What Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?

• Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

with James 3:13-18

www.FirstChurchBville.com  FirstChurchBville@gmail.com  @FirstUMCBville  @kerrfunk

• Sometimes you read something again for the first time,
do you know what I mean?
The list of attributes in James 3:17
has been that way for me for several weeks.

“But the wisdom from above is first pure,
   then peaceable and gentle, and willing to yield,
   full of mercy and good fruits,
   and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy.”

And I’m not sure I’ll ever “get there” as a disciple – I’ll never get so good as a disciple that I can stop growing,
and where I am now, that’s okay.

• When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
When did you know? Did you become that?

PK’s story.  My teaching morphed from classroom and subject  to church and theology and life. Wanting to share with others what I love.

• “Who is wise? Show by your life that your works are done
with gentleness born of wisdom.” (James 3:13)

This passage reminds me of a phrase from the book Alcoholics Anonymous:
If you want what we have and are willing to go to any length to get it, then you’re ready to take certain steps.

What do we want in life?

Wholeness. Belonging. Security.
Wisdom. We want it to go well for our children.

We are willing to order our lives (show by your life) to bring these things about.

We order our lives by Gentleness/humility born of wisdom.

• Wisdom from above is pure, peaceable and gentle…

These have to do with our relationship to others. 

Three points:

1   We are in relationship with others.

2.1     Consideration for others is the highest virtue

2.2     Imposition of self is the lowest.

3.       The fruit/harvest of considering others is peace.

• Well for our kids, but how about for us now?

 Opportunity. Meaning. Connection. Service. Through congregation

• Hymn  600 Wonderful Words of Life

James 3:13-18 (NRSV)

¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you?

   Show by your good life that your works are done
      with gentleness born of wisdom. 

¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and selfish ambition in your
   hearts, do not be boastful and false to the truth. 

¹⁵ Such wisdom does not come down from above,
   but is earthly, unspiritual, devilish. 

¹⁶ For where there is envy and selfish ambition, there
   will also be disorder and wickedness of every kind. 

¹⁷ But the wisdom from above is first pure,
   then peaceable and gentle, and willing to yield,
   full of mercy and good fruits,
   and without a trace of partiality or hypocrisy. 

¹⁸ And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace
   for those who make peace.ò

Colossians 2:2-3, 6-7 (NRSV)

² I want [all] hearts to be encouraged and united in love,
so that [all people] may have all the riches of assured understanding and have the knowledge of God’s mystery, that is, Christ himself, ³ in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. …

⁶ As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, ⁷ rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.