Sermon Notes Click here for PDF When Rain Stopped Falling James 5:15b-20 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: It’s easy for those who have a high view of God’s sovereignty—those who confess that God is in control over all things and is continually working out His eternal plan—to minimize the actual effectiveness of prayer. Statements like this… Continue Reading
How to (Slowly) Get Patience James 5:7-12 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: By contrasting false religion with true religion, false faith with saving faith, James answers the question: how does the gospel change us? While James knows that perfection in this life is unattainable, he asserts that those who belong to Jesus will, over time, begin… Continue Reading
Evidences of Christian Humility James 4:11-17 Pastor Brent Whitefield Introduction: Having commanded us to humble ourselves before the Lord, James goes on to offer a couple of examples of humility in action, displayed in how we speak to one another and how we demonstrate daily dependence on the provision and plans of God. He returns… Continue Reading
February 15 Sermon Notes Humility in Practice James 4:7-10 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: Bracketed off by calls to humility (verse 6 and verse 10), the section we’re in this morning issues two commands accompanied by one powerful promise: God draws near to the humble. To the broken, contrite and soft-hearted, God pours out His grace.… Continue Reading
2.8.2015 Sermon Notes Fight Club James 4:1-6 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: Nothing tests our understanding of, and commitment to the gospel more than living with broken and sinful people (like us) on a broken and sin-cursed world (like ours). It’s fair to say that it’s in our relationships, perhaps, more than any other area, that… Continue Reading
Click here for PDF. Sermon Notes Two Kinds of Wisdom James 3:13-18 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: Behind every decision we make there is a driving force or guiding principle, moving us to act the way that we act. There are two of these controlling influences, James says, and they’re starkly different. Complete opposites, really. And… Continue Reading
Click here for PDF Faith That Works James 2:20-26 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: People love stories. This is why teachers use illustrations in the classroom, preachers use personal examples in sermons, and parents pause active children by alerting them to an arresting anecdote. There is no better way to drive home a point than with… Continue Reading
Click here for PDF Sermon Notes The Evidence of Saving Faith James 2:14-19 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: Did James, the brother of Jesus, and Paul, the self-professed “apostle to the Gentiles” contradict one another in their writings? Did these two devoted followers of Christ disagree on the very basics of salvation? Paul repeatedly and passionately… Continue Reading
Click here for PDF Sermon Notes New Year, Renewed Focus Select passages Pastor John Sloan Introduction: Introduction: There’s something about the beginning of the New Year that brings with it a sense of hope. Perhaps this is the year when some of those perpetually frustrating habits can finally be broken. And new (healthier) ones established.… Continue Reading
Click here for PDF 8.17.2014 Sermon Notes No Place for a Dead Body Genesis 23 Pastor John Sloan Introduction: More than one hundred years of marriage together. Six decades of wandering around Canaan with each other, never securing a permanent home. Abraham has experienced more with Sarah, his wife, than he ever thought possible. Good… Continue Reading