Really puts it into perspective...

I just heard this brief snippet from a Francis Chan sermon and it sparked my soul's imagination. I love how Chan explains where our focus should be with this analogy.

I really had to think about where I am putting all of my time and my effort. Am I investing my life in a way that screams, "I am going to spend eternity with my savior!"? In all honesty, not even close. I'm not living my life like that's true and, maybe even worse, I'm not even thinking about this life in that way. This sermonet is very much worth the four minutes...

The context of James

I have come to believe that it is of the utmost usefulness to understand the context of a book of the Bible before you study it. Many references and points that the authors make can make so much more sense if you understand who the author is, who he is writing to and what they were going through.

It is widely agreed that the book of James was written by James the half-brother of Jesus. It is interesting to note that James did not even believe in the divinity of Christ until he saw that Christ had been resurrected from the dead. If you look at when James was martyred it becomes apparent that the book of James is most likely the first book of the New Testament to have been written. So it is also good to remember that this is the book that was written closest to the time and life of Christ. Because of this we see James using many concepts and ideas that Christ directly talked about during His ministry.

James was a powerful and influential figure in the early church; essentially leading the church of Jerusalem. So when he writes, he writes with authority. The book is not written as a letter, as many of the other New Testament books are, but as a sermon. There are commands and imperatives all throughout the book. 

It is written to Jewish believers that have been scattered abroad. It is also very important to remember that the early church was very heavily persecuted, so remember as you read that the people who this was written for were being beaten down for their faith.

Lots of Progress

It's been awhile since I've sat down and really considered the progress I've seen in my college group and in my personal/walk with God. This has been a very productive season of life for me. As I could write forever about all of the things that have been going on, I will simply choose a few to write about.....for now.

As for the college group, we have REALLY reset. Our church is still in search of a pastor to take over the group and we are down to about two college students coming every week. But God is good. He has placed two couples and a few others in our group who are willing to come every week and pour into the students that are there and who will come. That stability is something that we have been missing for quite some time and I know that it will greatly impact the group as it grows. God is good.

Separate from the college group I have started a bible study that meets weekly. What a blessing! The first week there were about 15 of us. And that number has remained each week. We are going through the book of James one chapter a week. This has been such a blessing to me in how God has used it grow and strengthen me in my personal walk. I have never read the Bible with such comprehension/retention until I was preparing to teach it. I think I will be trying to write about the study now and again and what God is showing me through my studying...

God is good!

Blessings