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Epistle of James

James 1:1-18
James 1:19-27
James 2:1-13
James 2:14-26
James 3:1-12
James 3:13-18
James 4:1-12
James 4:13-17
James 5:1-6
James 5:7-12
James 5:13-20

James 1:1-18

What is the most exciting race you ever participated in or watched?

What are some of the characteristics of a servant of God and of Jesus?
What is the path from trial to joy? What are some of the other possible paths which begin with trials?
How easily does joy come from trials? How naturally is this path followed? Where are the tricky spots in this path?
What kind of joy is pure joy? What is the source of joy? What is the difference between joy and happiness? Between joy and fun?
Does this passage teach that trials and testing are good?
Why should the Christian consider a trial or a test to be a source of joy?
How important is perseverance in living the Christian life? What are some of the ways of describing a person with perseverance?
Why is perseverance necessary? What are the alternatives to perseverance? What is at the end of perseverance? What happens to those who fail to persevere?
Very quickly James is introducing his major themes: testing, wisdom, faith, the dangers of wealth. How do you picture those to whom James was writing? What is it about them that might require this kind of instruction? How do you think people today differ from the original recipients of this letter? In what ways might we be the same?
Where does wisdom come from? How do you define wisdom? How can you tell when you lack wisdom? How does the Bible define wisdom? What are some of the common misperceptions about wisdom?
How can doubt be eliminated? How would you define doubt?
What is the result of doubting? What is the result when doubt is eliminated?
Is this passage teaching that a Christian should never have doubts about God?
Do the descriptions in verses 6 and 8 speak to you? How would you describe someone who has faith and doubts at the same time? What word picture works for you?
One of the themes of our faith is that of reversal. How do verses 9-11 fit with that theme? What are some other passages which exhibit the theme of reversal? What is the basic truth behind that idea?
What is the crown of life offered in verse 12? What are the conditions which must be met in order to receive the crown of life?
Can you think of any normal human situations where the reward at the end is worth the struggle? Does that help you persevere in trials?
What is the source of temptation? Describe the path from temptation to sin. Where are the places where it is possible to get off the path?
How serious is sin? What is the danger in making light of sin? What is the end result of sin?
Have you ever been guilty of blaming God for your sin? How dangerous is that practice?
What are some of the things God gets blamed for? When people around you blame God for bad stuff, how do you respond?
God is not the author of evil or of temptation. Instead, according to verses 16-18, what is he like?
All good stuff comes from God. What is the best of that stuff? In verse 18, is James talking about the first birth or the second birth?
God is seen to be Father. What does that mean to you?
God is seen to be dependable. What does that mean to you?
God is seen to be the creator. What does that mean to you?
How would you summarize the picture of God as seen in this passage?
How would you summarize the picture of the Christian as seen in James 1:1-18?

James 1:19-27

Are you a note-taker? What advantage do you get when you take notes?

To whom is the advice in verse 19 directed? How would you paraphrase this advice?
What is usually the result when this advice isn't heeded? What is the usual human tendency? Can you see why James issued this advice?
If human anger kicks in, what is the end result? What is the difference between an angry life and the righteous life that God desires? How would you describe the righteous life that God desires? What are the chief characteristics of such a life?
James gives a good picture of an unrighteous life in verse 21. How does such a life live itself out in our day? How many people do you know that live like that? Would you say it is prevalent today like it was in the day of James? Do you believe that they can be saved? What is the word that saves? How is it planted? How is it received? What difference will it make?
"Saved" is a good old church word. What does it mean? What are we saved from? What are we saved to? What are some other words which we could use in the place of "saved" so that people not from the church would understand?
What does it take to motivate people to be saved?
What does it take to motivate Christians to plant the word?
Once the word is heard, what must follow? How important is obedience?
Have you known someone who talks a good game but doesn't play it very well? What is your deep-down opinion of that person? What is that kind of behavior indicative of? What can you tell about a person by his behavior?
James gives an analogy in verses 23-25, about hearing but not doing. Bring that analogy up to date.
The perfect law gives freedom. Normally we think about laws which limit freedom. What makes this law different? How is the freedom dispensed?
When was the last time you looked intently into the scriptures? Do you remember what you heard? Did you obey? Have you been blessed? Have you continued to look? What is involved in this "looking intently"?
Verse 26 is a great example of someone who heard but did not obey. Can you think of others? Why do you think James used this particular example?
What is the value of a religion that doesn't issue in obedience? Who's fooling whom?
Verse 27 is a great example of hearing and obeying. Can you think of other examples?
What is the value of a religion that brings obedience?
How would you summarize the main message of this section? What is there which requires more than listening? Do you have some new things to put into practice?

