College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
James 1:2-15
Sermon Outlines
IS TEMPTATION A JOY? James 1:2-4
Proposition: When should a Christian not have joy in temptation, and how could a Christian find joy in temptation?
I.
Temptation is no joy.
A.
The Christian hates sin, and does not want to sin.
B.
The Christian is instructed by God to flee temptation.
C.
God promises the Christian he shall not be tempted beyond that which he is able to bear.
II.
Christians are tempted.
A.
They live in the flesh, and the flesh still has appetites.
B.
The Christian still has his free will. His choice of God means there is the possibility of another choice.
C.
The devil does not give up. He is rather more zealous in his efforts to lead a Christian to sin.
D.
Most of the New Testament is written to Christians to encourage them to faithfulness, thus making it evident that a Christian can wander away from God.
III.
We can count temptation as if it were joy.
A.
Not because of the desire to sin. There is no joy in even the appearance of evil.
B.
Not because of the possibility of doing sin. This horrifies us. We long for the day when we will be beyond temptation.
C.
Because of the result in us if we are faithful in the temptation:
1.
We grow in strength to resist.
2.
We grow in understanding others who are tempted.
3.
We prove our faith in Christ.
4.
Temptation resisted completes our Christ life, and the result is that we have no spiritual shortcoming.
THE ROAD TO TRUE Wis. 1:5-7
Proposition: What is the source of true wisdom, and how do we get it?
Introduction: True Wisdom Defined: More than knowledge. the ability to know what to do with knowledge.
I.
The source of True Wisdom: God.
A.
He is all-powerful; He knows everything; He is everywhere.
B.
He wants to help; He giveth.
C.
His nature is to give liberally, abundantly.
D.
He upbraideth not when He gives.
1.
He does not hold it against the one who receives.
2.
He is not continually rubbing it in, nor gloating over us.
3.
He has no subtle and hidden selfish reasons for giving.
II.
The means of obtaining True Wisdom: Seeking.
A.
Seek Wisdom at its source: God.
B.
Hear God's wisdom that is given: His Word.
C.
Seek in faith, knowing God has the wisdom and His Word is true.
D.
Use the wisdom when received, else it will be useless.
III.
Warning against Double-mindedness.
A.
To waver in your confidence in God's ability, is to waver between two masters.
B.
The undecided goes nowhere, like a wave of the sea.
C.
To have a double mind is to be unstable in everything else.
THE SUFFERING STATE OF THE CHRISTIAN James 1:2-12
Proposition: To show how and why a Christian faces temptation.
Introduction: Troubles and affliction may be the lot of the best Christians. Closeness to the Lord does not immune from suffering, but rather we may expect that it may be our lot to suffer with Him.
I.
Outward afflictions and sufferings may be a temptation to the Christian.
A.
By the devil's drawing men to commit sin.
B.
By the desire to refrain from doing the duties and services to God.
II.
Temptations are numerous and varied.
A.
Divers temptations, includes all kinds and varieties.
B.
They are hard to detect, for they come from within.
C.
Our love for friends and relatives is a subtle and insidious source.
III.
Duties of Christians under trial:
A.
Resistance to be exercised in joy. count it as if it were all joy. (Because God allows it for our future benefit.)
B.
Faith is to be exercised.
James 1:3 The trial of your faith.
James 1:6 Let him ask in faith.
C.
There must be a steadfastness.
Faith worketh patience.
Tribulation worketh patience, Romans 5:3
D.
Prayer requests for needs during trial are in order.
1.
Especially for wisdom.
2.
We are encouraged to pray (James 1:5)
3.
We have the definite promise of God concerning wisdom requests. (James 1:5)
IV.
Temptations Resisted bring Rewards.
A.
Our Christian spirit is tried and made firm.
B.
Our spirit of resistance is made stronger.
C.
Our dependence upon God is strengthened.
D.
By resistance we prove our love for God, and become recipients of the promised crown.
E.
Resisting temptation serves the interest of God's kingdom and edifies His body.
FOURTEEN SERMON TITLES WITH THREE-POINT OUTLINES
THE JOY OF KNOWING James 1:2-3
A.
Christians are tempted.
B.
Temptations are directed toward the Christian's faith.
C.
Patience is the intended result.
THE PERFECT WORK OF PATIENCE James 1:4
That you may be: A. Perfect, B. Entire, C. Lacking in nothing.
SEEKING WISDOM James 1:5
A.
We need it
B.
The only source is of God.
C.
We must seek it to get it.
WISDOM IS FROM GOD James 1:5
A.
He gives liberally.
B.
He does not hold it against those who receive from Him.
C.
He promises results.
HOW TO ASK OF GOD James 1:6
A.
Ask for that which we have a right to receive.
B.
Ask in faith.
C.
Waver not, neither in confidence nor in life.
FAITHLESS FAITH James 1:6-8
A.
A doubting man is like the wave of the sea. James 1:6
B.
A doubting man gets nowhere and receives no results. James 1:7
C.
A doubting man is also unstable in other ways. James 1:8
WAVERING WAVES James 1:6
A.
They have no will of their own, and are at the mercies of others.
B.
They are driven by the pressure of winds outside themselves.
C.
They are tossed to and fro.
WHEN YOU-'RE DOWN AND OUT James 1:9
A.
You will see your need of Christ and seek help of God.
B.
In Christ you have many brothers.
C.
You have great cause of rejoicing through spiritual exaltation.
RAGS OF RICHES James 1:10-11
A.
The rich can go only in one direction: down.
B.
The illusionary beauty of riches is temporary.
C.
The attainments of the rich shall pass away.
WILTING WONDERS OF THIS WORLD James 1:11
A.
Circumstances of this life scorch and burn them.
B.
Their results fail and fall.
C.
Their beauty is temporary.
WHY ENDURE James 1:12
A.
We are blessed when we do.
B.
We have the approval of God when we do.
C.
We shall receive the crown of life if we do.
DON-'T BLAME GOD James 1:13
A.
God, who has no lust, cannot be tempted with evil.
B.
God tempts no man to do evil.
C.
To blame God is to attempt to avoid the responsibility for our temptation.
TEMPTATION'S SOURCE James 1:14
A.
Temptation comes when we are drawn away from God.
B.
Temptation comes from the lust within man himself.
C.
Temptation is an enticement that snares and entraps.
THREE GENERATIONS James 1:14-15
A.
Lust plus enticement begets temptation.
B.
Temptation plus giving in begets sin.
C.
Sin plus its continuance begets death.