Today’s passage: James 1:19-27

Helpful thoughts:

• Man’s anger does not produce righteousness.  By God’s grace, His Word does.
• The Bible is not to be read and biblical sermons are not to be preached or listened to for sport.  If we “enjoy” a sermons or a devotionals but are not growing and changing, we are deceived.
• Three marks of a true and maturing believer:
  • They are growing in controlling their tongue.
  • They are willing to help those who can’t help them back.
  • They are growing in pure and holy conduct, pursuing righteousness.

Questions to consider:

1. When we think that God’s Word is not working, and if we should become angered and yell at or cold-shoulder our brothers and sisters in Christ, or our children, what are we actually trying to accomplish?  How are we trying to accomplish it?  What have we placed our faith in?  What happened to us in that process?
2. What is the condition of the heart for the person who receives God’s Word in such a way that they grow?  What is promised to that person?
3. How does verse 18 feed and give life to this passage?  Why are we able to change in the ways this passage prescribes?  What is the only proper (And only effective) motivation to pursue this growth in meekness and humility?

Today’s passage: James 1:16-18

Helpful thoughts:

• God is perfectly good.  Everything He does is perfectly good/righteous.
• God is immutable.  He has and He will never change.
• God is sovereign.  We were saved by the will of God upon hearing the Word of God.

Questions to consider:

1. Why is the immutability of God so important?  How does it ensure our hope?
2. How do people get saved?  What happens and what is shared before we are born again (“Brought forth”)?  How should this order encourage you in your evangelism?  How should this order keep you from discouragement in your evangelism?
3. Over the last few days, we have been overwhelmed by the goodness, kindness, and graciousness of God.  Yesterday, we were reminded that our sin comes from within our own hearts, being enticed by our own desire for other things.  What would be wrong in our thinking when we find anything in creation to be more worthy of our desire than God Himself?  Why/How is God better, more desirable, more satisfying than anything else?

Today’s passage: James 1:12-15

Helpful thoughts:

• Blessing (Joy/Satisfaction) comes from persevering through trials.  There can be joy in the midst of, and further joy as a result of, trials.  God’s work is joy producing.
• “The crown of life” could be translated as, the “crown which is (eternal) life.”
  • God has already promised this to His children, everyone who believes.
  • God is working in you to produce this steadfastness.
  • God is going to reward you for something that He did by His gracious will.
• God tempts no one.  Hardships produce steadfastness in the Christian.  Sin is already there in the heart and being rooted out.
• We do what we do because we want what we want.  When I sin, it’s my choice and my fault.
  • I can choose to sin.  I cannot choose my consequences.

Questions to consider:

1. How good and kind is God?  How amazing is His grace?
2. How desperately wicked would we be without Him?  Why is the world not worse than it already is?
3. Why is the call to humility in the previous three verses to critical?  How would a high view of myself negate the massive amount of grace and love that God has shown us?  How does an accurate, low view of myself magnify the grace and love of God?  Which causes us to worship? Which truly gives us greater joy? How has the world’s philosophy on our view of “self” undercut the power and magnitude of the Gospel?

Today’s passage: James 1:9-11

Helpful thoughts:

• Another means to perseverance for the Christian is humility.
  • The poor may struggle with humility in complaining or bitterness.
    • But God has exalted them in Christ.  Their economic status has nothing to do with their eternal inheritance.
  • The rich may struggle with humility in lacking a sense of need and in pursuing more temporal wealth.
    • The rich are reminded that they too will fade.  In the end, the rich and the poor of this world meet the same end.
• The whole comparison serves as an illustration within the context of the passage.
  • A rich man who is a believer could be humbled through the trial of losing his wealth.  If he lacks faith and doubts God’s good purposes, he will be unstable and tossed about in the trial.
  • If that rich man believes in God’s good purposes to mature him in the faith, producing steadfastness/perseverance, he will be able to count that trial “all joy” (Verse 2).

Questions to consider:

1. God promises to conform us into the image of Christ (Philippians 1:6).  So is this passage about how to respond in order to grow?  Or, is this passage about how to enjoy the ride while God is growing you?
2. Is this passage only applicable for the rich and poor?  What might be precious to you, like money might be precious to the rich, that could steal your eyes and heart away from the Lord?
3. Why is your salvation and relationship with Jesus Christ the best gift and exaltation that God has given you?  Why is it so much better than anything this world has to offer?

Today’s passage: James 1:5-8

Helpful thoughts:

• Christians are encouraged to ask for wisdom knowing that God may use a trial to work it out in their life!
• Doubting, a lack of faith, makes difficulties ineffective.  Therefore, God will withhold a trial from a believer who asks if He knows they are not ready.
• God gives good things (Like wisdom) to us generously!  He is not stingy toward us in things that are good.

Questions to consider:

1. Why does the idea of asking for things, knowing that a trial may come as a result, sound so radical?  What does it take to think this asking is a good idea in the first place?
2. What are the kinds of things this passage is referring to?  What “things” is God giving?  What kinds of “things” is this passage not talking about?
3. In what ways does this passage reaffirm the kindness and goodness of God to His children?

Today’s passage: James 1:2-4

Helpful thoughts:

• For the Christian, trials and hardships produce something very good.  No trial is wasted.
• When you know this to be true, there can be joy in the midst of difficulty.
• Verse 4 carries the idea of submission.  A patient, submissive spirit to the Lord will allow the trial to have its full positive effect.

Questions to consider:

1. Why do we hate difficulty/hardship so much?  What are we trying to avoid?  What kind of life do we want?
2. Romans 8 promises that everything “will work together” to conform us into the image of Jesus Christ.  What are some things that we would rather have than to be like Jesus?  How does that tempt us to be angry with God when things aren’t going the way we want?
3. How does the kindness of God in the midst of your trials give you a greater love and appreciation for Him and His grace?
4. Think of a hardship you might be in or were in recently.  How did God use that to help you grow?  How did you change for the better?  Who could you share that with to bring glory to God?

Today’s passage: James 1:1

Helpful thoughts:

• The writer of this letter:
  • James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ…
  • …who now rightly considers himself a chosen slave (Greek-doulos) of Jesus Christ.
    • James affirms Christ’s deity in calling Him “Lord”.
    • His brother who once mocked Him (John 7:3-5), was now His chosen servant and pastor.
  • A leader in the Church of Jerusalem.
• The recipients of this letter:
  • The people of God (i.e. Believers, Christians)
    • Speaking from the birthplace of the Church and the center of worship for the Jewish people, James uses the terms “twelve tribes”, and “dispersion” in a way that encourages the unity of Gentile and Jewish believers alike.
      • Luke wrote of this new “dispersion” in Acts (Acts 8:1, 4).
      • Peter wrote a very similar greeting (1 Peter 1:1).
      • Paul wrote about this new unity of Gentile and Jewish believers in several passages (e.g. Ephesians 2:11-22, Romans 9:24-26).

Questions to consider:

1. Even though James was the Lord’s earthly brother, he doesn’t flaunt that in the opening of this letter?  Why not?  What was more significant in James’ eyes?  How might a lofty claim to have grown up in the same house as Jesus actually have hurt this opening?
2. Is Jesus Christ your Lord?  If so, how are you growing in your service to our Lord and King?  If not, surrender to Him today!  Please repent and believe in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross for your sin.
3. What does it mean to belong to the people of God, to be a part of something bigger than any one of us?
4. What was the result of the dispersion in Acts 8?  Why does God have you where you are in the world right now (As close or as far away from Jerusalem as you might be…)?  Who could you share the Gospel with today?