Wisdom From Above | Jason Ricafranca | James 3:13-18
Have you ever tried going somewhere new without using GPS? Every once in a while, my family and I will be getting ready to go somewhere—a restaurant, a park someone told us about, or a party at a friend’s house. And when I hear what city it's in, I'll think to myself, “Yeah… I know how to get there!”
But instead of putting the address into the GPS, I'll say something silly like, “I'm just gonna follow my heart.”
And off we go.
The funny thing is… we usually make it there!
Sometimes it's because I eventually tap out and put the address into my phone. Other times, we arrive much later than we needed to because apparently my heart doesn't always know the fastest route.
And in most cases, I've come to find that my GPS woes are attached to my own pride. Sometimes I am so convinced that I know where I am going that I don’t want to admit that maybe… I have no clue.
I've been thinking about how easy it is to approach life in a similar way. We can become so convinced that we know where we're going—or that our way is the right way—that we don't stop to consider what is actually guiding us.
This Sunday, as we continue through James, we'll look at James 3:13–18 and two very different kinds of wisdom: the wisdom of the world and the wisdom that comes from God.
James helps us take a closer look at the wisdom we're following—and what that wisdom looks like when it gets lived out in our everyday lives.
Looking forward to seeing you Sunday!
-Pastor Jason
6 Oct 2026
The Tongue is a Fire | Bob Wriedt | James 3:5b-12
James 3 is about the tongue - how powerful our tongues are, what they're capable of, and how difficult they are to tame.
A couple of weeks ago, I challenged you to complete a "Tongue Test," and observe how often you engage in each of the following:
1. Complaining
2. Boasting
3. Gossiping
4. Running another down
5. Excusing yourself
6. Silence instead of encouraging another
How did that "Tongue Test" go? This week's sermon is designed to pick up where we left off after the tongue test. In light of what this test helps us recognize about our own tongue, what should we do in response?
Looking forward to seeing you all on Sunday at Grace.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
👉 Want to get more involved? Explore some of the ways you can connect with our community here: https://linktr.ee/gracesealbeach
21 Sept 2026
The Power of the Tongue | Bob Wriedt | James 3:1-5a
When is the last time you said something foolish? If your answer is further back than "An hour ago," you're a better person than me.
This week at Grace, we're looking at James 3:1-5. I like how The Message paraphrases verse 2: "We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life."
While we are quick to admit that we have said things we wish we could take back, I wonder how much we think it matters. We all recognize how powerful the words of others are. Our parents' words shaped our world when we were young. The words of friends and peers stick with us for years. And the words of Jesus are the most powerful of all. So why do we discount the power of our own words?
We tell ourselves that we're "just joking" or "telling it like it is," and in the process let our tongue run rampant over others and ourselves. Let's reflect on how to tame our tongues as Christians together this Sunday.
In Christ,
Pastor Bob
👉 Want to get more involved? Explore some of the ways you can connect with our community here: https://linktr.ee/gracesealbeach
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
4 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Contact Grace Community Church of Seal Beach
Guest appearances
Books guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
Host of Grace Community Church of Seal Beach?
Claim your podcast to manage its listing and keep your show details accurate.
Pod Engine is an independent podcast discovery and analytics service and is not affiliated with or endorsed by this podcast. Artwork and show content belong to their owners. Full legal notice.
Explore this show Podcast research with Pod Engine