James 2:1-13

Did your parents have a favorite child? What effect did that have on the family?

What are some of the characteristics which could cause discrimination in the church today?
Is the problem of discrimination better or worse in the church than in society in general?
What forms does discrimination take in today's church? What forms of preferential treatment do some people receive?
How are we supposed to treat the poor? Why?
What is the law in verse 8? Why is it called "royal"? Why is it a law?
How does favoritism violate the royal law?
How do you know you are loving someone else like you love yourself? How do you love yourself?
Of all laws, which is the most important? Which is the least? Which can you afford to break?
In verse 12, what is the law that gives freedom?
How important is it to be merciful? Why?
Why does mercy triumph over judgement?
How should one act who has been given mercy? How do you feel about someone who has been given mercy, but who reacts unmercifully, perhaps in judgement to others?
Have you ever been given mercy? Do you ever fail to be merciful? How does it feel to dispense mercy to someone else?
How do you know when it is time for judgement and when it is time for mercy?

James 2:14-26

Which came first: the chicken or the egg?

What words would you use to describe someone who claims to have faith but whose life doesn't show it?
What would you consider to be the minimum characteristics of someone who claims to have faith in Jesus? What does God consider to be the minimum?
Is it a matter of inappropriate judging to notice when someone's life doesn't match his claims?
How do you know it when the walk matches the talk? Have you ever been fooled? Is that important?
Is it more important to talk the walk or to walk the talk?
How much faith is there when faith is dead? How does faith die?
Isn't faith alone enough to save you? Then what is the role of works?
Which is more important: the amount of faith, or the focus of faith?
Does verse 24 contradict what you have been taught about faith in Christ? Or is it only a seeming contradiction? How do you work it out in your mind?
Paul gives a couple great examples of works matching faith. What are some of the examples you have seen?
Which came first: faith or works?
How should a Christian act? Why?

James 3:1-12

Who was the best teacher you ever had? What did you learn from that teacher?

What is so dangerous about being a teacher? Why would anyone ever want to teach after having this warning?
Who is doing the judging of teachers in verse 1? Why are teachers judged more strictly?
Who in our church would be considered a teacher? The pastor? Adult Sunday School teachers? Teachers of children? Who else?
How does one become a teacher if he or she does not presume to be a teacher?
How does verse 2 fit with verse 1?
If everyone stumbles in many ways, then is it true that stumbling is no big deal? Why or why not?
What is the most difficult area in which to keep from stumbling? How can you prove your answer?
What is the worst trouble you ever got into with your tongue? How long did it take to get into trouble? How long did it take to get out?
That damage that can be done with the tongue is all out of proportion to its size. Why is that?
This passage talks about how our tongues are like bits in the mouths of horses, the rudder of a ship, a small spark. How is the tongue different from these things?
Why is the tongue so difficult to tame? What has worked well for you when it comes to taming the tongue?
Verse 9 and 10 are among the most powerful in this whole letter. How do they hit you?
So in the end, it's just as difficult to talk the talk as it is to walk the walk. Does this surprise you? Where are your inconsistencies?

James 3:13-18

Who is the wisest person you know? What makes that person so wise?
What is the world's definition of "wisdom"? How does God define "wisdom"?
How does James say that wisdom is exhibited? How does this idea of wisdom differ from the commonly understood ideas about wisdom?
What is the result of the world's wisdom, which is really false wisdom? How common are envy and ambition? Have you ever realized the source of these sins? What is the ultimate source of this false wisdom? Are you surprised?
Envy and ambition come from the devil. Where do they lead? What is at the end of that road?
What is the result of true wisdom, God's kind of wisdom? Why?
It is more pleasant to think about true wisdom than false. Make a list of the characteristics of true wisdom.
Why does purity come first on the list? What is the source of purity? How can a person be pure? Is it possible to be wise without being pure? Is it possible to be pure without being wise?
How do you define purity? What are some of the common misconceptions about purity? How can the misconceptions lead to discouragement?
What does peace have to do with wisdom? What is peace? Why does God love peacemakers? What is the difference between peacemakers and peacelovers? What do peacemakers sow? What do they reap?
As you complete the list of the characteristics of wisdom, it reads like a list of good people skills. Why is wisdom aimed so much at how we treat others?
How does one go about getting wisdom? How do you know when you have it?
Which is easier to spot in someone else, wisdom, or lack of wisdom? Are you ever wrong about the wisdom you see in others? Do you ever find yourself using the wrong criteria for judging someone's wisdom level?
What will you do this week to root out false wisdom in your life? What will you do to cultivate real wisdom?

