I’ve had my fill of game-playing. Most of my life has been spent watching people say one thing but live another. From the time I was a teenager, I have been disappointed to see how people who claim faith in Jesus show no evidence, no fruit, no transformation, but with their words still claim Jesus. That said, I also know that every follower of Jesus still retains their humanity, flaws, quirks, and struggles. Real believers seek to honor the Jesus they profess with their mouths, trusting His grace for the forgiveness that they seek and the new life they are experiencing.

On Kickoff Sunday, we begin a new series based on the book of James. Early in the first century, James wrote a short letter that could be titled “Put Up or Shut Up,” “Walk the Talk,” or “The Difference of a Redeemed Life.” It’s chock-full of practical challenges, and James’ own story is fascinating and inspiring. When I read this letter, the summary I like best is the title of this new series we’ll begin on August 17: Faith WORKS!

We’ll celebrate the first days of the school semester. Kids will see new teachers leading, and all of us will adjust to a new schedule whose purpose is to make room for people who need to hear about Jesus and follow Him. We all adopt a new schedule this Sunday, and I invite you to pray for the lives of those we invite, and to live before your peers a faith that is real, a faith that is more than just lip service, a faith that actually works.