See Through the Conflict
Jerry Watts
James 4:1-5
• Ever since Genesis 3, mankind and churches have been in the throes of fights, wars, struggles, suffering, which are generically called, difficulties. It is a never-ending battle. I’ve read several humorous, yet sad, stories about churches.
• One New York church had a priest who, as a part of their liturgy, had the people shake the hand of the people sitting closest to them and sincerely say, ‘‘Peace be with you’’ (this is called ‘‘Passing the Peace’’). In response, the other person would respond with the same thing. The people in this ‘small’ congregation found this beyond their limits. They couldn’t bear to shake the hands of people against whom they had held lifelong grudges. SO they fired their priest and found a new one.
• Another church was having a business meeting and they erupted into such a brawl that the police had to be called in to stop the fight.
• Finally and poignantly, a young father heard his daughter and friends in a heated argument. When he went out, she said, ‘‘Don’t worry daddy, we’re playing church. Think, ‘the source?’’
• No matter what you call them, we face struggles or conflict almost every day. Every one of us is either in the middle of a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to enter a storm. So it is no surprise that we find this addressed in God’s word.
• But James has a leg up on this because he’s witnessed the conflict in the young church as they struggle with the class system, the racial problem, social issues, and more. As I read this text and get a sense of his tone, it’s like his frustration gets the best of him, so he starts speaking truth and taking names. TURN TO JAMES 4
• To remind you, last time we saw James address the issue of wisdom and lifted out 3 types of wisdom; demonstrated, deceptive, and divine. To read the end of chapter 3 is to gain a clear understanding that when we give our lives to Jesus we have a life changing and mind-altering expe ...
Jerry Watts
James 4:1-5
• Ever since Genesis 3, mankind and churches have been in the throes of fights, wars, struggles, suffering, which are generically called, difficulties. It is a never-ending battle. I’ve read several humorous, yet sad, stories about churches.
• One New York church had a priest who, as a part of their liturgy, had the people shake the hand of the people sitting closest to them and sincerely say, ‘‘Peace be with you’’ (this is called ‘‘Passing the Peace’’). In response, the other person would respond with the same thing. The people in this ‘small’ congregation found this beyond their limits. They couldn’t bear to shake the hands of people against whom they had held lifelong grudges. SO they fired their priest and found a new one.
• Another church was having a business meeting and they erupted into such a brawl that the police had to be called in to stop the fight.
• Finally and poignantly, a young father heard his daughter and friends in a heated argument. When he went out, she said, ‘‘Don’t worry daddy, we’re playing church. Think, ‘the source?’’
• No matter what you call them, we face struggles or conflict almost every day. Every one of us is either in the middle of a storm, coming out of a storm, or about to enter a storm. So it is no surprise that we find this addressed in God’s word.
• But James has a leg up on this because he’s witnessed the conflict in the young church as they struggle with the class system, the racial problem, social issues, and more. As I read this text and get a sense of his tone, it’s like his frustration gets the best of him, so he starts speaking truth and taking names. TURN TO JAMES 4
• To remind you, last time we saw James address the issue of wisdom and lifted out 3 types of wisdom; demonstrated, deceptive, and divine. To read the end of chapter 3 is to gain a clear understanding that when we give our lives to Jesus we have a life changing and mind-altering expe ...
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