James 4:1-12

When was the last time you saw a really good fight? In church?
Where do fights and quarrels come from? What do fights and quarrels lead to? What kind of trip is it in between?
What is it about us that makes us want what we want no matter what? How can we beat it?
How can we actually get what we want? Who gives it to us? Does he change what we have or does he change what we want?
When we ask God for stuff, what are our motives, usually? Why doesn't he answer our prayers? How can we change our motives?
Which is worse, to not ask at all, or to ask with the wrong motives? Which is more common? To which are you prone?
What does friendship with the world bring about? Why can't you be a friend with both God and the world? Why can't God allow that?
How does it make you feel to know that God is jealous for you? Are you jealous? Of whom are you jealous? Is jealousy wrong?
We talk and sing about grace so much we can lose the meaning. What is grace? Where does it come from? Why do we receive it? What can we do to deserve it? Why did Christ die to give it to us?
There's a lot of information in Paul's letters about who submits to whom. But here we are told to submit to God. What does that really mean? What would be the practical impact in our daily lives of submission to God? What would be the result?
Verse 7b is a wonderful promise. How can we resist the enemy? Why do we allow him to hang around so much? In the novels of Frank Peretti, the demons were able to get into the church by hitchhiking along with church attenders who weren't sold out to God, embedded in their backs. How much truth is there in that fiction?
How does verse 8 fit with verse 4? What does it mean to be double-minded? Doesn't it just sound wonderful to be near to God? Why do we stay so far away?
God is the God of the Great Reversal, as we see over and over again in scripture. In the light of that truth, what is the meaning of verses 9-10? Why are we to become gloomy? Why not--don't worry, be happy? Where does real happiness come from? What is the difference between happiness and joy? Can you have one without the other?
Do you want the Lord to lift you up? Why do you find it so difficult to humble yourself?
Here in the middle of this section, all of a sudden James is talking about slandering one another. Does it fit here, or is James rather random in his thoughts? What does this kind of relationship with our brothers and sisters have to do with humbling ourselves before God?
Who are you to judge your neighbor? Does that mean you can't exercise discernment? How difficult is it for you to turn a blind eye to the sins of your brother? Is that what God is asking you to do here?
What is the main takeaway from this section? Do you take it to heart?

James 4:13-17

What are your plans for tomorrow? What could change your plans?
Make a list of the various ways God makes his will known? By which of these means do you usually discern God's will for your life?
Does God care whether you wear a blue shirt or a green shirt tomorrow? Does he care what job you have? Does he care where you go to school? How do you determine what areas of your life to seek God's will for? What parts of your business does God care about?
Why is God's timing different than ours? Why does God not always give us what we want when we want it?
How difficult is it to determine God's? ("Even the wise men seemed to need a star."--Bryan Duncan.) What lengths do you go to to find God's will? Are you ever paralyzed by waiting to know God's will? Does God want you to be paralyzed, or is it better to take your best shot?
How long is life? Is tomorrow guaranteed? What preparations have you made for the eventuality that you might not be around tomorrow? Are you supposed to make preparations?
Do you have things under control in your life? How does God feel about those who feel they have things under control?
Which is more common--sins of commission, or sins of omission? Which is more common in your life?
Is it possible to be sinless when it comes to sins of omission? Isn't there always one more thing you should do? How do you deal with that kind of guilt?
Where does this passage hit you hardest? What will you do about it?

James 5:1-6

Who is the richest person you know? How does that person handle his or her wealth? Do you admire that person?
James is pretty harsh in this paragraph. Who is the target of his fire? How does this passage fit in with the rest of the letter? Some people think that this book is a collection of sermons and pieces of sermons rather than a logically flowing work. What do you think?
How did James' target become rich? Is James prophesying against all rich people, or just against those with ill-gotten riches?
Is it possible to be wealthy without becoming corrupted by the wealth? Is it easy or hard to be wealthy? Why?
The style of this paragraph is quite reminiscent of OT prophetic proclamations, with the emphasis on forth-telling rather than on fore-telling. It also reminds me of some of the Psalms. How does this little paragraph compare with Psalm 73?
What is James trying to accomplish for the Lord in writing this paragraph? What effect is he looking for? How effective is direct condemning preaching? Why isn't this style used more today?
Does this paragraph apply to anyone who is not rich? To whom does it apply? Do you have to be wealthy to be corrupted by money?
Do you desire to be wealthy? Why? How would you handle your money? How do you handle your money now? What would you change if you had more money than you do now?
Are riches necessary before a person is in danger of taking advantage of others? Have you ever been stabbed in the back at work or stomped on by someone climbing the corporate ladder at the expense of others? What would James say, practically, to those who get ahead by putting others down?
Think carefully about this passage and try to determine what James' real purpose is in writing it. What is God Almighty saying to you through this passage? What practices do you need to change now? What do you need some more time to think about? Who is there in your circle of brothers and sisters who can help you come to grips with this truth?
Whose money is it, anyway?

