Message by Josh Mutter – August 30, 2026
Big Idea: Spiritual maturity means learning where to turn when life happens.
James 5:13-20 (NIV) Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops. My brothers and sisters, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring that person back, remember this: Whoever turns a sinner from the error of their way will save them from death and cover over a multitude of sins.
1. When life happens, turn to God
James 5:13 (NIV) Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise.
James 5:15-16 (NIV) And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well …The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
– Prayer is about bringing our lives honestly and openly into our relationship with God: “God, I don’t know what you’re going to do. I don’t know how this is going to turn out. But I’m going to bring it to you.”
2. When life happens, turn towards others
James 5:14,16 (NIV) Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them … confess your sins to one another and pray for one another …
3. When someone wanders, turn towards them.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
– Come Thy Fount of Every Blessing
What does it look like to move towards someone well?
We notice
We ask and listen
We stay
We speak (sometimes)
You can listen to the sermon on YouTube here.
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