2. What comes to your mind when you hear the word ORGANIC? Crops or animals that are raised without the use of drugs, hormones, or synthetic chemicals Resembling a living organism …

3. Organic Church? Frustration with the-church-as-we-know it… people (vs. programs) mission (vs. institutional maintenance) vision to transform the world

4. Organic Christian? A follower of Jesus growing toward maturity without shortcuts or gimmicks PRACTICAL Integrating Truth & Behavior

5. James 1:1-4 1. James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. Introduction Author Recipients

6. Introduction Their present lot is to feel the weight of lifes pressures, the lure of this worlds temptations and an insidious, ever-present encouragement to conform to the standards of their pagan environment. They are the Lords people indeed, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb himselfbut not yet home. Motyer, J. A. (1985). The message of James : The tests of faith the twelve tribes scattered…

7. James 1:1-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Goal Reason Command Process

8. Goal 4 …so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ. To this end I labor, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully works in me. Colossians 1:28,29 Romans 5:1-5 My Status or Position in Christ & My Actual Transformation

9. Goal Mature Complete Not lacking anything UB

10. James 1:1-4 2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Process

11. Goal Process Mature Complete Not lacking anything UB T erseverance aturity esting P M=

12. Respond to suffering with joy because enduring difficulties is the path to maturity. Big Idea: Joseph Job ?

13. Action: Master a profile of maturity and keep it in front of you all the time. Identify a difficult situation in your life. Thank God for allowing that trial. Ask God what you can learn through it. Practice this pattern again… and again.