It’s Time to Grow Up! | James 1:1-25 – DFBC

It’s Time to Grow Up! | James 1:1-25

Diego Mota

February 22, 2026

Play Video

We live in a culture where it is fairly easy to call ourselves “Christians” and never be changed by Christ. It is possible to grow up around the church, know the language of faith, and still lack a faith that endures, obeys, and transforms. How does God grow authentic followers of Christ into spiritual maturity?

Authentic followers of Christ reach spiritual maturity when they are…

I. Tested by Trials (James 1:1-12).

a. Rejoicing through hardship (vv. 1-4)
b. Trusting the Firm Foundation (vv. 5-8)
c. Focusing on Eternity (vv. 9-12)

II. Confronted by Temptation (James 1:13-18).

a. Conquering the desires of the flesh… (vv. 13-15)
b. Empowered by God’s Grace (vv. 16-18)

III. Shaped by the Word of God (James 1:19-25).
a. Receiving the Word with humility (vv. 19-21)
b. Practicing the Word: walk the walk! (vv. 22-25)

“A faith which does not influence a man’s practice
is not worthy of the name.” (J. C. Ryle)

Spiritual maturity is not measured by
how long we’ve been around the church,
but by how deeply His Word shapes us.

“But be doers of the word,
and not hearers only,
deceiving yourselves.”
(James 1:22 ESV)

1. When trials press into my life, do I respond with growing trust in God’s purpose, or growing frustration at God’s plan?
2. Is there a specific truth from God’s Word that I have been hearing repeatedly but not yet obeying?

Latest Messages

Standalone Sermons

The Gospel of Jesus Christ: Disciple-makers | Luke 24:44-53

April 12, 2026by Dr. Miguel Lopez

Where do we go from here? Jesus’ resurrection victory unleashes man-fearing, defeated disciples to become an unstoppable disciple-maker-multiplying community for all nations and all generations.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Meals as Enacted Promise | Luke 24

April 5, 2026by Dr. Miguel Lopez

Comfort food. We all have a meal or two we go to when we need to be cheered up. The trauma the first disciples experienced after the Passover meal was almost unbearable. How could they move on? Thank God for the resurrection! The new day of the resurrection assures us death is not the end. A new day is coming where death will be no more and where, non surprisingly, Jesus will meet us a the table again with the ultimate comfort food anticipating the Kingdom to come.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ

Meals as Enacted Salvation | Luke 22

April 5, 2026by Dr. Miguel Lopez

A death sentenced criminal last meal is a grace given before the end. This was a meal meant to offer freedom and the joy of a new beginning. The host himself offered forgiveness and abundant life in God’s kingdom and yet, this meal became his last anticipating his imminent death. Paradoxically a gracious life-giving, liberating meal marked Jesus as someone who was born to die as a criminal but was innocent as a lamb. Jesus’s last supper is an invitation to trade places where he offers his life for our death and where we surrender our life for his glory.…

Message Archive

Repetition and review are two great tools for absorbing new information and making it part of our lives. For this purpose, we have made some of our past messages available here. If you missed one, this is also a great way to catch up.

SEE ALL MESSAGES