiting you, taking you to court, slandering Jesus

Intellectuals??

v.8-11 Don’t show favouritism… because God commands us not to

It’s sin… if we do it, we’re law breakers!!

v.12-13 MERCY TRIUMPHS OVER JUDGEMENT!

THIS IS SERIOUS… Judgement without mercy… Unforgiving Servant

Show mercy, as you have received mercy!

Next section… Faith and Deeds – our mercy demonstrates the mercy we have received

Mercy is better than judgement!!!

Jesus – God’s mercy triumphs over his judgement

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Good Morning etc. Today we start a new sermon series in the book of James…

…so this morning, I want to spend half our time looking at the book of James as a whole – what’s it all about? Then the rest of our time in Ch1: 1-12

Martin Luther – “Book of Straw” – not enough gospel

My hope… we would see Jesus, his grace

So what do we know about the book of James?

READ: James 1: 1

It’s an early LETTER

Written by James… an apostle, church leader in Jerusalem, and the brother of Jesus

It’s written to Jewish Christians (12 Tribes)

…who have been persecuted (scattered among the nations)
…Acts 8:1 (after Stephen)

A very PRACTICAL book

…short, punchy, to the point …often little explanation
…just do it!

BUT… we don’t do things to merit God’s love… we do because of God’s love

James 2 – “show me your faith without deeds”… faith leads to action

Famous Verse… James 1:22
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”

As church goers… We are in danger… we hear the word… but we must do what it says!

Let’s make that our prayer throughout this series on James (and any other time)… that we would HEAR the word and DO what it says.

Let’s pray that our hearts may be gripped and changed by the word!

PRAY

READ: James 1: 1-12

Were you thinking what I was thinking??
Did he just say what I think he said?

v.2 Consider it pure joy… ??

Wow!

Context: Religious persecution (v1) + Poverty (v9)

Wider Context: “Trials of many kinds” (v2)

Bereavement, Unemployment, Sickness, Loneliness

“Whenever” – expect them to come

BIG QUESTION – How do we move from trials to joy?

Follow James’ Argument…

Trials = Testing of Faith (v3)
(not Judgement for the Christian)

Testing develops Perseverance

Perseverance must finish it’s work so you may be Mature + Complete

This is Joy… being mature + complete in Christ!

But there’s a problem!!

v.4 – mature, complete, not lacking anything
…that’s joy!
But…
v.5 – If any of you lacks wisdom he should ask God

We need God’s wisdom to persevere through trials!

v.5 God gives wisdom to those who ask in Faith

What is wisdom??

Wisdom = Seeing things God’s way

Seeing… the BIG picture
God’s plan
Hope in despair
God’s sovereign hand at work

Seeing the Big picture takes us to verse 12
CROWN OF LIFE… a picture of Joy!!

I don’t know your trials…
But let’s persevere!
…and lets ask for God’s help, his wisdom
…and lets focus on the prize, the joy of knowing Christ now, and reigning with him forever!

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