Flourish In Faith: A Study for Personal Christian Growth In the Epistle of James

By Jimmy Chrisman and J. David Chrisman

Before we were called “Christians,” the New Testament indicates that we were known as “Followers of the Way.” But as early believers grew in maturity in their faith, they became more Christlike and eventually came to be known as Christians. Does the living of your faith draw you closer to him and point others to Christ? If so, could it do so in a more powerful fashion? Flourish in Faith looks to the epistle of James to teach us how to “grow up” and mature in our faith, and authors Jimmy Chrisman and J. David Chrisman will guide you through those teachings. This study and collection of compelling, inspiring sermons gives you practical know-how regarding how to mature in your daily walk with Jesus Christ, and J. David Chrisman has diligently transcribed his father’s study and his sermons, which were painstakingly prepared, handwritten, and delivered with great care for his congregation. We are all moving toward eternity, and our lives should be a reflection of Christ as we remain on the way to him.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Lulu Publishing Services
• Release date: Apr 9, 2019
• ISBN: 9781483499246

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Copyright © 2019 Jimmy Chrisman andJ. David Chrisman .

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored, or transmitted by any means—whether auditory, graphic, mechanical, or electronic—without written permission of the author, except in the case of brief excerpts used in critical articles and reviews. Unauthorized reproduction of any part of this work is illegal and is punishable by law.

This book is a work of non-fiction. Unless otherwise noted, the author and the publisher make no explicit guarantees as to the accuracy of the information contained in this book and in some cases, names of people and places have been altered to protect their privacy.

Unless noted otherwise, all Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

ISBN: 978-1-4834-9923-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4834-9924-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2019903083

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Lulu Publishing Services rev. date:   03/19/2019

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

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Rev. James E. Jimmy Chrisman, 74, of Berea, died on April 23, 2018 at the Compassionate Care Center in Richmond, KY. He was a devout Christian who loved the Lord Jesus Christ and served Him as a Baptist Minister for 56 years.

He was a graduate of Clear Creek Bible College in Pineville, KY – obtaining a Bachelor of Theology degree and having the distinction of being awarded the President’s Award twice (1966 and 1982). He was also a graduate of The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY – obtaining a Master of Divinity in 1986.

He served as Pastor of: Knob Lick Baptist Church in Waco, KY; Stoney Fork Baptist Church in Stoney Fork, KY; Livingston Baptist Church in Livingston, KY; Providence Baptist Church in Irvine, KY; and Liberty Avenue Baptist Church in Berea, KY. He served terms as Moderator of both the Tates Creek and Boones Creek Baptist Associations and served as Hospital Chaplain for Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, KY.

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Rev. Dr. J. David Chrisman is Associate Pastor of Worship & Education at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Louisville, KY. He has been in Gospel ministry for more than 30 years – having served in Worship, Educational, and Associate Pastoral roles at: Silver Creek Baptist Church in Berea, KY; Waco Baptist Church in Waco, KY; Shively Heights Baptist Church in Louisville, KY; and Bethlehem Baptist Church in Louisville, KY.

He is a graduate of Eastern Kentucky University (BS) in Richmond, KY; the University of Phoenix (MBA); and Capella University (PMCEd, PhD). And has served in both Adjunct and Professor roles at Boyce College (The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary), Louisville, KY and Capella University, Minneapolis, MN.

INTRODUCTION

My father was a meticulous keeper of records and research. In his 56 years of pastoral ministry, he taught countless Bible studies and preached countless sermons… and kept every single one of them. After his Home-going, I was tasked with sorting through his personal library in his home in Berea, KY. And over the course of many weeks of sorting through filing cabinets, drawers, bookcases, and storage tubs, I emerged with van-loads of books, notes, and Bible studies. He had handwritten notes on numerous subjects – some of them were even studies through entire books or epistles of the Bible. And all of his sermons were meticulously typed (on a manual ribbon typewriter) – and were all carefully filed and preserved (with handwritten dates detailing when and where he preached them).

In the early 1980s, when he was pastor of Liberty Avenue Baptist Church in Berea, KY, my father taught his church through a study of the epistle of James. His entire study was hand-written in a Mead hardback Composition Book of 123 pages. I recall this study (even though I was a teenager at the time). It blessed me then and it has blessed me now. And it is this study I wish to share with you. Painstakingly prepared by my father, handwritten, and delivered with great care for his congregation and prayer for the efficacy of its delivery, I have included his study here in its entirety. Also included are his sermons – all either handwritten or typed – from the epistle of James. I have retained his unique outlines and language of these sermons throughout that you might get a taste of his style.

I encourage you to approach this study with your Bible in-hand. I have tried to retain much of my father’s conversational style of teaching and so you will be encouraged to turn to various passages throughout the study and read along. It is my prayer that that this study blesses you as it has me – so that you might flourish in your faith.

Though starting with a sermon from (James 4) might seem out of place in a study through the epistle of James, considering its content and the foundational aspect of its message, I felt it both appropriate and necessary. May this sermon bless your heart as it did so many others when my father preached it…

BEYOND THE SUNSET (SERMON, CA. 1976)

(JAMES 4:11-17)

(SERMON CA. 1976 BY JIMMY CHRISMAN)

Introduction

Did you know that 100 years from now probably none of us will be living? Every one of us is moving toward eternity. I hope that you will pay close attention to what I am going to share in the next few minutes. I want us to look at seven truths about eternity – important truths that may change the way you think about this important subject.

