The Joy & Crown of the Church: Dealing w/ Trials & Temptation

Beginning a short series of sermons from James for Trinity Covenant Church in Santa Cruz, Pastor Stoos discusses how God' gracious gifts of faith and wisdom enable Christians to joyfully endure the trials and temptation of this life.
In our flesh we want to avoid this discussion because we simple do not want any trials or temptations. What James shows is that these trials and temptations are always with us in a fallen world and within us because of our fallen nature. Ignoring this reality does not mean that we get to pass on the trials and temptations: We will still face them. It only means we will have more sufferings weakness and even death.
We can have Joy and a Crown from God or depression and despair on our own.