James 5:7-12

Are you known as a patient person? Have you got them fooled? What makes you impatient? How do you personally battle impatience?
James told his readers to be patient until the Lord's coming. How do you think he would have said it if he had known that was going to be nearly 2000 years or more? Would his message have changed?
What is it about farming that makes the farmer patient for his crops? What would happen if he weren't?
"Be patient and stand firm..." What are some of the forces against which you have to stand firm? Are they sporadic, like gusts of wind, or are they constant, like a steady, strong wind? Which is more likely to know you over, the gust or the steady wind? How do you brace yourself against the wind so you can stand firm?
Do you believe the Lord's coming is near, or are you about to give up? Would it help you to know the exact date, or would that cause spiritual laziness?
How does the thought of the soon coming of Jesus help you deal with impatience? With forces trying to knock you over?
Are you ready for the Lord's return? Does the thought give you some anxiety? What do you want to accomplish before he comes? What is there that you are now doing that will seem totally unimportant when he comes?
Verse 9 must certainly be one of the most often disregarded commands of scripture. How is it that we fall into Satan's trap of grumbling against one another? How can we stop it?
James refers to the prophets and to the legendary patience of Job as examples of patience in the face of suffering. Who is your example? What have you learned from this person?
To whom are you being an example? (You are being an example. Are you a good one or a bad one?) Have you heard the 4Him song that says "I want to be a man they would write about?" Scripture won't be expanded to accomodate us as modern-day examples of faith, but if it were, would you be included in the list?
"The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." How easy or hard is this to remember in times of stress and trouble? What can you do to make sure you remember it?
When you talk, do people take you at your word, or are you untrustworthy? Why is it so important that your word be good? How good a witness is someone whose word cannot be trusted?
I've heard many saints say not to pray for patience. Is that good counsel, or just a funny tradition? Have you prayed for patience? What is God doing in your life to bring patience to you?

James 5:13-20

When requests for prayer are made in the church, what percentage of the requests are for physical, as opposed to spiritual, needs? Are the physical needs more or less urgent than the spiritual ones?
Which comes easier for you, praying or singing? Why? Which is more abundant in your life, trouble or happiness?
Prayerlessness is one of the biggest problems most Christians face. What do you do to build prayer into your daily life? How is your plan working?
Jesus said that just a little bit of faith was enough to move mountains. James says here that a normal human being prayed and the rain stopped for three and a half years and then started again. You and I are normal human beings with at least a little bit of faith. What do we pray for? How effective are our prayers?
I contend that it is more important to have your faith pointed in the right direction than it is to have a lot of faith. A little faith in the great God is powerful, not because of us but because of him. Tons of faith in a non-existent god is nothing but misguided and to be pitied. How do you keep your faith pointed in the right direction? How much faith do you have? Is it enough?
We often hear it said that "prayer changes things." The truth is that "God changes things when we pray". How important is that distinction? How is faith in prayer different from faith in God? What would be the dangers of putting your faith in prayer?
O. Hallesby said that you are really praying until you reach a state of helplessness, that is, you have reached the end of your own resources and now you are truly dependent on God. Can you see any truth in that concept?
Have you ever been anointed with oil for illness? Did you find meaning in that symbolism? Did it help point your faith in the right direction? [Just remember, it isn't in the oil, it isn't in the elders, it isn't even in the prayer or in the faith, it's in the God to whom we are praying and the Christ in whose name we are praying.]
What does it mean to pray in Christ's name?
Sometimes we don't get what we pray for. Sometimes people are not healed when we pray. How do you explain that kind of failure? Is it really a failure?
In protestant circles we are not too good at confessing our sins to one another. Why not? Should we have more focus on that practice? How do we know how to pray for one another if we don't let one another into our inner lives? How far does this go in explaining the ineffectiveness of our prayer lives?
Whom do you know that has wandered from the truth? What could you do to help bring that person back? What would be the benefit to the church if you did that? What would be the benefit to you? What would be the benefit to you if you tried and failed?
As you studied the letter of James, what was it that really struck you? How has your life been changed by this study? What changes do you know that you still need to make?

After several people have asked me recently about finishing this study, I finally got busy and finished it. I hope you find it useful. Thanks again for your patience.

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Copyright 2001, 2002 Randall McRoberts