Sept 30: James Chapter 1

JAMES CHAPTER 1
James is one of my favorite books. To me, this book is oozing in grace and instruction. I pray that our hearts stay open during our James study for the Holy Spirit to teach us something new.

Our challenge is to use the 3 STEP STUDY METHOD and SPECS to study this short book (only 5 chapters!). Studying the Bible with friends is so fun because God uses the Holy Spirit to teach different people different things. Use the comment link to post what the Holy Spirit is showing you...this way we can all learn from each other!

OBSERVATION:
SINS to avoid:
listening to the word and ignoring it
PROMISES to claim:
V3, testing of faith develops perseverance
EXAMPLES to follow:
V27, to look after the orphans and widows
COMMANDS to obey:
V5, ask God for wisdom; V9, take pride in our low position; V19, be quick to listen; V21, get rid of or moral filth; V22, do as the word says
STUMBLING BLOCKS to avoid:
V13, saying God is tempting you; V23, listening to the word but ignoring it's application in our life

INTERPRETATION:
WHO?
everyone then and today, us
WHAT?
trials and temptation, listening and doing
WHERE?
No locations mentioned
WHEN?
approximately 50ad
WHY?
so that we build our perseverance through trial rather than blame God; so that we remember to put our bible studies into action
HOW?
pray for God's word to penitrate our hearts and minds and guide our actions; pray for an increased level of perseverance

APPLICATION:
Theme? Building perseverance
Best verse? V22 -25, listen to the word and be in action
Challenging? V14, it's our own evil desire dragges us away from God
Difficult?
Encouraging? V9, "The brother in humble circumstances outh to tak e pride in his high position."
Favorite? V12, "blessed is the man who perseveres"
Gift? V17, "every good and perfect gift is from above."
Helpful? V22-25,
Informative? V13, God does not and can not be tempted by evil
Just Do It! God give us the endurance to persever through all trials, help us to do as you ask and make us examples of Jesus Christ


James 1:1-27
Greeting to the Twelve Tribes
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:

Greetings.

Profiting from Trials

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

The Perspective of Rich and Poor

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.
Loving God Under Trials

12 Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone. 14 But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. 15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brethren. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. 18 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures.
Qualities Needed in Trials

19 So then,[a] my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Doers—Not Hearers Only

21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; 24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. 25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.
26 If anyone among you[b] thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless. 27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.