What comes to your mind when you hear the word ORGANIC?

• Crops or animals that are raised without the use of drugs, hormones, or synthetic chemicals

• Resembling a living organism …

Organic Church?Frustration with the-church-as-we-know it…

people (vs. programs)mission (vs. institutional maintenance)vision to transform the world

Organic Christian?A follower of Jesus growing toward maturity without shortcuts or gimmicks

PRACTICAL

Integrating Truth & Behavior

James 1:1-41. James,

a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations:

Greetings.

Introduction

Author

Recipients

Introduction

Their present lot is to feel the weight of life’s pressures, the lure of this world’s temptations and an insidious, ever-present encouragement to conform to the standards of their pagan environment. They are the Lord’s people indeed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb himself—but not yet home. Motyer, J. A. (1985). The message of James :

The tests of faith

the twelve tribes scattered…

James 1:1-42 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and

complete, not lacking anything. Goal

Reason

Command

Process

Goal

4 …so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me.

Colossians 1:28,29

Romans 5:1-5My Status or Position

in Christ&

My ActualTransformation

GoalMatureCompleteNot lacking anythingUB

James 1:1-42 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and

complete, not lacking anything.

Process

Goal

Process

MatureCompleteNot lacking anythingUB

T erseverance aturityesting P M=

Respond to suffering with joy because enduring difficulties

is the path to maturity.

Big Idea:

Joseph

Job

?

Action:

• Master a profile of maturity and keep it in front of you all the time.

• Identify a difficult situation in your life. Thank God for allowing that trial. Ask God what you can learnthrough it.

• Practice this pattern again… and again.