Book of James - notes

Theme:
- "What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don't show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone?" James 2:14
- "Now someone may argue, 'Some people have faith; others have good deeds.' But I say, 'How can you show me your faith if you don't have good deeds? I will show you my faith by my good deeds.'" James 2:18

Living Faith

Trials

Law of Love

Wise Speech

Wealth


Book of James is...:
- how-to book on Christian living.
1. Confrontation
2. Challenges
3. Call to commitment

Background:
- Author: James, Jesus' brother, leader in the Jerusalem Church

Outline:

1. Genuine Religion - A Characteristics of Christian Life (1:1-27)
2. Genuine Faith - Exhort Christian act justly in society (2:1-13)
3. Genuine Faith - Relationship between faith and action (2:14-26)
4. Genuine Faith - Importance of controlling one's speech (3:1-12)
Discussion: "I like it on..."
Genuine Wisdom - The worldly wisdom Vs the heavenly wisdom (3:13-18)
5. Genuine Wisdom - Encourage you to turn from evil desires and obey God (4:1-12)
6. Genuine Wisdom - Reproves those who trust in their own plans and possessions (4:13-5:6)
7. Genuine Wisdom - To be patient with each other (5:13-18) to help each other remain faithful to God (5:19,20)

The Controversial:
- Its emphasis on “good works,”
- James Contradict Paul?

Comment: James is not writing about how to become a Christian, but rather how to act like one. Having all the correct beliefs about God will hardly suffice: even demons believe in God. Real, life-giving faith should produce motion, and James minces no words in describing the specific spiritual actions expected of Christians.

Questions:
- His words are easy enough to understand, but are we doing as he says?
- How can we be transformed?

1. Genuine Religion - A Characteristics of Christian Life (1:1-27)

Living Faith - faith need to be tested to increase endurance and a chance to grow. Therefore face trouble with great joy.
v2 "WHEN trouble come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow"
- it says WHEN trouble come, not if trouble come; meaning trouble will come and expect that it will come. Trouble could be being cursed by claiming Christian, carrying the cross, by failing from hypocrisy. When we fail (not if, because we will), don't get discouraged, face it, suck it, and take it as opportunity for great joy -- a chance to grow deeper, better endurance. It is a journey, not a distinction, but a journey with clear goals.
"Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me " (Philippians 3:12-4:1)
It takes a lot of courage and humbleness to walk on this journey. We need the courage because we know we will fall, and it feels so bad to fail, yet every time when we fail, we need to get back to the house It takes courage to admit that this journey won't end until the end of our life, yet we continue press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me. We need a lot of humbleness as well because to realize that you are where you are not because of who you are, but because who He is in us.


Living Faith - Do you believe this? If you do, ask Him and you will be given, seek and you will find.
v5,6 "If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask, be sure that your faith is in God alone! Don't waver for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind."
We need to have faith in God that when we ask for His wisdom, He will give it to us. Knowing that His wisdom is the way of life, and it is practical, divine (goes beyond common sense), and it is Christlike. Do you believe to His word? If you do, pray and you will be given, seek and you will find.