There is a famous song that was written many years ago entitled, Beyond the Sunset. It has a wonderful message in it – a message that reminds us that eternity awaits each and every one of us:

Chorus: Beyond the sunset, oh blissful morning

When with our savior, heaven is begun

Earth's toiling ended, oh glory dawning

Beyond the sunset when day is done

(Songwriters: Blanche Kerr Brock / Virgil P. Brock

Beyond the Sunset lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.)

Now let’s read our focal passage – (James 4:11-17) – and examine the truths about our coming lives beyond the sunset.

I. There is an Eternity

A. One thing that you need to know is that death does not end it all. All of you know that death is coming and we need to be getting ready to meet it. We may live through the tender teens, teachable twenties, tireless thirties, fiery forties, forceful fifties, serious sixties, and even the sacred seventies; but then comes shortening breath, death, sod… God. We know that there is an eternity (Matthew 25:46).

B. How long is eternity? If I knew that I was going to live for just a thousand years, I would be worrying about what would happen to me at the end of those thousand years. If I knew that I was only going to live a million years and at the end of that million years that I was going to die to exist no more, I would be a miserable person. But thank God there is an eternity and it is forever and ever.

II. You will be somewhere in eternity: Eternity should interest you. You will be in it forever. Forget all your excuses and all your little peeves and give your heart to God and be ready for eternity. You are going to be somewhere in eternity. Remember that you have a soul that will live on. When you die, only your body will be in the grave. Your soul will be somewhere else. Think about it.

III. Where you exist in eternity is far more important than where you will live in this life.

A. Let us examine what Jesus said

1. Turn to (Matthew 6:19-21).

2. Turn to (Mark 8:34-37).

B. We worry about so many things that are not as important as we think they are. Does your money, or perhaps the lack of it, worry you? Are you chiefly concerned about having a good time? Are you mainly interested in getting ahead in this world? Eternity is so much more important. Jesus said again in (Matthew 6:33), But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.

IV. You can know where you will spend eternity: Some would have you believe it is guesswork. But I am glad we may know where we will be in eternity.

A. Jesus knew He was going (see John 14:1-6, 16:5)

B. Job knew he would be in eternity (see Job 19:25-26)

C. David knew he would exist in eternity (see 2Samuel 12:33)

D. Paul knew he would be in eternity (see 2Corinthians 5:1)

E. Many a dying saint has known where he was going and where he would be in eternity

F. I know where I will be in eternity (see John 11:25-26; 1John 5:13)

V. You will be in one of two places in eternity: Hell or Heaven

A. Hell is a terrible place. It’s a place of weeping, wailing, and gnashing of teeth. It’s a place of night and darkness. It’s a place of fire. Look at (Revelation 21:8) – these are the kinds of people who will be in Hell. And in (Revelation 20:15) we also find anyone whose name is not written down in the Book of Life. So let us look again at the terrible eternity of the sinner: turn to (2Thessalonians 1:7-9).

B. Heaven is a wonderful place (See Revelation 21 – 22 for descriptions. Song: How Beautiful Heaven Must Be. (Songwriters: A. P. Bland / A. S. Bridgewater / Dwight Moody Brock. How Beautiful Heaven Must Be lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group)

Chorus: How beautiful heaven must be

Sweet home of the happy and free;

Fair haven of rest for the weary,

How beautiful heaven must be.

C. You, my friend, whether you believe in it or not will be in eternity in either Heaven or Hell. Where do you want to spend eternity?

VI. Where you will be in eternity is decided now

A. I saw a series of cartoons one day that showed a person approached by death. In the first picture, a young person was at a desk; and as death, personified by a dark-robed figure – sickle in hand, approached, the young person jumped up quickly and said, O Death, not yet. I will prepare for your coming, but I am too busy now. In the next picture, the same man, now old and gray, is seated at the same desk in the same job. When Death approached, the old man began protesting as he had before when he was young. But in the last picture, Death’s grim and icy hand grips him; and he must go unprepared.

B. Someone has well expressed it this way about man:

1. Youth – too happy – time enough yet

2. Manhood – too busy – money first

3. Middle-age – too anxious – worry of work

4. Declining-years – too old – fixed years

5. Death approaching – too ill – mind drugged

6. Eternity – too late – FOREVER

VII. Where you will be in eternity is determined by what you do with Jesus Christ

A. Let’s read (John 3:17-19, 36). And also turn to (1John 5:11-12).

B. Let’s also read (Ephesians 2:8-9).

C. And (Romans 10:9-10).

D. Turn to (Luke 13:3). And (Acts 16:31). If you will do the trusting, Jesus will do the saving (John 6:37).

Conclusion

To the child of God, death is not a doom; but a door. Death is not an exit; but an entrance. Death is not the end; but the beginning. Death is not the sunset; but the sunrise. Beyond the sunset, oh blissful morning, when with our Savior, Heaven is begun. Earth’s toiling ended, oh glorious dawning, beyond the sunset, when day is done.

Admit you are lost… repent of your sins and receive Christ by faith.

Read:

(Romans 3:23)

(John 3:18)

What lies beyond the sunset for you?

INTRODUCTION TO THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

AUTHOR OF THE EPISTLE OF JAMES

Four men in the New Testament were named James. First,