Text: James 1:18

Introduction

• Illustration: City boys buy a watermelon believing it is a mule egg and encounter a jackrabbit who moves faster than they want to plow.
• Most of us don't want to live the Christian life as fast as Jesus wants us to live it.
• James declares what real discipleship has to be if we're going to follow Jesus.

Real disciples encounter trials and consider it joy.

• James 1:2
• We will fall into these trials regardless of how good we are.
• Illustration: No one intends to slip on the ice and break their leg.

• Illustration: Pastor who throws parties.
• Our main problem is not our problems, but our response to our problems.

Real disciples have an endurance produced by trials.

• What James calls "patience" is the ability to endure to the point of victory.
• Illustration: Some Christians make a "white knuckle" journey through life.
• Illustration: Huckabee tells how he learned to ride a bicycle.
• Through the trying of our faith we become a completed person.

Real disciples ask for insight into the trial.

• James 1:5
• Problems are caused by a lack of wisdom, not a lack of information.

Real disciples ask in faith.

• James 1:6
• We haven't acted in faith until God is our only option and we do what he says.
• Illustration: Boy wants splinter removed, but struggles against letting anyone touch it.
• We often fight against what God is doing in our lives.

Conclusion:

• We want to be Christians, but not enough to try our faith.
• Don't allow failure to keep you from practicing patience.