Teaching text for today.

It comes from James 1, verses 12 through 18.

It says, Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial,

because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord

has promised to those who love him.

When tempted, no one should say, God is tempting me, for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he

tempt anyone. But each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire

and enticed. Then after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin, and sin when it is full grown,

gives birth to death.

Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly

lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

He chose to give us birth through the word of truth

that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

This is the word of the Lord.

I just want to check that this is a safe place

for me to give my talk.

So can I just ask,

has anybody ever been tempted

and given into temptation and sinned?

Would you just raise your hands?

Okay.

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