Welcome to the book of
JAMES
WHO????-------- Who’s the author? All he says is James. This is a pretty common name. 4 men in NT have this name!
2 most likely sources: APOSTLE or BROTHER OF JESUS
It can’t be the apostle…his death puts him dead before this letter…the other 2 did not have the status or influence the writer had…… so it MUST BE: JESUS’ BROTHER!!!!
WHEN????-----In the early 50-60’s AD!
WHY????------ written to 12 tribes…..aka Jewish Christians!
WHAT????- --- It’s a very simple book. It talks about GOOD DEEDS/SERVICE of Christians, and faith and WORKS of faith!..........very VERY simple and straightforward! James tells us like it is!
Read 1:1-5
VS 1- James’ only ID given. If it was Jesus brother…let’s look at the significance here! (imagine growing up Jesus’ brother! How would you open your letter?!?!?!? J)
He gives one simple description of himself… *What is it? What is a bond servant?
This is a very humble start to a letter!
Interesting: Was it always this way???? Was James ALWAYS a servant of his brother?
NO!!!!!! Read John 7:2-5 Mark 3:21
How could this be? How could you hang out all those years and not believe?
**WE DO SAME THING TODAY! Name some ways:
We know James was integral in the early church(Acts 15) and that once James decided to believe and put God first he went headlong and was blessed!…..He even became head of the whole church in Jerusalem!
*****Probably during that time that he wrote this letter
Read vs 2-4
**** Why would you possibly start a letter like this??? Kinda’ negative huh????
BEING REAL!!!! Somehow we often get the idea that as Christians, life will be rosy!
James is being real and saying “NO! You WILL HAVE TRIALS!”
Why will we? Because God loves us and is exercising us!..so we are trained or “mature and complete not lacking anything!”
James does NOT just say accept it though but goes one step further: CONSIDER IT JOY!!!
What? Why would we consider hardship a joy????
If we could learn to look at trials and pain like athletes do in training…we would enjoy it a little! We would be being strengthened and made winners!
V5
Odd transition…..goes from….”DON’T WHINE….to ASK FOR WISDOM”
Very straight forward…NOT complex…telling exactly what to do and not to do!
YES!!! So pleased with this request was God, he threw in everything else too! So… God likes wisdom a lot.. WHY DO YOU THINK IT IS SO IMPORTANT?
***Wisdom is seeing things from God’s perspective!
Sometimes we’re so close to a situation we can’t see the whole picture like God can….THAT’S WHERE WISDOM COMES IN! Step back and see w/ wisdom James says!
So how do you get it?
ASK!!!!!!!!!!!
How then does He give it?
****One way is by being in his presence……just like being around friends…once you spend much time together you start to think alike eventually right?!?!?!? Same with God!!!!