Sermons by Rev. Joel Lynn

               As we continue in our sermon series on the book of James, our passage today from James 3:1-12 is all about the power of the tongue and the need to control our words and speech. But it begins with what is at first a seemingly unrelated warning. James warns us that “Not many should desire to become teachers. For teachers will be judged more strictly.” And I think this is true both in terms of how teachers will be judged by others and how teachers will be judged by God. When one seeks to become a pastor or spiritual leader, they are immediately put into a fishbowl type situation where others are looking at them far more closely. With the average church member, people don’t have very high expectations of how they should be or act, but with teachers, the expectations are often enormous. The slightest slip up and they will be judged harshly.              I think James is t...

                      When we come across our passage today from James 2:14-26, we are almost walking into the middle of a conversation. And the issue with walking into the middle of a conversation is that you are missing everything that was said before you walked in that might give you some important context for what everyone is talking about. So, let me try and slowly build up the backstory of what James is responding to here. James begins by asking, “What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but do not have works?” And he’s asking this, presumably, because some people are saying that there is much profit from having faith, even without works. And here’s why they are probably thinking that: because a key part of the gospel message of salvation is this: you are not saved by good works. The law of God does perhaps make one worthy of heaven if one keeps it entirely. But the problem of course is t...

          Our passage from James 2:1-9 today features James scolding various churches because they have been engaging in favoritism, they have been giving preferential treatment to the wealthy people in their churches, giving them the prime places to sit, and extra attention and care. I wonder, do we still have the same issue today? After all, in some ways we have made great strides toward class equality. For example, America has always had a very different culture than say England. When America was starting, England was still defined in many ways by this elaborate class system where one was entitled to much better treatment if they were a king or queen, a prince or an earl, a noble or a knight. Nor is America a place like how India used to be when it was divided into a strict, hierarchical caste system from the Brahmins down to the untouchables. In America, class distinctions seem much more leveled, though not nonexistent. In democracy, everyone’s vote cou...

             Our scripture reading for today from James 1:27 talks about the meaning of religion. But before we discuss how James utilizes this term, I think we should first look at how the term is utilized in our culture today. So, what do you think about when you hear the term religion? Unfortunately, from my perspective, it seems that that term often has quite the negative connotation nowadays, among both Christians and non-Christians. Among non-Christians, there is a large segment of people who do not identify with any world religion who nevertheless do not identify as atheists. This group often calls themselves “spiritual but not religious”. So there is a sense in which people are far more willing to call themselves spiritual than religious. But even within Christianity, you’ll often hear people denigrate religion. One person really capitalized on this sentiment. Jefferson Bethke garnered 35 million views from a YouTube video published i...

            In Luke 9:57-62 we see Jesus breaking every rule of the church growth movement. Jesus has three potential people who are ready to follow him, and yet after a brief conversation with each it seems like Jesus has quickly lost all 3 potential disciples. I can imagine that many church leaders would have some harsh words for Jesus in this situation if Jesus were their pastor. They’d say something like, “Jesus, we need to be streamlining points of entry into our church. We need to be making it as easy for people to come as possible. When they express any interest in coming, we need to stress all the benefits of doing so: making friends, finding purpose, good music, captivating sermons, and so forth. What are you doing immediately focusing on things they’d have to sacrifice if they were to become a Christian? That’s not going to win as many converts. Jesus, at least wait a year before you start bringing that stuff up. And even then, make the level...

                      As we continue in our series on the book of James, we come today to verse 19 where it says be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. To some, being a good listener might sound like a simple skill that we all should have mastered sometime in elementary school. But most adults know that being a good listener is often more difficult than it seems. Take for example, when you’re meeting someone for the first time. How often does someone say their name to you and 30 seconds later you’ve already forgotten it? Or, how often when you’re in a conversation with someone have you found that you are no longer really listening, you’re just formulating in your head what you want to say next? To be a good listener you have to be intentional about it. It is not merely not interrupting or not multitasking, it’s not merely being still with your ears open, good listening is active. It requires you showing with...