James comes back to one of his primary themes here:  A mark of true Christianity is learning to control your tongue, and use it for good, not evil.  As he says in 1:26, “If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.” 

Now, in chapter 3, James expands on this, in perhaps the most powerful section in the Bible on the tongue.  We must learn to use our mouths in ways that glorify God, and ONLY ways that glorify God.  Let’s talk about how on Sunday.

As you pray toward this Lord’s Day, pray for the many in our congregation who are sick.  There are a number of illnesses making their way through our community right now.  And pray for our military, for Israel’s military, and the political leaders who are engaged in the war in Iran. 

This conflict has been decades in the making.  The Iranian government that took Americans hostage in 1979 has, in a way, held their own people and the world as hostages since that time, as they have fomented terror all over the world, slaughtering Americans and Israelis and their own people, and holding the threat of nuclear weapons over our heads.  Something had to be done.  Let us pray that God will use this war to bring about a more peaceful and prosperous Middle East and a more stable world. 

And remember…Jesus reigns.  I’ll see you on Sunday.   

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.

I’m excited to be back with you after a few days of vacation with family.  This is a power-packed text, and I can’t wait to dig into it with you on Sunday!  Read over it in preparation. 

This text is all about putting our faith in action.  One of the ways you can do that is to invite someone to join you in worship on Sunday.  See you then!

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations,

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.

This is an incredibly important part of James – it picks up themes that he will come back to throughout the letter.  There is always a danger that we who hear God’s Word can lapse into a state of spiritual lethargy, where we are only hearing the Word…and not putting it into practice. 

It has been super helpful to me personally to dig into this great text for Sunday, and I’m praying the Spirit will use it to be equally helpful to you. 

It was great to be back together on Sunday, praying together, praising together, and pouring into the Word together!  And what a joy to welcome many new members at the end! 

God has given us such a warm church.  It was such a blessing this past Sunday to see our people coming up and greeting new members, and it is such a joy every Sunday to see so many just hanging out after the service, enjoying fellowship with one another, in no hurry to leave.  The Spirit is at work at FBC-Suffolk!  I’m so thankful you are a part of it.  Let’s invite others to join us.  Who’s your one?  Who will God give you the opportunity to speak to about Jesus this week, and invite to church?  We don’t know…that’s why every day with the Lord is an adventure.  All we have to do is walk closely with Him, and He will lead.  See you on Sunday…

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations,

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr. 

Our text will be James 1:19-21, which is all about “Receiving God’s Word.” 

I hope you were able to watch or listen to the message from last week, on James 1:13-18.  If you haven’t yet, do that so you can keep up with the flow of James. 

Despite everything going on with the weather, it has been a great start to the year at FBC.  The Holy Spirit is moving in the life of our church.  We are seeing people come to Christ, people being baptized, people coming into our church, and many more on the way. 

Be praying for your lost friends and family members.  Every single Sunday at FBC, the good news of Jesus is proclaimed.  I want to partner with you as a teammate:  You bring your friends, and I will bring the gospel.  Count on it. 

Who is on your mind and heart to invite?  Reach out to them.  Issue that invitation.  Go out to lunch with them afterwards and ask them what they got out of the message.  That’s a great gospel conversation starter. 

There are just so many people out there who are open to spiritual things right now.  All they need is that invitation.  Let the Lord use you.

I’ll see you (God willing, IN PERSON) on Sunday!     

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations,

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.

This Sunday we will be in James 1:13-18, where we see “Two Kinds Of Births.”  There is a birth that leads to destruction, and a birth that leads to new creation.  This is also a powerful text for helping us deal with sin and temptation.  I was looking forward to sharing it with you this past Sunday, and am even more eager to share it with you this coming Sunday!

As I write, snow is again in the forecast for the weekend.  Of course, that can change.  God is in charge.  Pay attention to Facebook and our website for updates if the weather still looks bad as we move toward Sunday.  Lord willing, I will see you then!  

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.  

Like all of James, this text is intensely thought-provoking and practical.  We’ve all struggled with temptation, and God’s Word has answers about how to be victorious in the battle. 

Studying James has been an incredible blessing, and the same can be said of Colossians.  This week we got underway with our Wednesday night study of Colossians by introducing the letter, but next Wednesday we will actually begin walking through the text.  Let me invite you to come out on Wednesday night.  It is a wonderful mid-week refreshment.  We have a great time digging into the Word together. 

These are great days in the life of our church.  God is moving, and it is exciting to be a part of it with you!   

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations,

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.

This Lord’s Day, we’ll be looking at James 1:9-12 as we talk about “The Crown Of Life.”

And what a blessing to celebrate baptism this past Sunday!  Be praying for Cole, Cash, and Jade as they follow Christ.  Let it be another encouragement to be out there sharing the gospel and inviting people to worship…there are so many more who need to know Him and know the love of His family. 

I’ll see you this Sunday as we gather.

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations 

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.

This Sunday, we’ll be in James 1:5-8, which is all about “Wisdom For Living.”  James makes much of godly wisdom.  But as we’ll see, “wisdom” in the Bible is not just head knowledge but putting godly principles into practice. 

I’ve learned so much from this text and can’t wait to share it with you on Sunday!  Be reading and meditating on James 1:5-8, and invite a friend to join you in worship on Sunday.

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.

But what if 2026 brings trials?  It most likely will, to one degree or another.  It’s just the nature of life in a broken world.  So how can we face trials with joy?  Is it possible to experience trials and experience joy at the same time?

This is what the beginning of James is all about.  On this first Sunday of the New Year, we’ll look at James 1:1-4 and talk about “Facing Trials With Joy.” 

This will be the first message in our Living Faith series on the Book of James.  Over the next few months, we will walk carefully and prayerfully through this incredible book of the Bible, verse by verse. 

James is one of the most popular books of the Bible, for obvious reasons:  It is both practical and powerful.  James has a masterful way with words.  He uses illustrations and metaphors that penetrate and pierce the mind and heart.  He is soaked in both the Old Testament and the teaching of Jesus.  He has incredible depth of insight into the relationship between faith and life.  He gets into subject after subject that we face every day as we seek to live for Christ, and he teaches us how do respond with faith…living faith.  I’m SO EXCITED about walking through this amazing book with you!

Be reading James, over and over.  It will enhance our experience on Sunday mornings.  For this Sunday, pray over and meditate on James 1:1-4.  It is rich.  I’ll see you on Sunday, as we dig into it together.  Invite a friend to join you.      

This is one of the climactic scenes in Abraham’s life, as God encounters him and affirms His covenant promises to him.  It is dramatic and powerful!  Read and pray over Genesis 15 in preparation for it.

Be praying also for our Christmas Eve service.  We will gather at 5pm for Candlelight Communion, singing, and a gospel message.  Please be praying for that message as I put it together and be praying for friends and family you can invite to hear it.

I’ll see you this Sunday, as we dig into the amazing 15^th chapter of Genesis!

By His Grace, For His Glory, To The Nations

Dr. Thurman Hayes, Jr.