Living Faithfully in Community: Submitting to God's Will

Devotional

Day 1: Faith Is Shown by Works in Community

True faith is evidenced by actions that benefit others, not just ourselves. When James addresses the early church, he insists that faith and works are inseparable—works do not save, but genuine faith will always produce visible fruit in the way we live and serve. This is especially true in the context of community, where our choices and actions impact those around us. We are called to move beyond individualism and selfishness, seeking the good of the whole body of Christ. Each day, we have the opportunity to demonstrate our faith by how we love, serve, and build up others in our church family. [05:28]

James 2:14-17 (ESV)
What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can serve someone in your church community this week to demonstrate your faith in action?

Day 2: God’s Commands Are Meant for Application, Not Just Knowledge

God’s Word gives us clear instructions, but their value is found only when we choose to apply them in our daily lives. Like an instruction manual tossed aside, biblical commands are useless if we merely read or hear them without following through. James 4:1-12 contains eleven direct commands—submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, cleanse your hands, purify your hearts, mourn, weep, turn laughter to mourning, humble yourself, and guard your speech. These are not abstract ideals but practical steps for living out our faith, especially in community. The challenge is not in understanding what God asks, but in choosing to obey, even when it costs us comfort or convenience. [11:09]

James 4:7-10 (ESV)
Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.

Reflection: Which of God’s commands in James 4:7-10 do you find most difficult to apply, and what is one step you can take today to begin obeying it?

Day 3: Community Is God’s Design for Wholeness

We are created for community, not isolation; God’s design is that we thrive together, supporting and encouraging one another. From the earliest pages of Scripture, God declares that it is not good for man to be alone. Throughout history, God’s people have always been called to live in relationship—with family, with the faith community, and with Him. Isolation leads to loneliness, anxiety, and spiritual stagnation, but community brings growth, healing, and purpose. Even when it is challenging or inconvenient, investing in relationships is essential for our spiritual health and the health of the church. [14:17]

Genesis 2:18 (ESV)
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.”

Reflection: Who in your church or neighborhood might be feeling isolated, and how can you reach out to include them in community this week?

Day 4: Humility and Submission Are the Foundation of Community

Pride is the greatest barrier to true community; only by humbling ourselves before God can we truly submit to one another and build authentic relationships. When we insist on our own way, we place ourselves on the throne and shut others out. But when we recognize God’s greatness and submit our wills to His, we become open to serving, forgiving, and loving others as He commands. Humility is not weakness—it is the strength to put God and others first, trusting that He will honor and lift us up in due time. [17:20]

Philippians 2:3-4 (ESV)
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you need to humble yourself—before God or others—to help strengthen your community?

Day 5: God Uses Every Willing Person, Regardless of Age or Personality

God calls and equips each of us to serve, no matter our age, background, or personality; what matters is our willingness to submit and say “yes” to Him. Like Moses, who felt inadequate and shy, we may be tempted to believe that God should use someone else. But God delights in using ordinary people who are willing to trust Him and take the next step, even when it feels daunting. There is no retirement from God’s purposes—He has a place and a role for everyone in His community, and He promises to be with us as we obey. [28:55]

Exodus 4:10-12 (ESV)
But Moses said to the Lord, “Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue.” Then the Lord said to him, “Who has made man’s mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak.”

Reflection: What is one area where you have felt inadequate or hesitant to serve, and how can you take a step of faith to say “yes” to God’s call this week?

Sermon Summary

James’ letter to the early church is a call to practical, lived-out faith—a faith that is not just professed but demonstrated in action. The heart of this teaching is that faith and works are inseparable; genuine faith will always produce visible fruit in our lives. Yet, the challenge is not in understanding what God asks of us, but in actually applying it. Like ignoring the instructions for assembling furniture, we often set aside God’s clear commands, only to find ourselves lost or incomplete. The Christian life is not meant to be lived in isolation, but in the context of community, where our faith is both tested and strengthened.

Throughout history, God’s people have always been called to live in community. From the Old Testament, where the actions of one affected the whole family or tribe, to the New Testament church, the emphasis is on belonging, accountability, and mutual support. Our culture, especially in recent years, has pushed us toward individualism and isolation, but God’s design is for us to be deeply connected to one another. Community is not just a nice addition to our faith; it is essential for our spiritual health and growth. Isolation breeds anxiety, depression, and spiritual stagnation, while community brings wholeness, encouragement, and the opportunity to live out the “one anothers” of Scripture.

James gives us a list of direct commands—submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, cleanse our hands, purify our hearts, mourn over sin, humble ourselves, and guard our speech. These are not optional extras, but the very means by which we grow in Christ and build up the body. The greatest barrier to living this out is pride—the refusal to humble ourselves before God and others. When we insist on our own way, we not only distance ourselves from God but also from the community He has placed us in.

True submission to God means surrendering our will, our preferences, and even our comfort for the sake of His purposes and the good of others. It is not about age, personality, or ability; God can use anyone who is willing to say, “Here I am, not my will but Yours be done.” The call is to take practical steps—however small—toward deeper community and greater obedience, trusting that God will meet us in our weakness and use us for His glory.

