Citizens Church Sermons

The Devotional Life

Everyone is devoted to something. Engineers to a solution. Parents to well-rounded kids. Students to their classes. Even the lazy person is devoted…to comfort. But what should we be devoted to most? James insists our chief devotion should be to God. Reflecting on James’ words, philosopher Soren Kierkegaard said we should cultivate the purity of heart to will one thing. What’s your one thing? Your summum bonum, chief good? Let’s consider a disordered life, a holy life, a devotional God. Scripture: James 4:5-10

Who Is Wise?

Wisdom is not mostly about what you know but about having a life-giving character to those around you. James describes the life of the proud and the life of the meek and we are invited through the grace of Jesus to become wise like Him.

The Power of Words

What comes out of our mouths is often indicative of what’s already in our hearts. James teaches that no human being can tame the tongue. But when our hearts and words are in the hands of someone good, they can be used for good. Scriptures: James 3:7-10

Death is Defeated

The moment Jesus Christ walks out of the tomb, hell weeps and heaven rejoices. In that moment, our risen Savior tramples death, and gives us a picture of what is to come. Christ has died, Christ is Risen, and Christ will come again. Scripture: 1 Corinthians 15:51–57

Lifeless Faith

James warns us that a faith marked by words without actions, knowledge without love, and belief without cost is no faith at all. This passage is a loving warning that leads us to consider the quality of our faith, and seek grace. Scripture: James 2:14-26