As James begins his open letter to Christians in the first century, he encourages them to see resistance and trials as a joy-filled opportunity to put their faith into motion.

May 14, 2017

The book of James: A very wise book. The book of James is a Jewish book, with lots of similarities to the OT book of Proverbs and the NT Sermon on the Mount. The book reflects the simple wisdom, morality, and ethics of a Christ-follower. The book is not as concerned with sophisticated theological arguments as it is with how you live out your faith. This first lesson covers James:1:1-18.
This lesson discusses who James was, the point and emphasis of the Book of James, finding joy when facing trials, seeking wisdom, and learning to trust in God, the Father of the heavenly lights.

James 1:13-18
"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 firstfruits of all he created."
(NIV)

In the second lesson on the Book of James, covering James 1:19-2:26, James discusses the importance of the perfection of the Scripture, and the need to obey it. He then discusses the importance of servitude and that if you love your neighbors, you will help them. We are not to favor the rich, but serve the poor, and what the poor need most is someone to disciple them in following Jesus. James then goes on to discuss that those who have faith will show it through works. Faith without obedience is useless. Put your faith in motion!

James 2:19 - 2:26
"Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder... As the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without deeds is dead."
(NIV)

David Young's third lesson on the Book of James covers James 3:1-18. The focus: there is power in your words. Treat each word like a match, for Jesus says "But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37 (NIV)

James 3:9-12
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water."
(NIV)

Is life slipping out of control? Are you under the bondage of the desires of the world? Do you fight and quarrel to maintain control over relationships? Who is really in control of your future? Surrender to God, and learn from the book of James. Part 4 of David's sermon series on the book of James focuses on James 4:1-5:6. Chapter 4 and the first six verses of chapter 5 emphasize the importance on complete dependence on God. A great battle rages over who will control your soul. The struggle to be human involves the discipline of our passions. To overcome we need intimacy with God. Intimacy with God is found when we surrender ourselves and to give our lives to him.

James 4:1-3
"What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."
(NIV)

James 5:20
"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."
(NIV)