In this final section of chapter 1 of his letter, James instructs his audience that the faithful follower of Christ is not only a “mere hearer” of the Word, he’s also not a “mere doer.” In this sermon, “Religion Reexamined,” an exposition of James 1:26-27, Pastor Jesse Randolph explains that the Christian’s doing is not to be done for doing’s sake, but instead must be marked by certain traits, including: purity of heart (which is marked by the ability to bridle one’s tongue), practical concerns (which is marked by a concern for the least in our midst, namely, “widows and orphans”) and personal piety (which is marked by a commitment to “keep oneself unstained by the world”). 

In this exposition of Psalm 13, one of David’s psalms of lament, Pastor Jesse Randolph walks his listeners through a Psalm that is best understood in terms of its three couplets. In the first couplet (vv. 1-2), David laments. In the second couplet (vv. 3-4) — which is the turning point of the Psalm — David prays. And in the third couplet (vv. 5-6), David praises. David’s griefs turn to remembrance and joy. His blues song turns into a praise song. His shadows turn into sunshine. Psalm 13 is a wonderful encouragement to believers of all generations—particular in seasons of difficulty, pain, and sadness—when God may feel more distant than He actually is. 

In Chapter 4 of his prophetic work, Hosea shifts his focus entirely from the unhappy marriage between Hosea and Gomer, to zeroing in on the relationship between God and Israel. Beginning in Chapter 4, the scene shifts from Hosea’s home, to God’s courts of justice, with the language becoming unmistakably judicial, as the Lord lays out (as though in a court of law) his many charges against His faithless people, Israel. In this sermon, “The Lord States His Case,” Pastor Jesse Randolph provides a verse-by-verse exposition of the legal charges God levels against Israel in Hosea 4:1-19—which includes charges related to a careless people, corrupt priests, and compromised priorities.

In this section of his letter, James instructs his listeners to be "quick to hear,” "slow to speak," and "slow to anger." These are familiar commands—commands which are quoted regularly by Christians of varying degrees of maturity. But do we truly understand the context of James’ commands? In this sermon (“Taking in the Truth”), through his verse-by-verse exposition of James 1:19-21, Pastor Jesse Randolph brings these commands back to their original context—receiving the Word of God. Followers of Christ are to be quick to hear the Word of God, slow to speak in response to the Word of God, and slow to anger upon receiving the Word of God. 

In this latest account in the saga involving the prophet Hosea and his faithless wife (Gomer), the scene changes yet again. This time, Hosea’s bride, a proven prostitute, is caught in adultery, and the command given by God to Hosea is to bring her back, to buy her back, and to love her. As he did so when he first took Gomer to be his wife, Hosea immediately complies with God’s command, and brings his unchaste and unfaithful wife home. This scene, while describing a literal event in the marriage of Hosea and Gomer, ultimately paints a picture of how God will bring his unchaste and unfaithful bride—Israel—back to Himself “in the last days” (Hosea 3:5). In this sermon, “The Hard Way Home,” Pastor Jesse Randolph addresses these and other matters in his verse-by-verse exposition of Hosea 3:1-5.