Today’s passage: James 3:13-18

Helpful thoughts:

• After a passage that emphasized our speech, we find that wisdom is evidenced through all kinds of actions/conduct.
• Remember the theme of this letter: Faith without works is dead.  If we have faith, we will be changing and growing in these ways.  If we do not have faith, we won’t.
• Wisdom is contrasted with bitter jealousy and selfish ambition:
  • Bitter jealousy and selfish ambition are not good gifts that came down from the Father of lights. They are the fruit of a heart that is earthly, unspiritual and shares similar characteristics to the one who said, “I will be like the most high God.”
  • God’s gift of wisdom produces peace, gentleness, a willingness to talk things out, etc.

Questions to consider:

1. What were the consequences of bitter jealousy and selfish ambition (Verse 16)?
2. What were the consequences of wisdom and pursuing peace (Verse 18)?
3. Why is it so important to remember that wisdom is not just what we say but also what we do?

Today’s passage: James 3:6-12

Helpful thoughts:

• The illustration from verse 5 carries into today’s passage.  What seems like a small fire (A slip of the tongue) can start a forest fire.
• The word for “hell” where is says the tongue is “set on fire by hell” points back to Gehenna, the place of burning that was used as a dump near Jerusalem. This word was used by Christ to refer to and illustrate the real Hell.
• The tongue can speak blessing and cursing, but those blessings and cursings come from and reveal what is in our heart.
  • For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. – Matthew 12:34
  • Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. – Proverbs 4:23

Questions to consider:

1. Why can’t we tame our own tongues?  What is the (Our) root problem?
2. Is James saying that we should expect to speak blessing and cursing, that it’s OK?  What should be happening to our communication after we put our faith in Christ and grow as Christians?
3. What would the consequences be of a heart made clean and growing in love for Christ and others?  How would it contrast with the illustrations used in these verses?

Today’s passage: James 3:1-5

Helpful thoughts:

• Teaching is convicting and humbling if you are truly doing it to serve the Lord and the listeners.
• It is impossible to teach the whole counsel of God without failing to perfectly “practice what you preach.”(Teachers and preachers need the Gospel too!)
  • The teacher therefore must also be a sincere humble learner, even in their preparation and delivery of the lecture.
• Words are powerful.  They can affect far more than the speaker ever intended.
  • We can choose our words, but we can’t choose their consequences.

Questions to consider:

1. What would be some good motivations and some bad motivations to teach?  What makes them good or bad?
2. What makes good teaching “good”?  What is even more important than the humility and conduct of the teacher?
3. If you are aware that a little fire on the campsite could erupt into a full-blown forest fire, how do you take precaution at your campsite?  How would this illustration translate into taking precaution with your words?

Today’s passage: James 2:18-26

Helpful thoughts:

•   Abraham’s belief was shown to be sincere in his obedience.
  • Righteousness was counted to Abraham by faith.
  • Faith produced and was evidenced by obedience.
• There is a difference between believing that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross and putting your faith in the finished work of Christ on the cross for your sin.
  • One results in continued rebellion (Even the demons believe).
  • One results in obedience (The lordship of Christ).

Questions to consider:

1. Why is morality for the sake of getting into Heaven (Works-based salvation) still disobedience?  Is that kind of work an evidence of faith or rebellion against God?
2. Why do you do the “good” things you do?  What is your motivation?  Who are you pleased to please?
3. Am I saved if I still don’t want Jesus to be my Lord and master?  Can I evidence faith through obedience if I have no desire to obey?

Today’s passage: James 2:14-17

Helpful thoughts:

• Verses 15-16 serve as an illustration for verses 14 and 17.  Be careful not to make a bigger deal out of illustrations than what they are illustrating…
  • That being said, if you come to church on Sunday and your brother-in-Christ lost his job and has nothing to feed his family, it would be great to invite them over for lunch if you are able.
• Genuine faith results in works.  A person who has put their faith in Christ is going to change.
• Dead faith (Non-existent – The person says they have faith, but they don’t) results in no change.

Questions to consider:

1. How does the use of “brother or sister” impact the illustration in verses 15-16?  How would that compare with Galatians 6:10?
2. How could a passage like this be helpful if a person says they prayed to get saved but refuses to repent and renounce a sinful lifestyle?
3. What changes have you seen in your life since God saved you?  What growth can you thank and praise the Lord for today?

Today’s passage: James 2:8-13

Helpful thoughts:

• Loving people (Your neighbor) regardless of their social and economic status is not a new thing.  It was an Old Testament Law as well.
  • Showing partiality is not a “character flaw”…it is a sin.
• The context of this passage it going to ask for evidence of the reader’s true conversion and faith.
  • If I say I am a believer because I don’t commit adultery, but I do show partiality, I am being a hypocrite.
• However, the Law of Liberty reminds us that our freedom from guilt is not based on all the bad things we don’t do, but on the righteousness of Jesus Christ put to our account.
  • If my motivation to not do bad stuff is to make myself better than others or to earn myself points with God, I have misunderstood the Gospel and my judgment will lack mercy.
  • If my motivation is love and mercy because I have been shown love and mercy, I have understood the Gospel and I will progressively do the right things for the right reasons.

Questions to consider:

1. How do we change our mind-set from “Bad things people shouldn’t do” to “Good things you can do”?  How does this idea compare to “Putting off and putting on” from Ephesians 4 and Colossians 3?
2. How is legalism a form of bondage?  How does the Gospel give us freedom?
3. How would you answer the accusation that this liberty found in the Gospel is an occasion to sin?  Does leaving legalism behind result in recklessness?  Why not?  What is the growing Christian too busy doing?

Today’s passage: James 2:1-7

Helpful thoughts: 

• Our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, received some criticism for reaching out to and spending time with some very “undesirable” people.
• The language and the illustration used in this passage implies that the decision to accept one person over the other happens instantaneously and is based purely on a person’s appearance, the first impression.
• People become heirs of the kingdom by God’s gracious choice.  Every child of God has his or her inheritance by the grace of God.

Questions to consider:

1. Why was it so ludicrous to rebuke Jesus for talking to “sinners” and Gentiles?  How far had Jesus condescended to speak to any of us?  What did Christ give up (In all His glory!) to take on flesh, to live, to endure temptation, to endure persecution, to die, etc.?
2. If our actions in being a respecter of persons happens quickly, at a first impression, then what is our means of valuing people?  Who are we hoping will benefit the most from the relationship?  And, what kind of benefit will that even bring?
3. Where does your value come from?  Who gave you your worth?  What is your purpose?  How will these truths help you to show unconditional Christ-like love to others today?

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?