River City Church - Smyrna, GA
Religion & Spirituality:Christianity
Josh begins a 5-week study from the Book of James. James is writing to the diaspora that is struggling, in part, with living in community with Gentiles. James' call to be hearers of the word and doers of the word and to "strip away sordidness." James is calling them to listen -- to be slow to speak and slow to anger. James could be writing this letter to us today as well. We have a choice to pause; to be less reactive; to use our words to encourage and not tear down. James 1:17-27; Matthew 7:17; James 2:17.
Josh shared three quotes today:
1) Archie Smith Jr. -- "Words Create Worlds of Meaning. We use words to express ourselves; to convince and convict ourselves and others; to describe, name, blame, or label things; to win arguments; to sell an idea or object; to lecture; to expound a point, explain things into or out of existence, persuade, condole, console, counsel; to announce, denounce, deceive; to ask someone to marry; to declare war and make peace; to sentence someone, diagnose a condition, analyze a problem, deliberate or negotiate a deal. We cannot get along without words. Words can alarm, harm, uplift, inspire, degrade, or silence someone. They can reveal our inner thoughts. Where would we be without words?"
2) William Barclay -- "Cultivate virtues of a discerning welcoming spirit. Listening and being listened to opens doors for the righteousness of God in communities."
3) William Barclay -- "What you hear in the holy place must be lived out in the marketplace."
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