We are about to start a new series on the book of James. Each week a new chapter. James, like the Sermon on the Mount, is daunting. It can feel impossible. Judgmental. But that is not the brother of Jesus’s intent. Instead James hopes to remind us of who we are!

There is a beautiful illustration of this in the first chapter (v 22-25) when James compares reading the scripture to looking into a mirror. So I set out to create an image to help us understand:

The ladies of Chandler immediately began texting each other… “uh… what is that guy doing?”… “is Sean’s next series on potty breaks?”… what made things even worse, I planed to conclude my message with this image:

Now Jesus is watching us potty… is he laughing?! 😉

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As the group texts were rolling, one of the ladies reached out to me. But at first I had no idea what she was talking about. So I took another look. With new vision I saw the problem.

Our need to see clearly is the exact point James is making. Amidst all his intensity is the core truth: we are made in God’s image. The message is not an impossible calling, but the purpose for which God created us. It is who we are!

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I hope you will join us on Sunday at 10:30 (in person or streaming live). Read the first chapter of James in preparation.

I did remake the image. Now it includes a woman scratching her head… in honor of all the ladies who wondered what is wrong with the pastor?!