Antidotes to Antagonism (James 4:4-10)   Central Idea: Personal antagonism requires powerful antidotes.   Purpose: To challenge Christians to repent of sin that leads to strife. Reject divided loyalties (4:4–6). Surrender to God’s authority (4:7–8). Grieve over sin (4:9). Behave with humility (v.10).   Personal antagonism is a poison that can destroy a church. […] The post James 4:4-10 – Antidotes to Antagonism appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Great Church Fights! (James 4:1–3)   Central Idea: The pursuit of pleasure is a source of strife.   Purpose: To challenge believers to pursue peace with each other. The pursuit of pleasure produces selfishness (3:2). The pursuit of pleasure produces frustration (4:2). The pursuit of pleasure produces hostility (4:2). The pursuit of pleasure produces […] The post James 4:1-3 – Great Church Fights! appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Wise or Wimpy? (James 3:13–18)   Central Idea: People’s actions test wisdom’s way. Purpose: To challenge believers to be peacemakers. Worldly wisdom produces pugnacious actions (3:14–16). Heavenly wisdom produces peaceful actions (3:17–18). James writes in James 3:13, Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show by his good behavior, his deeds in […] The post James 3:13-18 – Wise or Wimpy? appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Tongue Testing (James 3:1-12) Central Idea: To be tongue tested is to be tongue-tied. Purpose: To challenge people to control their tongues. The preeminence of the tongue (3:1-2). The power of the tongue (3:3-5a). The perversity of the tongue (3:5b-6). The production of the tongue (3:7-12). Friends, when we are tongue tested, will we […] The post James 3:1-12 – Tongue Testing appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Dead Traditionalism (James 2:14-26) Central Idea: A living faith is a working faith. Purpose: To challenge Christians to be what they claim to be. The need for a working faith (2:14-17). The argument for a working faith (2:18-20). The illustrations of a working faith (2:21-26). Traditionalism is the dead faith of those now living. Are […] The post James 2:14-26 – Dead Traditionalism appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Personal Discrimination (James 2:8-13)   Central Idea: Personal discrimination denies biblical doctrine.   Purpose: To challenge believers to practice social justice. Personal discrimination denies the doctrine of love (James 2:8). Personal discrimination denies the doctrine of sin (James 2:9-11). Personal discrimination denies the doctrine of mercy (James 2:12-13). Sadly, racial, ethnic, and economic discrimination […] The post James 2:8-13 – Personal Discrimination appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

The Sin of Snobbery (James 2:1-7)   Central Idea: Personal discrimination is the sin of snobbery.   Purpose: To challenge Christians to value all impartially. Discrimination is the sin of snobbery because discrimination creates divisions (James 2:2-4). Discrimination is the sin of snobbery because discrimination demonstrates inconsistency (James 2:5-7). In this episode, James gives […] The post James 2:1-7 – The Sin of Snobbery appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Livers or Lookers? (James 1:22-27)   Central Idea: Be livers not lookers.   Purpose: To challenge Christians to live out their faith 24/7. Be livers of the word, not just lookers (James 1:22-25). Be livers of the work, not just lookers (James 1:26-27).   Are you a liver or a looker? The Christian faith […] The post James 1:22-27 – Livers or Lookers? appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Welcoming the Word (James 1:19-21)   Central Idea: Our reaction to the Word is determined by our reception of the Word.   Purpose: To encourage believers to hunger for God’s Word. Our reaction to the Word (1:19-20). Our reception of the Word (1:21).   Will you let God change you by the power of […] The post James 1:19-21 – Welcoming the Word appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

