James, the Greater

The son of Zebedee, a fisherman, and Salome, daughter of a temple priest, James was the older brother of Saint John. According to many scholars, Salome was the sister of the Virgin Mary, making James and his brother John cousins of Jesus. This might account for Salome’s request that they be given privilege in the Kingdom as well as Jesus’ request from the cross that John care for His mother.

In the synoptic gospels James is called along with his brother John to leave their father and their nets and become Jesus’ disciples. He is often listed, along with Peter and John, as members of a privileged group closest to Christ. He was present at the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the Transfiguration, and the agony in the garden.

He was martyred in 44 when Herod Agrippa I, son of Aristobulus and grandson of Herod the Great, sought to please the Jews of Jerusalem by persecuting the Christian church. As a prominent leader of the growing Christian sect, James was beheaded, the first victim in this campaign. According to tradition, when James’ accuser led him to the judgment seat he was so moved by James’ confession that he became a Christian on the spot and shared James’ fate.

"Watch Your Enemy" Scriptures

Several asked about the Scriptures that I used in yesterday's message. Here they are.

May your personal study bear much fruit for the Kingdom!

1 Timothy 1:20
1 Timothy 3:6-7
1 Timothy 5:14-15
Ephesians 6:10-18
Ezekiel 28:11-19
Isaiah 14:12-15
2 Timothy 2:25-26
2 Corinthians 2:11
2 Corinthians 4:4
Matthew 16:18
Matthew 4:1-10
Psalm 119:9, 11
James 4:7-8
1 Peter 5:8-9
2 Corinthians 10:3-5
John 1:5

A Kingdom Perspective in An Electoral Season

From our Board of Bishops of the Free Methodist Church of North America.... Read it and practice it.

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In the current political and social climate of the United States, we must appreciate the truly global church that we have become as Free Methodists. We are sensing the profound responsibility this places on us—located in the west, in one of the wealthiest and most resourceful nations on earth. We recall that we are kingdom people, that God calls all people everywhere to be His, that our citizenship is in heaven first. In fact, we are bound to and have more in common with brothers and sisters in Christ around the world than we do even our fellow Americans who are unbelievers. We affirm that God does not need us or our nation to carry out His kingdom agenda. The gospel of the kingdom does not depend on the current or any anticipated political, social, cultural status quo.

The church’s mission, no less in an electoral season, in cooperation with God’s Spirit in manifesting kingdom reality, challenges every this-worldly platform and ideology. No party will champion the cause of the kingdom in its entirety. We acknowledge that Christians in the U.S. have often been seduced by reductionist views of the gospel and morality and have thus given uncritical allegiance to partisan agenda that fall short of the Christian hope.

Therefore, we urge our members and adherents to weigh carefully and pray fervently over candidates, ballot referenda, and all political issues before us, and then seek to vote in ways that reflect as fully as possible the heart of Jesus Christ for the whole world. In so doing, we remind our people that the way of Jesus is the way of cross-bearing, of self sacrificing love, of costly obedience, and of giving all for the sake of others, especially for those on the margins. Indeed, this way of Jesus often directly counters the ideologies of this world.

Board of Bishops
Free Methodist Church

Matthew Thomas
David RollerDavid Kendall

Andrew

The younger brother of Saint Peter, Andrew was born in Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, where he became a fisherman. According to the Gospel of John, Andrew was a disciple of John the Baptist and, upon recognizing Jesus as the Messiah, introduced Him to his brother. Andrew lived in Capernaum and was one of the closer disciples to Christ, being present with Jesus on several occasions. But he is rarely mentioned in the book of Acts.

Tradition holds that Andrew preached throughout Asia Minor and Scythia, particularly along the Black Sea. He ministered in both Romania and Russia. In time he was crucified in Achaea on an X-shaped cross, commonly known as St. Andrew’s cross. This was at his own request, as Andrew considered himself unworthy to be crucified on the same type of cross on which Christ died.