Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev19990418.htm

JAMES: OVERCOMING DEAD RELIGIOSITY IN OUR BACKGROUNDS
Part II: Overcoming A False Spirituality's HEARTLESS Errors In Relating To Other Believers
D. Overcoming A Spiritually Insensitive Teaching Manner To Edify The Hearers
(James 3:1-2, 13-18)
  1. Introduction
    1. Several recently authored Christian books reveal real hurts in today's churches that arise from oppressive, guilt-ladened preaching and confused, oppressive views of God leveled from the pulpits of today.
    2. Scripture looks at such error squarely in James 3:1-2, 13-18 and supplies the solution as follows:
  2. Overcoming A Spiritually Insensitive Teaching Manner To Edify The Hearers, James 3:1-2, 13-18:
    1. James warned Christians not to scramble for a teaching position in the Church, James 3:1a.
    2. The reasons for this admonition are that teaching abuse is widespread and God will judge it harshly:
      1. God holds teachers highly accountable as their influence on His people is great, James 3:1b.
      2. Also, as many teachers stumble to hurt and upset people, God has to discipline the teachers, 3: 1b, 2a.
      3. Thus, there is an overabundance of teaching abuse in the Church universal that God will discipline!
    3. However, if a teacher is able to bridle his speech so as to edify and not damage God's people, he can accept the teaching-oversight position as a mature believer, James 3:2b!
    4. In order to tell if one is correctly bridling his speech or not, James 3:13-18 offers a contrast in teaching styles that characterize abusive teachers and also edifying teachers as follows:
      1. James lists the following characteristics of abusive, ungodly teaching:
        1. Abusive teaching is boastful, James 3:5a.
        2. Abusive teaching curses men (3:9b) while hypocritically blessing God (3:9a, 10).
        3. Abusive teaching harbors envy, James 3:14a.
        4. Abusive teaching fosters a personal agenda, James 3:14b.
        5. Abusive teaching is sensual and operates according to a worldly value system, James 3:15b.
        6. Abusive teaching is typically cooperative with demonic activity or pressures, James 3:15c.
        7. Abusive teaching produces disturbances and non-productive results in the discipling process, 3:16.
      2. In positive contrast, James lists the following characteristic of sensitive, godly, productive teaching:
        1. Edifying teaching is backed up by a truly godly lifestyle, James 3:13a,b.
        2. Edifying teaching exhibits meekness that arises from true wisdom, James 3:13c.
        3. Edifying teaching comes from morally pure teachers, James 3:17a.
        4. Edifying teaching is peaceable in its effect, James 3:17b.
        5. Edifying teaching is gentle in its demeanor, James 3:17c.
        6. Edifying teaching is compliant with the needs and desires of others as a way of action, James 3:17d.
        7. Edifying teaching is merciful with the repentant, James 3:17e.
        8. Edifying teaching is impartial in encouraging or rebuking, James 3:17f.
        9. Edifying teaching comes from sincere teachers, James 3:17g.
        10. Edifying teaching is given in a peaceable manner that allows hearers to be at peace and to grow in God's truth as it is taught, James 3:18.
Lesson: (1) Because of the prevalence of abusive teaching in the Church, and of God's intolerance of it and of His tendency to judge it stoutly, we should NOT all crowd to be teachers in the Church. (2) However, if we are able to bridle our speech and demeanors so as to EDIFY God's people, we can accept teaching leadership. (3) We can certify we are qualified to teach by passing the following evaluation: (a) if we have replaced boasting with meekness that comes from true wisdom, (b) if we have e xchanged cursing men to become gentle; (c) if we have exchanged envy for impartiality; (d) if we have given up personal agendas to be compliant; (e) if we have switched from sensual value systems to being merciful; (f) if we have exchanged censorious, de monically abusive behavior for peacefulness; (g) if we have exchanged causing disturbances for producing peace and (h) exchanged hypocricy for sincerity. If all of these qualities are in us, we qualify as non-abusive teachers.