Element Church Podcast

Book of James: GLORY not GLITTER

Favoritism is an invisible sin we rarely admit—but James 2:1–13 exposes how deeply it infects our hearts, our churches, and our relationships. In this message, “Glory Not Glitter,” Pastor Wade Bishop walks through James’ warning against showing partiality, reveals how God’s value system overturns ours, and calls us to live as people of mercy, not status. If you’ve ever judged someone by their appearance, success, or what they can do for you, this sermon will challenge and encourage you to choose God’s glory over the world’s glitter. Scripture: James 2:1–13 Big Idea: The church reflects Jesus’ glory, not the world’s glitter.

Book of James: What you do with the Word determines what it does in you.

Are you just hearing God’s Word, or actually living it? In this message from James 1:19–27, Pastor Wade Bishop unpacks the main idea: “What you do with the Word determines what it does in you.” Learn how POSTURE (how you humbly receive the Word), PRACTICE (obeying, not just listening), and PRODUCE (the visible fruit of your faith) reveal whether your Christianity is real discipleship or just religious consumption.

Book of James: Right Perspective Produces Humility

The sermon explored the critical importance of adopting God's perspective rather than culture's perspective, especially when facing trials and temptations. Through James' letter to Jewish believers living under pressure in a pagan world, we discovered that the right perspective can mean the difference between joy or despair, enduring or quitting. Using Joseph's 22-year journey from the pit to the palace as our primary illustration, we saw how trials are designed to make us, not break us, and how God's unchanging faithfulness carries us through every season. This message has profound implications for our spiritual life, calling us to humble dependence on God regardless of our economic status, circumstances, or the intensity of our testing.

Book of James: God gives wisdom generously—but we must ask Him with a steady heart

This week's sermon explored the vital connection between asking God for wisdom and approaching Him with a steady, undivided heart. We learned that God invites us to bring our confusion, our lack of understanding, and our divided loyalties directly to Him—not after we've figured everything out, but right where we are. The ancient Irish prayer "Be Thou My Vision" reminded us that we don't need to see everything clearly; we need to see God most clearly. Just as Peter walked on water when his eyes were fixed on Jesus but began to sink when he looked at the waves, our stability comes not from perfect understanding but from unwavering focus on Christ. The sermon challenged us to recognize that true faith isn't about having all the answers—it's about trusting the One who does.

EASTER

Jesus isn't hiding from you, He wants to be found by you!