“For the love of money is the root of all evil...” (1 Timothy 6:10). Money itself is not the problem. The issue is when the heart bends toward it, trusts in it, and worships it. James is not condemning wealth itself, nor is he addressing every person who has been financially blessed. His warning is aimed at those who place their trust in riches rather than in God, who use people instead of serving them, who hoard instead of help, and who worship wealth instead of the Lord. This passage speaks to all of us, because one does not have to be rich to love money. Materialism can live just as easily in a mansion as it can in a mobile home. Tonight, James pulls back the curtain to show us what happens when riches become ruin, and he calls us to examine our hearts carefully as we walk through this passage together.

Appreciating the importance of the Holy Spirit and responding to His conviction is an essential component in this lesson. Our constant prayer should be for the Holy Spirit to give us victory over the flesh, to grant us power to witness, and to enable us to reach our full potential in Christ. The ministry and presence of the Holy Spirit must become a daily reality in our lives!

Liberal denominations have compromised their position on the uniqueness of God's Son. In addition, Jesus Himself warned that false teachers would come into the world proclaiming that they are Christ, and many have done so. Further, cults teach a variety of heretical teachings under the guise of belief in the Christ of the Bible.

These are days for Christ's followers to know what they believe about Him, to know why they believe it, and to grow increasingly deeper in their relationship with Him.

Having an understanding of the character and personality of the God of the Bible is vitally important to being grounded in the faith. It is not uncommon to hear something like, "All religions worship the same God—they just call Him by different names." While this statement may be uttered by sincere lips, it is absolutely incorrect. God's people should strive to understand that the God we worship as Bible-believing Christians has revealed Himself in His Word and will not allow Himself to be confused with false gods.

Bro. Frank Wood shows from the Bible how each of us, through Christ alone, can—Accomplish, Endure, & Be—all things pleasing to Him.