Key Takeaways

1. Faith is proven by action, not just belief. James insists that faith and works are inseparable; if we claim to have faith, it must be visible in the way we live, serve, and relate to others. The value of God’s instructions is only realized when we actually follow them, not just when we agree with them in theory. [05:28]
2. Community is God’s design for spiritual growth and health. From the earliest days, God’s people have been called to live in relationship, where the actions of one affect the whole. Isolation is not just emotionally unhealthy—it is spiritually dangerous, cutting us off from the encouragement, correction, and support we need. [08:02]
3. Pride is the greatest enemy of both submission to God and authentic community. When we refuse to humble ourselves, we place ourselves at the center, making it impossible to truly love God or others. Humility is the doorway to both deeper relationship with God and meaningful connection with others. [17:20]
4. Obedience to God’s commands is not about picking and choosing what feels comfortable. James echoes the Ten Commandments and the teachings of Jesus, reminding us that God’s word is comprehensive and authoritative. True submission means surrendering our preferences and trusting that God’s ways are for our good, even when they are difficult. [21:48]
5. God can use anyone, regardless of age, personality, or perceived ability, if they are willing to submit. Moses’ story reminds us that God delights in using the unlikely and the reluctant, not because of their qualifications, but because of their willingness to say yes. Our excuses do not disqualify us; our surrender is what God desires. [28:55]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[03:30] - James: A Practical Book
[04:11] - The Value of Instructions
[05:28] - Faith and Works Together
[06:07] - The Problem of Selfishness
[07:24] - Community in the Old Testament
[08:39] - The Longing for Community
[09:17] - The Cost of Community
[10:29] - Eleven Direct Commands
[13:01] - The Challenge of Community
[14:17] - The Dangers of Isolation
[16:42] - Submission and Pride
[18:32] - Emotional and Intellectual Faith
[21:05] - James Echoes the Commandments
[22:23] - The Ongoing Story of Community
[24:16] - Making Time for Community
[25:00] - Application: Submitting to God
[26:55] - God Uses the Unlikely
[28:55] - No Age Limit in God’s Call
[30:13] - Taking a Stand Today
[30:48] - Invitation to Submit to God

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

James 4:1-12 (ESV) — > 1 What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?
> 2 You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.
> 3 You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
> 4 You adulterous people! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.
> 5 Or do you suppose it is to no purpose that the Scripture says, “He yearns jealously over the spirit that he has made to dwell in us”?
> 6 But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
> 7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
> 8 Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.
> 9 Be wretched and mourn and weep. Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom.
> 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will exalt you.
> 11 Do not speak evil against one another, brothers. The one who speaks against a brother or judges his brother, speaks evil against the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge.
> 12 There is only one lawgiver and judge, he who is able to save and to destroy. But who are you to judge your neighbor?

Observation Questions

What are some of the direct commands James gives in this passage? ([10:29])
According to James, what is the relationship between faith and works? ([05:28])
How does James describe the dangers of isolation and the importance of community? ([14:17])
What does James say is the greatest barrier to submitting to God and living in community? ([17:20])

Interpretation Questions

Why does James connect faith so closely with action? What does this say about the kind of faith God desires? ([05:28])
The sermon mentions that isolation leads to anxiety, depression, and spiritual stagnation. Why do you think community is so essential for spiritual health? ([14:17])
The passage lists pride as the main obstacle to both submission to God and authentic community. In what ways can pride show up in our lives, even when we don’t notice it? ([17:20])
James gives a list of commands (submit, resist, draw near, cleanse, purify, mourn, humble, guard speech). Why do you think these are not optional, but essential for Christian growth? ([10:29])

Application Questions

James says faith is proven by action, not just belief. Can you think of a recent time when you agreed with God’s instructions but didn’t actually follow through? What kept you from acting? ([05:28])
The sermon compared ignoring God’s commands to ignoring furniture instructions and ending up with missing pieces. Is there an area of your life where you feel “incomplete” because you haven’t followed God’s instructions? What would it look like to take a step of obedience this week? ([04:11])
Community is described as God’s design for spiritual growth. What is one practical way you can invest in deeper relationships within this group or church, even if it costs you time or comfort? ([13:01])
The message said that isolation is spiritually dangerous. Are there habits or routines in your life that are pushing you toward isolation? What is one change you could make to move toward community? ([14:17])
Pride is called the greatest enemy of submission and community. Is there a relationship or situation where you need to humble yourself—maybe to ask for help, apologize, or listen more? ([17:20])
The story of Moses was used to show that God can use anyone who is willing, regardless of age or personality. What is one excuse you tend to make about why God can’t use you? How might God want to use you right where you are? ([28:55])
James lists several commands (submit to God, resist the devil, draw near to God, cleanse your hands, purify your hearts, mourn over sin, humble yourself, guard your speech). Which one stands out as most challenging for you right now? What is one small step you can take this week to grow in that area? ([10:29])

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