The Blame Game (James 1:12-18)   Central Idea: Moral integrity demands personal responsibility.   Purpose: To challenge believers to live with integrity. Moral integrity demands personal responsibility for happiness (James 1:12). Moral integrity demands personal responsibility for sin (James 1:13-15). Moral integrity demands personal responsibility for deception (James 1:16-18). Are you playing the blame […] The post James – The Blame Game (James 1:12-18) appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Valuing Your Valuables (James 1:9-11)   Central Idea: Mastering materialism requires valuing spiritual valuables.   Purpose: To challenge Christians to value what God values. The poor Christian masters materialism by valuing their high status in Christ (1:9). The rich Christian masters materialism by valuing their low status in Christ (1:10-11). Want to know how […] The post James – Valuing Your Valuables (James 1:9-11) appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Second Guessing God! (James 1:5–8)   Central Idea: Wisdom produces stability.   Purpose: To teach Christians how to make good choices.   Our resource for wisdom is God (James 1:5). Our reception of wisdom involves conditions (James 1:6–8).   If there is one question, I have been asked more than any other question over […] The post James – Second Guessing God! (James 1:5-8) appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

A Matter of Perspective (James 1:1–4)   Central Idea: Tough trials demand a proper perspective.   Purpose: To challenge believers to look at their trials with joy.   Our process of growth requires trials (James 1:2–3) Our perseverance through trials builds character (James 1:4) Our prospect after trials produces maturity (James 1:4)   Have […] The post James – A Matter of Perspective (James 1:1-4) appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

David Christensen introduces a weekly bible study of the book of James starting Friday, February 2nd. The post James – Introduction appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

Welcome to Honey from the Rock, a podcast devoted to bible exposition with David Christensen. David’s father, Jack Christensen, preached for over 50 years. He often began his sermons with a little expression, “And now a little honey from the rock,” taken from Psalm 81:16. His father’s legacy now lives on in him. Today, […] The post Honey from the Rock Podcast Trailer 2024 appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

WHEN THE SILVER CORD BREAKS (Ecclesiastes 12:1-14)   Central Idea: Live for the Lord while you have time.   Purpose: To challenge people not to waste their lives living for themselves. Live responsibly before you grow old (12:1-8). Live biblically according to God’s wisdom (12:9-12). Live for the Lord while you have time (12:13-14). The post When The Silver Cord Breaks Ecclesiastes 12:1-14 appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

LIVING IN THE LIGHT OF UNCERTAINTY (Ecclesiastes 11:1-10)   Central Idea: How can we live well when we face so much uncertainty?   Purpose: To encourage people to focus on the future by faith. Diversify your investments because the future is uncertain (11:1-2). Avoid the paralysis of excessive analysis (11:3-4). Work hard even though […] The post Living In The Light Of Uncertainty Ecclesiastes 11:1-10 appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

COMMON SENSE LIVING (Ecclesiastes 10:2-20)   Central Idea: Living well depends on common sense.   Purpose: To encourage people to live wisely. BE SMART: THE PEOPLE IN POWER ARE NOT ALWAYS RIGHT (10:2-7). BE PREPARED: DO THE WORK WHEN IT NEEDS TO BE DONE (10:8-11). BE CAREFUL: BIG MOUTHS WON’T LEAD US HOME (10:12-15). […] The post Common Sense Living Ecclesiastes 10:2-20 appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

DEAD FLIES IN THE PERFUME (Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:1)   Central Idea: Trust God’s will because man’s plans can be nullified.   Purpose: To challenge people to trust the Lord. Human abilities can be nullified by sudden misfortune (9:11-12). Human wisdom can be nullified by simple ingratitude (9:13-16). Human achievement can be nullified by stupid foolishness […] The post Dead Flies In The Perfume Ecclesiastes 9:11-10:1 appeared first on The Rephidim Project.

A LIVE DOG AND A DEAD LION (Ecclesiastes 9:1-10)   Central Idea: Do everything you can with all that you have for as long as you live.   Purpose: To encourage people to live each day for the Lord. Trust the sovereignty of God in the uncertainty of life (9:1-3). Live with hope despite […] The post A Live Dog And A Dead Lion Ecclesiastes 9:1-10 appeared first on The Rephidim Project.